Stories from the Field

On bright summer morning students gathered at San Lorenzo High, eager and excited for the adventure to come. This was the second year San Lorenzo participated in the program and everyone here at NatureBridge looked forward to welcoming their new group of students. A long car ride full of music, snacks and conversation got the San Lorenzo students to Yosemite. They arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) and unloaded their vehicle taking in a big breath of fresh mountain air. Greeted by their educator Sophia, the group settled into their cabins and once they were set they all gathered for dinner. The group’s awesome chaperones Alli O’Brien and Yobani Lopez rested easy once the students were eating dinner in Yosemite. After dinner the group stayed together for the evening and began to get to know each other a little better now that they were all experiencing this new environment. The evening went on with a campfire and s'mores before going to bed for their first night.

June has arrived, summer has officially arrived and we were so excited to welcome this years’ Monache High School group. Eleven awesome students gathered at their high school in Porterville CA, on a Sunday morning, prepared and packed as well as they could have been for an adventure. Led by their fearless chaperones Mr. Price and Mr. Orozco the group said goodbye to their home town to come and connect with their home here in Yosemite National Park. After a long and windy road the group arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) where they settled into cabins to begin their adventurous week.

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.

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.

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.

May came along and the weather continued to warm as summer approached. WildLink welcomed the third trip of the year: Woodlake high school. The Woodlake students gathered on a warm spring morning at their high school on the foothills of the central Sierra Nevada. Excited and ready for an adventure the group loaded up their vehicles and began their journey toward Yosemite National Park. It was a long and windy road but eventually the group made it to the National Environmental Science Center (NESC). Their NatureBridge Educator Sam greeted them. The group unloaded and settled into their cabins, gathering for dinner afterwards. A quick orientation and dinner was served. After dinner the group had a chance to come together, slow down and enjoy a relaxing evening getting to know each other.