Donor Spotlight: Elaine Schear
Elaine Schear grew up in a working-class family near the Adirondacks with limited opportunities to attend outdoor camps—and she knew what she was missing. As a writing tutor, teacher and founder of a non-profit dedicated to developing, supporting and enriching the academic and social development programs for under-resourced young people, Elaine, who now lives in Somerville, MA, recognizes that the ability to experience outdoor education programs is often affected by financial constraints.
Elaine first learned of NatureBridge when her daughter took an environmental science education course during her last semester of college and became very excited about teaching science through hands-on, outdoors discovery. Through that course, she heard about NatureBridge and applied to be an Environmental Science Educator at our campus in Olympic National Park. "Visiting her there, we could immediately see why she loved it. The program, the jaw-dropping outdoor 'classroom', the chance for students to develop a sense of stewardship of the environment—this learning was not only unique, but also environmentally urgent."
The program, the jaw-dropping outdoor “classroom”, the chance for students to develop a sense of stewardship of the environment—this learning was not only unique, but also environmentally urgent.Elaine Schear, Monthly Donor
Eventually, Elaine got in the habit of reading the NatureBridge blog where she learned about Joie Armstrong and the Armstrong Scholars, a program dedicated to offering multi-day backpacking experiences in the Yosemite National Park wilderness for young women from ages 15-18. "This is exactly the kind of program I wish that I had access to as a kid. I can also see what a difference these experiences have made in my daughters’ development, as well as how many young girls are left out of the opportunity to experience the life-changing courage, camaraderie and fun offered by programs like the Armstrong Scholars."
From that point on, Elaine knew she had to support NatureBridge's mission to connect young people to the science and wonder of the natural world. Elaine understood that her donation, along with others like her, directly support the social and emotional development of young people around the world, providing opportunities for an exploration into new fields of study and a deeper personal connection to the world around them.
NatureBridge’s model is different. It works through donations. I want opportunities like the Armstrong Scholars, and in fact all of NatureBridge’s programs, to continue to grow far into the future.Elaine Schear, Monthly Donor
Photos courtesy of Elaine Schear
Stories
Fall Reflections from NatureBridge Yosemite
As an environmental science educator, I spend a lot of time teaching about nature, but this season I’ve been finding that as it turns out, nature has a lot to teach us, too. Sometimes I can let the trees, the meadow, and the lichen teach for me. They show us how to respect each other’s boundaries, how to celebrate differences, how to work together, and how to lean on each other’s strengths in order to exist in a new place. These lessons felt incredibly relevant to me heading into the first week of November, a notoriously busy time at NatureBridge Yosemite. I wanted to focus on messages of kindness and inclusivity with my students, I wanted them to feel a sense of belonging in this new space, and I also hoped that they would share those messages with others.
An Incredible 10th Anniversary of Evening on the Lake
On October 25, the Amazon Meeting Center in downtown Seattle buzzed with celebratory energy as over 300 NatureBridge guests and supporters gathered for the 10th anniversary of "Evening on the Lake," our signature Pacific Northwest fundraising event for our Olympic campus.
"Science became fun" at NatureBridge for Alum Laura Lomeli Russert
Laura Lomeli Russert is a NatureBridge alum who grew up in Groveland, CA and now calls Washington, D.C. home. Laura’s journey with NatureBridge began when she attended the Golden Gate campus as a young student with her class from Tenaya Elementary. Laura credits NatureBridge with shaping not only her love for nature but also her passion for education and science. "Science became fun,” she recalls. “You weren’t learning from a textbook anymore, and it became so much more real." Her hands-on, scientific experiences at NatureBridge laid the foundation for her eventual pursuit of a Ph.D. in psychology. “I feel like I owe a lot to NatureBridge."