Coming Full Circle: Claire Darcy’s Journey from NatureBridge Student to Staff Member
For Environmental Science Educator Claire Darcy, NatureBridge isn’t just a workplace—it’s a place where her past and present meet, shaping a future rooted in stewardship, curiosity, and community. As a multi-campus educator and site manager, primarily at NatureBridge Prince William Forest Park, Claire brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and perspective to her roles, inspired by a deeply personal connection to NatureBridge’s mission.
Claire’s NatureBridge story began during the 2014–2015 school year when she was a seventh grader at Rippon Middle School in Prince William County, Virginia. As part of her school’s math and science specialty program, Claire joined a trip to NatureBridge that, in her words, she “loved probably every second of.” From catching crawfish in the creek to hiking to waterfalls and sharing laughs with her friends in the cabins, her NatureBridge experience left a lasting impression on her.
The first step to protecting nature and continuing stewardship is that people feel a stake in it and feel connected to it.Claire Darcy, NatureBridge Multi-Campus Educator
So lasting, in fact, that years later, while pursuing degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, Claire found a NatureBridge job listing as part of a class assignment. Even after she submitted the assignment, the NatureBridge job description stuck in her mind. After graduating, Claire decided to apply to be an educator at NatureBridge—and her journey came full circle.
Today, Claire is a member of the very community that once welcomed her to Prince William Forest as a middle schooler. “I really love the community of co-workers, especially here at the Prince William campus,” she shares. It’s a supportive, passionate, and close-knit group that is eager to help one another and foster connections. Claire sustains the connections she made as a NatureBridge student by incorporating curriculum and activities that she remembers from that experience (like the “Meet a Tree” activity) into her lesson plans for her own students.
Being an educator at NatureBridge, Claire emphasizes, means embracing curiosity every day. Her students’ questions often inspire her to dig deeper into her own learning, sparking new research and fresh perspectives that she eagerly brings back to the trail the next day to share with her students. But Claire’s favorite part of the job is watching students’ perceptions of the outdoors shift. Whether it’s students asking her how old they have to be to “come back and work” at NatureBridge or vowing to be more mindful with their trash, Claire sees firsthand the seeds of stewardship being planted. She hopes that her students will share that message with others and inspire their own communities to participate in stewardship activities, too.
There’s always something about the environment that we don’t know. Everyday we’re learning from the students.Claire Darcy, NatureBridge Multi-Campus Educator
Perhaps the most poignant chapter in Claire’s NatureBridge story came when a group of students from Rippon Middle School returned to campus this spring—this time with Claire as their NatureBridge site manager. “It feels like it’s been a long time, but really in the grand scheme of things it hasn’t been that long since I was a student at NatureBridge.” Led by Claire’s former seventh grade science teacher Lisa Kight, the Rippon group brought things full circle for her in a touching gesture: Mrs. Kight gifted Claire one of the custom t-shirts they had printed for their NatureBridge trip. “It felt very special,” Claire says.
Stories
Coming Full Circle: Claire Darcy’s Journey from NatureBridge Student to Staff Member
For Environmental Science Educator Claire Darcy, NatureBridge isn’t just a workplace—it’s a place where her past and present meet, shaping a future rooted in stewardship, curiosity, and community. As a multi-campus educator and site manager, primarily at NatureBridge Prince William Forest Park, Claire brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and perspective to her roles, inspired by a deeply personal connection to NatureBridge’s mission.
An Unforgettable Evening with NatureBridge
On May 8, we welcomed 400 friends, supporters, and outdoor education enthusiasts to Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA for An Evening with NatureBridge. This annual gathering was more than just a fundraiser; it was a celebration of everything NatureBridge stands for: curiosity, connection, and the transformative power of nature.
Bellevue Teacher Night Recap: Building Connections to the Outdoors in Washington
We had a wonderful time connecting with local educators at our recent Teacher Open House in Bellevue, WA! Hosted by NatureBridge at The Studio in Lincoln Square, the evening brought together 45 passionate teachers, educators, and board and community members to learn how they can bring their students on an unforgettable outdoor science adventure in Olympic National Park.