Board Spotlight

Luckily for NatureBridge, our mission — to connect young people to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet — was already close to board chair Ian Yolles' heart. Before overseeing marketing and brand building for companies like Patagonia and Nike, Ian began his career as a wilderness instructor for Outward Bound in Canada, eventually becoming Executive Director of the outdoor education nonprofit. He had intimate knowledge of the transformative power of nature, and he could see that NatureBridge was expertly tapping into that power to further environmental science and inspire awe.

Rachel Davis is a rare story—she has seen and experienced NatureBridge from almost every possible angle. From an enthusiastic student taking part in a NatureBridge program in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1993 to a teacher leading her students into the national parks to participate in the same NatureBridge programs that once inspired her. Today, her journey expands even further as the newest member of NatureBridge’s Yosemite Board.

In December 2019, Ivy Archer Winters called NatureBridge CEO Phil Kilbridge with a two-part piece of news: her mother Doris Archer Winters had died at the age of 98, and the organization’s capital campaign for the Golden Gate National Recreation campus (GOGA) was finished.

“I was overwhelmed by this news,” says Phil. “Ivy had shared slowly over the course of four years that NatureBridge was in Doris’s estate plans, but we didn’t know any other details.”

Thanks to Ivy — a GOGA Board member and former National Board member — Doris had left $489,000 to NatureBridge via her charitable trust.

“The wildest part? I never met Doris.” says Phil.

How did this gift come to be?

Tracy Thompson has been an advocate and partner of NatureBridge for nearly 30 years. Read about the importance of her photograph from the late wilderness photographer Galen Rowell and why she's gifting it to NatureBridge.

When Yosemite Regional Board Member Jan Sweeney was just a ninth-grader, she joined her brother and a group of two other friends to rescue marine wildlife during a catastrophic oil spill on the Chesapeake Bay. Today, she brings her passion for exploring the outdoors through running, hiking, snorkeling and canoeing to NatureBridge.

Yosemite Board Member Chris Joseph shares an excerpt from his book "Life is a Ride: My Unconventional Journey of Cancer Recovery" that highlights how staying connected to his children and the outdoors contributed to his healing process.

NatureBridge Olympic board member Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger is a role model for not just girls in science, but all young people. As an Earth scientist, environmental consultant, former NASA astronaut and high school science and astronomy teacher, Dottie has continuously demonstrated how to overcome systemic obstacles and reach for the stars—literally.

Next month, NatureBridge board member Todd Cota will be sharing his insight and actionable steps for the fight against climate change in the Pacific Northwest and globally at Patagonia’s downtown Seattle storefront. We spoke with him ahead of the event.

A member of our Mid-Atlantic Regional Board, Catherine Scott has spent her lifetime protecting natural places. This goes hand in hand with her belief that connecting youth to their local natural places is vital for environmental stewardship. Read more about his commitment to NatureBridge students.