Yosemite
“It’s Human Education”: Why Tashanda Giles-Jones Has Been Bringing Students to NatureBridge for Over a Decade
For Tashanda Gilies-Jones, hands-on activities are at the heart of an education that leads to true understanding and transformation. In 2014, Tashanda chaperoned an ECS seventh-grade trip to NatureBridge’s Southern California campus in the Santa Monica Mountains. More than ten years later, she’s still bringing students back to experience NatureBridge programs.
Why Access Matters: NatureBridge Alum Alicia Bales Reflects on the Power of Outdoor Education
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.
Growing Educators, Growing Impact: Kerri McAllister’s Journey from NatureBridge to National Geographic
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.
An Evening with NatureBridge Raises Over $1 Million for Outdoor Education
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.
WildLink April 2026: Cristo Rey San José Jesuit High School
The WildLink 2026 season opened in early April with the new participating group Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School and the biggest rain storm of the Spring. The group arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) on a clear and sunny Monday afternoon. Staying the first two days at the NESC while preparing for their four day backpacking expedition into the Yosemite wilderness. Accompanied by their brave chaperone Sally and Juana and guided by amazing educators Kelly and Katie, the group was in good hands to make the best out of the expedition. The forecast can be fickle early in the season and the week ahead showed a slight chance of thunderstorms.
2026 Student of the Year: Milin Sekhon
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 one of our environmental science programs. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at An Evening with NatureBridge, which will be held on Thursday, May 7 in San Francisco, CA. We are thrilled to announce our 2026 Student of the Year: Milin Sekhon.