Olympic

Over the past year, NatureBridge has been thrilled to welcome a group of dynamic new leaders to our National Board of Directors and Regional Boards. These all-volunteer roles are vital to the mission and governance of our organization, and they are filled by people who are inspired by outdoor education. Board members offer invaluable guidance and support across our campuses, helping us expand access to transformative environmental science experiences for young people across the country.

This year’s Evening on the Lake was nothing short of extraordinary. Against the elegant backdrop of the Four Seasons Hotel along Seattle’s waterfront, more than 250 guests joined us to celebrate the power of experiential outdoor education in Olympic National Park and to champion NatureBridge’s mission of connecting young people to the natural world.

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 an environmental science program at our Olympic National Park campus. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at the Evening on the Lake, which will be held on Friday, November 7 in Seattle. We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Olympic Student of the Year: ninth grader Jackson Blocker.

NatureBridge is proud to partner with Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) in championing the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) program, which ensures more young people can access nature via our public lands. Through EKO, every fourth grader in the U.S. can receive a free annual pass to public lands and waters—not just for themselves, but for their entire family. NatureBridge is committed to continuing our awareness campaign for all the fourth graders who come through our programs in the upcoming year. We want to get the pass into the hands of as many fourth graders and families as possible because we know how important outdoor learning is for young people.

For many students, a few days and nights spent at NatureBridge represents their first deep dive into exploring the natural world. They hike among towering trees, collect scientific data within various ecosystems, reflect under starlit skies, and begin to see themselves not just as visitors to nature—but as part of it. A spark has been lit.

Jen Kidder, Campus Director at NatureBridge Olympic and longtime outdoor educator, knows that spark is often just the beginning of a life-long journey. “A NatureBridge experience can light a spark of interest in nature, in science, in spending time with new people,” she says. It can “build confidence that they belong. Later, that can open a door to new interests, career ideas, or maybe just the confidence to try something else new.”

On May 8, we welcomed 400 friends, supporters, and outdoor education enthusiasts to Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA for An Evening with NatureBridge. This annual gathering was more than just a fundraiser; it was a celebration of everything NatureBridge stands for: curiosity, connection, and the transformative power of nature.