Staff Spotlight: Linnea Joy Pierson
Whether it’s our national park classrooms, the incredible opportunity to impact our local communities through science and education or the life-changing experiences we get to witness when young people participate in our programs, at NatureBridge we have so much to be grateful for! For Environmental Science Educator Linnea Joy Pierson, the moments she cherishes most are the times when she can see the joy, curiosity and community developing in her students while exploring the Yosemite wilderness. Originally from San Jose, CA, Linnea grew up valuing the outdoors and even attended a NatureBridge program (then called Yosemite Institute) as a student where she felt the transformative power of connecting with nature first-hand.
As a former student of NatureBridge/Yosemite Institute, I am living proof that this is an invaluable experience that has untold ripples.Linnea Joy Pierson, NatureBridge Environmental Science Educator, Yosemite
That has come full circle with Linnea now working as the evening manager at NatureBridge’s Yosemite campus. Linnea is thankful to be able to experience the excitement of investigating macroinvertebrates, the sense of accomplishment when hiking to the top of a waterfall and the transformation of students who have the opportunity to thrive in an outdoor environment. “I often chat with their teachers and chaperones into the night as they share about the changes they've seen in their students,” Linnea says. “My role as an evening manager provides me the opportunity to see the glow of group energy when schools return from their campfire programs on Thursday nights.”
During our closing circle on departure day, students often share what was most meaningful in their trip, both their connections to the land and to each other. It is an honor and a delight to be a part of their journey.Linnea Joy Pierson, NatureBridge Environmental Science Educator, Yosemite
Linnea sums up her experience with gratitude: “I am grateful to have a job where I can make a difference. I am grateful to Jen Kidder (Olympic Campus Director) for being my Yosemite Institute educator in 2006. I am grateful for the many coworkers and supervisors who have inspired me to be a better version of myself.” We at NatureBridge are grateful for the many educators and staff who make these experiences possible and allow us to continue to live our mission to introduce students to the science and wonder of the natural world.
Photos courtesy of Linnea Joy Pierson
Stories
In Memory of Ty Cobb: A Visionary Leader of Resilience and Impact
Ty Cobb, former CEO of Yosemite National Institutes (now NatureBridge), passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in Reno at the age of 84. Known for his visionary leadership, resilience, and ability to inspire collaboration, Ty guided YNI through some of its most difficult moments while building a foundation for its future growth and success.
WildLink November 2024: Woodlake High School
This November, Woodlake High School students and chaperones arrived in Yosemite for their first year as a WildLink school, and we are so excited to have them on the team! That means that the brave students who signed up for this expedition had virtually no idea what to expect before signing up for the trip, because none of their peers had experienced it before them! The week, although quite frigid, was full of lovely views, learning about Wilderness, spending lots of time by the river, and enjoying the beauty of Yosemite Valley and Wilderness. Their educators Sarah and Amelia were excited to help this group feel a sense of belonging in this place. They were also lucky enough to be joined by Ranger Lissie on their first day in the Wilderness!
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.