WildLink September 2025: Health Careers Academy
Late September arrived and WildLink was fortunate enough to welcome one more group of amazing participants from Health Careers Academy in Stockton for another expedition. The group arrived full of energy and ready to make some awesome memories. Having sat in a car for a few hours they were eager to stretch their legs and wasted no time in settling into their cabins before coming together for dinner and their first evening program from NatureBridge.
The following morning the group woke up, had some breakfast and made their way to Yosemite valley. It was a clear sunny day and you could feel the end of summer approaching with the cool breeze. The group was very efficient in gathering all the necessary equipment for the four day expedition ahead and had some spare time to explore some of the valley afterwards. That night the group went to bed knowing that the following morning they would hike out and sleep under the stars.
Hike out day arrived and the group wasted no time in loading up the vehicles to make their way to the trail head. At the trailhead the group was met by Wilderness ranger PJ Solomon who accompanied them for the day. The group gathered all their gear, donned their heavy packs and began the hike in. Spirits were high as they hiked up to May Lake situated at the base of Mt. Hoffmann 9,000 feet above sea level. Conversations ensued and the pace was animated. The group took breaks here and there, hydrated and took in the views. No one complained about the heavy packs and before long they had arrived at the shores on May Lake.
Once at the place where the group planned to camp for the next three nights Wilderness Ranger PJ sat with the group to talk about what it is like to be a ranger, go over leave no trace principles and answer questions for the group. After they all had gotten to know each other, ranger PJ led the group in a restoration project of the area. Everyone took part in removing and reducing campfire rings in the area as well as picking up any trash they found. Soon the backpackers campground by May Lake looked way better and it was time for ranger PJ to wish the group farewell. The group spent the rest of the day settling into the campsite and taking a minute to realize that this would be home for the next few days. The sun went low on the sky and the team gathered around a fire after dinner to talk and reflect on what it was like to be out there and get to know each other a little more.
My hope came true because I put, I hope it rained & it did indeed come true, with a storm.Xavier de los Angeles
Now, this trip really shaped me into a different person because I’ve heard a lot of advice from different people which helped me realize that it is never too late for people to start things & make things happen. I loved the fact that this trip was a challenge & learning experience.
Day two of the expedition arrived and the group woke up to the sound of their NatureBridge guide Xixi telling them breakfast was ready. After everyone had gotten out of bed and eaten some breakfast the plan for the day was laid out - exploration! Everyone got ready with layers, snacks, and water for the day and the team set out to explore the lake. As they hiked around the lake clouds moved overhead reflecting off the lake and framing Mt. Hoffmann. When the team got to a nice forested area they took advantage of the fun terrain to play some games in the woods. After the games they continued until they got to the opposite side of the lake from where they were camping. There they had lunch and as the clouds broke and the sun came out some of the students took advantage of the sun's warmth to cool off in the lake. After lunch and a quick dip in the lake the group head back to camp for a relaxing evening around the campfire where conversations filled the air as the group got closer together. Dinner was served and eaten around the campfire. Then some of the group separated and went to sit by the lake with their guide Xixi and got to learn about the night sky. After some star gazing and some deep conversations around the campfire the group went to bed having had a full day of connection and exploration.
The third day was a bit cooler and after breakfast some of the group decided to go try and summit Mt. Hofmann which sits at 10,600 ft above sea level. The day was cloudy and in the horizon storm clouds formed, the group talked about the circumstances and agreed that if the storm approached them they would turn around and head back to camp. When everyone joining the challenge hike up Mt. Hofmann was ready with rain gear, warm layers, and snacks, they began the hike. The trail was steep but the higher they hiked the more scenic the views got. Back at camp the team who stayed looked over and stayed warm around a fire. The hiking team could see dark storm clouds in the distance as they hiked in the sun. The storm clouds began releasing rain on the landscape and the view for the side of Mt. Hofmann of the storm was mesmerising. The hiking team finally stopped to eat lunch on the side of the mountain when the wind changed direction and the storm began approaching them. They decided to turn back and head back to camp feeling proud of themselves while keeping an eye on the storm. Rain finally caught up to the hiking team about ten minutes before they arrived back at camp. As they hiked back into camp the storm gained strength and rain began to fall heavier and heavier. The wind got stronger and one of the tents suffered a tear.
This tri changed me by giving me more resilience. I feel like it made me stronger not only physically but mentally as well. All of my hopes came true, especially the one when we thought we wouldn’t be able to swim due to the weather. Even though it was freezing, the cold plunge was worth it. All of the overall experience was great, I feel like we all had a stronger bond at the end, as a whole.Kery Maeda
The ground began to flood in spots and lightning got closer and closer. It was mid afternoon and the team had to make a decision; stay and endure a cold wet night or initiate an emergency hike out. The group was still in such high spirits that even huddled under a single tarp shivering they expressed a desire to stay one last night and endure the storm.
Ultimately, it came down to safety and lightning got too close, tents and sleeping bags got too wet and the decision to hike out was made. The team packed up camp in the rain working together to make sure nothing was left behind and everyone had everything they needed to hike out safely and as warmly as possible. Their fire kept burning through the rain until the very last second. The hike out began and as the team left camp the storm grew stronger and lighting got closer. The team began descending to the trailhead and arrived back at the vehicles safe, though cold. That evening they drove back to the NESC and were welcomed by the evening manager who had reheated dinner leftovers and set up the cabins for everyone to stay. The group had dinner, some showered and everyone went to bed late that night after a long cold and wet day.
The next and final morning the team woke up to a sunny clear sky, breakfast was served and all the wet gear was reorganized. The team had one last activity to reflect about the experience they had just been through together before heading back home with an epic story of alpine beauty, thunderstorms, and friendship.
This trip has made me realize how much more to people & life there is and I’m really grateful for it. I have absolutely no complaints, I loved every bit of it, and I'm going to miss it so much. Thank you!Skyler Vang
Stories
Why Access Matters: NatureBridge Alum Alicia Bales Reflects on the Power of Outdoor Education
Alicia Bales, current Director of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club, didn’t grow up seeing herself as an outdoorsy person. Raised in Sacramento, CA, she thought of herself as a “city kid” who had spent little time in nature—until a school trip to NatureBridge Yosemite changed everything.
Growing Educators, Growing Impact: Kerri McAllister’s Journey from NatureBridge to National Geographic
NatureBridge alum Kerri McAllister has built a career that spans classrooms, coastlines, and continents. Today, she serves on the faculty at Unity University in southern Maine and works as a naturalist, certified field educator, and undersea specialist with National Geographic–Lindblad Expeditions. Her path was deeply shaped by over a decade of working at NatureBridge.
An Evening with NatureBridge Raises Over $1 Million for Outdoor Education
On May 7, over 350 friends, supporters, and alumni joined us at Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA for An Evening with NatureBridge. This annual gathering was a celebration of the transformative power of nature, the strength of our community, and our shared commitment to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.