2023 Student of the Year Runners-Up
As we approach our event An Evening Outside with NatureBridge on May 11, we would like to recognize the runners-up for our annual Student of the Year Award! We had the wonderful opportunity to learn about some of the amazing students who have participated in NatureBridge programs and are excited to share their stories. June and Alondra are two incredible examples of young people who have been impacted by their time with us and continue to inspire those around them. Please help us congratulate all of our Student of the Year 2023 Runners-Up!
June Lifland
5th grade, Coastal Camp
What was your biggest takeaway from your experience with NatureBridge?
My biggest takeaway from my experience at NatureBridge has been that being outside in community learning with other kids is a great change from sitting inside in a classroom all day!
How do you remain inspired to be a steward of the environment?
I remain inspired to be a steward of the environment by using the knowledge and skills I’ve developed over the years at Coastal Camp when I am exploring National Parks with my family and friends. I love being able to identify plants and animal/sea creatures and help make sure we leave no trace when we leave the park.
What are your plans for the future around nature, leadership or science?
I would love to someday be a counselor at Coastal Camp (when I am old enough) and encourage younger kids to build confidence in hiking and exploration.
Student of the Year 2023 Runner Up
Student of the Year 2023 Runner Up
Student of the Year 2023 Runner Up
Alondra Lopez
12th grade, WildLink
What was your biggest takeaway from your experience with NatureBridge?
Being able to climb Mt. Hoffman was the biggest takeaway from my experience. That was my first hike ever and I enjoyed it. Climbing to the summit was a challenge for me and I am proud to say I overcame it. Looking back at what I accomplished I feel a sense of exuberance just by remembering the experience. I am very happy that my experience with NatureBridge was a wonderful memory that I will forever remember.
How do you remain inspired to be a steward of the environment?
I feel inspired to use the knowledge I acquired at NatureBridge to inform those around me about wilderness and the importance of Yosemite National Park. I think it is important for other students to know the important role that nature can play in a person’s life and the world around them.
What are your plans for the future around nature, leadership or science?
After going to Yosemite, I would definitely love to revisit the wilderness and have more experience hiking and backpacking. I would like to encourage other people like my friends to visit Yosemite National Park so they can experience something new and breathtaking. I hope that this experience will help them as it helped me.
Student of the Year 2023 Runner Up
Student of the Year 2023 Runner Up
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."