NatureBridge and NOLS: A Shared Path in Outdoor Education and Leadership
When Dave Yacubian arrived at the windswept Marin Headlands in Northern California as a NatureBridge (formerly The Headlands Institute) Field Science Educator in 2001, he already had a deep connection to wild places. His initial connection—first sparked during a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course in the Rocky Mountains that Dave participated in when he was 20 years old—has shaped a career dedicated to environmental education and the transformative power of the outdoors. Dave’s roots run deep with both NOLS and NatureBridge—and he sees powerful connections between the two organizations.
Following his experience as a NOLS participant, Dave pursued his certification as a NOLS instructor. He began leading backpacking and sea kayaking courses for NOLS in 2000, including memorable trips to Prince William Sound, Alaska and the Wind River Range in Wyoming. Dave credits his NOLS network—coworkers, friends, and leaders—with introducing him to other outdoor education programs in California, including NatureBridge: “My connections at NOLS led me indirectly to NatureBridge.” Dave started working at NatureBridge as a Field Science Educator in 2001, and he spent two years teaching students in the field before stepping into program director and administrative roles. After a hiatus, Dave later returned to NatureBridge as Director of Risk Management, a role he held from 2006 to 2010.
Leading a NOLS kayaking trip in Prince William Sound, Alaska
What stood out most about Dave’s time at NatureBridge? The people, the mission, and especially the students, he says. “I enjoyed connecting with the kids that the teachers said were challenging in the classroom,” Dave reflects. He found that the outdoors offered these students a new way to succeed, away from traditional classroom settings. One favorite NatureBridge memory Dave has is bringing his students to Scotty’s Bluff, perched above the Pacific Ocean. “I’d give them time to journal while watching the waves crash along the edge of the continent,” Dave recalls. It was in these quiet, reflective moments that Dave witnessed nature's power to spark curiosity and transformation in young students.
[NatureBridge] has a lasting impact on [students], whether it’s them making decisions downstream or having an understanding of the importance of wild places and our environment as a whole.Dave Yacubian, NatureBridge and NOLS alumnus
Today, Dave lives in San Francisco, CA and leads ReadySF, an organization that provides emergency preparedness training and risk management consulting. He continues to partner with NOLS to teach wilderness medicine courses, including courses that train current NatureBridge environmental educators. Over 25 years working with NOLS, in addition to field courses he’s taught leadership trainings, wilderness medicine, and risk management courses. A decade ago, during a wilderness medicine course he was leading, Dave and others helped resuscitate a bystander who went into cardiac arrest—an incident that underscored the real-world impact of the skills he was teaching. “I really value that people come out with tangible skills that have an impact,” he says.
Dave sees clear alignment between the missions and values of NOLS and NatureBridge—a rooting in conservation, reverence, exploration, and curiosity for wild places. Where NatureBridge introduces young people to the wonder of the natural world, NOLS offers tools for them to step further into leadership. Dave imagines a transformative continuum in which a young student who is inspired by what they experience during a NatureBridge program might later take a NOLS course, gaining not only additional outdoor skills but also the confidence to lead others, advocate for the environment, and carry those values into their communities. “I really value what both organizations provide to the larger world,” Dave remarks, “which in my mind is even more desperately needed these days.”
I really value what both organizations provide to the larger world, which in my mind is even more desperately needed these days.Dave Yacubian, NatureBridge and NOLS alumnus
Reflecting on NatureBridge today, Dave shares, “I’m really glad that NatureBridge is still living its mission.” Dave’s story is a testament to how a single course—or a journaling moment at a seaside bluff—can inspire a lifelong commitment to curiosity, leadership, and stewardship in the outdoors.
Photos courtesy of Dave Yacubian
Stories
NatureBridge and NOLS: A Shared Path in Outdoor Education and Leadership
When Dave Yacubian arrived at the windswept Marin Headlands in Northern California as a NatureBridge (formerly The Headlands Institute) Field Science Educator in 2001, he already had a deep connection to wild places. His initial connection—first sparked during a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course in the Rocky Mountains that Dave participated in when he was 20 years old—has shaped a career dedicated to environmental education and the transformative power of the outdoors. Dave’s roots run deep with both NOLS and NatureBridge—and he sees powerful connections between the two organizations.
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