Board Spotlight

For Ian Yolles, outdoor education has been a lifelong passion, a guiding force, and a commitment to ensuring that young people have access to the transformative power of nature. His journey, from a young canoe trip leader in Canada to his 12-year tenure as a NatureBridge board member and chair, is a testament to how immersive experiences in the outdoors can shape both individuals and organizations.

On a recent autumn afternoon in Yosemite Valley, Seth Gurgel and Jen Leung looked on in delight as their two-year-old son Auggie marveled at the texture of fallen leaves and explored with his fingers the tiny seeds hidden within alder cones. Ada Meyer, a NatureBridge Environmental Science Educator, guided Auggie in these tactile experiences, watching his face light up with each new discovery. Although NatureBridge programming is geared toward school-age children, Ada’s background in early childhood development came shining through as she and Auggie excitedly engaged with their environment. Ada had volunteered to shepherd the young children of a few very special visitors this week, because the NatureBridge national and regional boards were on campus for the annual board retreat. “That was our first glimpse of the power of NatureBridge with our own kid,” Seth remarks.

Olympic board member Kim Sager-Fradkin has been leading evening programs at NatureBridge Olympic for over 25 years, sharing her expertise as a local wildlife ecologist with multiple generations of students. Today, she continues to support NatureBridge’s programs and students with dedication and excitement, noting that the ripples of NatureBridge’s impact stretch far beyond the Olympic Peninsula.

A deeply engaged, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative board is necessary for NatureBridge’s long-term success. We seek multiple individuals eager to collaborate with us to elevate NatureBridge to reach new heights and shape the next phase of our journey toward greater impact.

Anne Baxter’s connection to NatureBridge spans over 30 years, though her connection to nature extends well beyond that. Anne came to California from the east coast and fell in love with the majestic Sierra Nevada, where she could be found backpacking, birding and fly fishing. That love for the mountains led her to take her 5th and 6th grade students to Yosemite each year. Those trips to Yosemite often created a connection with the natural world for these students that would last a lifetime.

As a physician in Washington, DC, Laura knows all about the importance of the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outdoors. That’s why she has been on the board for our Mid-Atlantic Region (MARE) campus located in Prince William Forest for the last six years.

Dr. Stephen H. Lockhart goes by another name to many of those within NatureBridge: The Steve Lockhart. Once you speak with Steve or read his curriculum vitae, you quickly understand he is worthy of that prefix. A Rhodes Scholar, he began college at the age of 15 and graduated at 18, going on to earn a master’s in economics from Oxford and a PhD and MD from Cornell. Steve is one of the most accomplished anesthesiologists in his field and his conservation efforts have earned him numerous distinctions, including being named a Champion of Change by the Obama Administration. He serves and has served on numerous boards, including REI and Molina Healthcare, and recently started Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity.

Andy Baxter, prince among men and one of the last true gentlemen, passed away in February 2022. Andy committed himself passionately to several organizations he held close to his heart—lucky for our mission and the students we serve, one of those organizations was NatureBridge. 

Now a highly valued and respected Board Emeritus, Linda Brownstein helped NatureBridge weather some of the organization’s most difficult crises through the years. She turned significant vision into reality and created the space for new policy ideation and strategic planning. “It changed how I live my daily life — supporting other environmental causes, recycling, composting, organic farming…some of the most impactful things I've done have really been from NatureBridge.”