The Long Ripple: How One Week in Yosemite Shaped a Lifetime of Leadership

When Andree first stepped into Yosemite Valley with her classmates from Enterprise High School, she was a young person entering a new world. What stayed with her, however, wasn’t just the awe of the scenery—it was the sudden, transformative shift in the classroom dynamic.

Andree observed how the immersive nature of a multi-day program acted as a universal solvent for barriers high schoolers tend to develop in their social circles. "In high school, people have their facades," she reflects. "But all of that melts away when you're there with a backpack. You’re on an equal playing field where you have to adapt and understand points of view that are different from your own." This environment fostered an indelible experience where students didn't just learn about ecology; they learned about personal development, resilience, and the necessity of looking out for one another.

This growth was mirrored by a shift in how Andree saw science. It moved from a textbook to a living, breathing responsibility. She recalls a specific moment involving a simple apple that became a lifelong lesson in stewardship. Her group learned that even biodegradable waste, like an apple core, is “matter out of place” if it isn't native to the ecosystem. "We all started eating our entire apples," she laughs. "It sounds like a small thing, but that sensitivity to the environment has stayed with me for thirty years."

As Andree progressed through her education, eventually earning a degree in chemistry, those early experiences in outdoor education served as a compass. Her journey has now come full circle. Today, her work at the Shasta College Foundation involves partnering with the very organization that funded her high school trip—The McConnell Foundation—to ensure today’s North State students have access to the same experiential learning opportunities.

From her perspective as both an alum and a leader in higher education, Andree sees these trips as essential to student development. By introducing students to national parks, biologists, and educators in the field, the program reveals a world of possibilities. "When a student comes through NatureBridge and then finds their way to higher education, we are impacting generations," she says.

The legacy of the McConnell partnership is a reminder that the "best trip ever" is often the one that never truly ends. It continues to ripple through a student's life, turning young people into scientists, and high schoolers into community leaders who still remember—and cherish—their "home park."