Welcoming Our Newest Board Leaders to the NatureBridge Community
NatureBridge is thrilled to welcome a group of dynamic new leaders to our National Board of Directors and Regional Boards. These all-volunteer roles are vital to our mission and governance of our organization by people who are inspired by outdoor education. Board members offer invaluable guidance and support across our campuses, helping us expand access to transformative environmental science experiences for young people across the country.
Joining our National Board of Directors is Sharon Coleman, whose passion for the outdoors has grown tremendously over time. Sharon didn’t grow up in a family that prioritized time in nature, but she says she would have been a perfect candidate for a NatureBridge program as a student. Today, she can’t imagine life without daily connection to the outdoors—especially in the Pacific Northwest, where she hikes, skis, and paddleboards among the region’s incredible landscape of parks, lakes, mountains, and coastlines. “My religion is friends, family, and nature,” Sharon shares. A strong believer in the power of exposure to natural spaces and science, she is especially committed to making these opportunities more accessible to students from all backgrounds.
Sharon brings with her an impressive professional background in architecture, design, and real estate development, including a 20-year tenure at Vulcan Real Estate in Seattle where she led the development of more than six million square feet of commercial space. Her expertise will be a key asset as we look toward the future of our National Environmental Science Center in Yosemite.
We’re also excited to welcome several new members to our Regional Boards:
- Jancy Quinn– Yosemite
- Angela Chen– Golden Gate
- Susan Raynes– Golden Gate
- Nilesh Vashee– Golden Gate
- Tracy Stickler– Golden Gate
- Michael Schaefer– Olympic
Each of these individuals brings valuable perspective and skills to their campus communities. We are honored they’ve chosen to support NatureBridge’s mission and are excited for the leadership and inspiration they will bring.
Stories
Jubilation at the 2025 Armstrong Scholars Resupply Day!
I am thrilled, though not surprised, to report that the 2025 Armstrong Scholars are THRIVING!!! It was such a delight to see them glowing radiantly this past weekend when we, the Resupply Angels, arrived. They were standing arm in arm in a tight arc, singing the most beautiful round for us. SO precious! The round then transitioned into a boisterous rap-rendition dance party! After our collective laughter subsided, the Scholars greeted us with smiles, appreciation, and hugs for those they knew. Such warmth, such beauty, such joy!
Welcoming Our Newest Board Leaders to the NatureBridge Community
NatureBridge is thrilled to welcome a group of dynamic new leaders to our National Board of Directors and Regional Boards. These all-volunteer roles are vital to our mission and governance of our organization by people who are inspired by outdoor education. Board members offer invaluable guidance and support across our campuses, helping us expand access to transformative environmental science experiences for young people across the country.
“Everyone Needs to Be A Naturalist”: A Conversation with Parks Project CEO Keith Eshelman
Keith Eshelman, Los Angeles-based founder and CEO of Parks Project, is also an active member of NatureBridge’s Yosemite regional board of directors. His stewardship journey began not in a boardroom, but at the trailhead of a closed trail in Big Sur, CA. Hoping to share an outdoor experience with his young daughter, Keith found the trail shut down—and it sparked a question that changed his life: How are we leaving parks and trails for the next generation?