Stories from the Field

Sixth grade teacher Stephen Sugay knows student success requires going beyond typical coursework to include personal development and interpersonal connections. “We try to foster community building and couple that with actual learning in other subject areas,” he says. “NatureBridge helps us achieve those things.”

On a warm afternoon in June, a group of students and chaperones from Monache High School arrived at Yosemite National Park for their first ever WildLink expedition. As they drove through the Wawona Tunnel and saw the historic Tunnel View, students remarked on the vastness of nature, as none of them had ever seen Yosemite Valley before. The group drove into the valley to meet one of their NatureBridge leaders and went for a short walk to Lower Yosemite Falls. As they enjoyed the cooling spray of the rushing falls, excitement built for their time in Yosemite.

The day after a spring thunderstorm, New Village Girls Academy students and chaperones arrived to a beautifully saturated Yosemite Valley. Their trip from Los Angeles on highways and winding mountain roads left them tired, excited, and a little nervous for the week to come. Students were greeted by NatureBridge staff upon arrival and moved into their cabins, where they enjoyed their first night in the park—complete with burgers and a meadow sunset. The group also spent some time that first night chatting about their hopes, intentions, and fears for the week ahead.