Back to School with NatureBridge!
We are so excited to welcome students back to NatureBridge campuses for the 2022-23 school year! Over the past few weeks, educators at every campus have been hard at work with training, orientations, preparation work and so much more.
In Olympic National Park, new educators shadowed returning educators as they led 7th and 8th graders from the Portland-area on orienteering and water quality investigations. For the returning educators of the team, the word of the program was "joy" and for the new educators, it was "casual wonder." They also implemented new programs such as a fungi enrichment seminar and exploration, much to the excitement of the students who agreed that the most anticipated activity for the outing was “mushrooms!”
In Golden Gate, new and returning educators are focusing on how we are connected to all living things in the ocean, no matter how small. Students are using microscope labs to see oceanic plankton, talking about the marine food web and what we can do to protect the ocean creatures that help us survive. “I’m so excited to help students understand global climate change through lessons about the carbon cycle, sea level rise, ocean acidification and increased wildfires,” said one Golden Gate educator.
“I want to empower students to be the environmental stewards and be the change in their communities.”Golden Gate educator
Over in Yosemite, educators are looking forward to teaching students about watersheds and fire ecology in addition to giving them a quiet space to connect with nature. Said one of our Yosemite educators, “Now more than ever, it’s really important for students to connect with nature and step outside their comfort zone, which is what we provide here at NatureBridge.”
Stories
2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz
At NatureBridge, we celebrate the stewards of today and foster the development of the stewards of tomorrow, working to inspire environmental stewardship in all our participants. Our goal is to motivate our students to make waves and be changemakers in their communities and for our planet.
Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in a NatureBridge program. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at An Evening Outside with NatureBridge on Thursday, May 16 at our Golden Gate campus.
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz.
An Interview with Evening Outside Keynote Speaker Dr. Britt Wray
The minute we found out about the work of Dr. Britt Wray, we knew we wanted to learn more about her. A well-respected author and scientist, Dr. Wray possesses expertise in an area of research we talk about a lot at NatureBridge—specifically how we can be resilient, hopeful, and actionable amid a changing world, including the climate crisis. We’re thrilled that Dr. Wray will be joining us on May 16 for An Evening Outside with NatureBridge as our Featured Speaker. Ahead of the event, we had the chance to ask her a few questions relating to her work and her connection to the mission of NatureBridge.
Staff Spotlight: Appreciation for Miho Aida
Miho Aida (she/they) has held multiple roles at NatureBridge over the past twenty-four years, including Environmental Science Educator, Community Connection Coordinator, Field Staff Scientist, Marine Project Coordinator, Pacific Rim Environmental Education Specialist, Armstrong Scholars Educator, Diversity Coordinator, Equity and Inclusion Manager, and Director of Equity and Inclusion. Now, on the eve of Miho's departure, we asked them to reflect on their time at NatureBridge and share a bit about their upcoming adventures.