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.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, the event raised $1.2 million in support of NatureBridge’s scholarship programs and our mission to connect young people to the wonder and science of the natural world. That’s a huge leap forward in making sure that more young people—regardless of their background—can experience the magic of learning in our national park classrooms.

One of the most unforgettable moments of the night came from Subiksha Shri Palanisamy Mythili, our 2025 Student of the Year. Her speech—and powerful spoken word performance—captivated the entire room. Subiksha Shri shared her journey as a NatureBridge Yosemite student and how her time outdoors helped her connect not just to nature, but to herself. "A week with NatureBridge, Yosemite, and peers gave me a chance to explore my fullest potential with nature as my guide," she shared. "This trip gave me a hands-on-experience of valuable lessons of stewardship, preservation, and conservation."

The evening also featured an inspiring fireside chat between NatureBridge board member Krista Campbell and Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Google (and the U.S.’s first-ever Federal Chief Sustainability Officer). Kate talked about how access to nature shaped her as a young person and why outdoor education is key to facing the climate challenges ahead and empowering young people to lead with science, compassion, and action.

“An Evening with NatureBridge isn’t just a celebration of our past—it’s an investment in our future,” said Phillip Kilbridge, NatureBridge's CEO. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and supporters, we’re able to expand access to life-changing programs for thousands of students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn and grow in our national parks. These programs for young people are more important than ever.”