WildLink

The WildLink 2026 season opened in early April with the new participating group Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School and the biggest rain storm of the Spring. The group arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) on a clear and sunny Monday afternoon. Staying the first two days at the NESC while preparing for their four day backpacking expedition into the Yosemite wilderness. Accompanied by their brave chaperone Sally and Juana and guided by amazing educators Kelly and Katie, the group was in good hands to make the best out of the expedition. The forecast can be fickle early in the season and the week ahead showed a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Fresno’s Building Healthy Communities non-profit brings together high school aged youth from all over Fresno to empower them to become change agents within their schools and communities. In 2025 these agents of change were invited to come to Yosemite for a six day expedition where they got to know their local national park.

San Lorenzo High School students woke up early one Sunday morning in June, some of them having just graduated from high school the week before. They gathered at their school, welcoming summer break, now ready for an adventure. All eleven students and two chaperones jumped into vehicles with their belongings and the group began making their way to Yosemite National Park. Along the way a crucial snack and refreshment stop was made before making their way up the Sierra Nevada foothills and into Yosemite National Park.

June arrived and Yosemite was immersed in summer as the Monache High School group rose one Sunday morning in Porterville, CA. ready for their six day expedition. Full of excitement and anticipation the group piled into their vehicles and began making their way toward Yosemite National Park. No one in the group had ever spent much time in Yosemite or with each other, which was the perfect environment for stretching some boundaries, connecting, and exploring.

On a clear Sunday morning in Los Angeles the group from New Village Girls Academy came together at their school to join WildLink for another year of exploration, growth, connection, and challenge in the Yosemite Wilderness.

The 2025 season kicked off on a late April afternoon welcoming Porterville High School for another year with WildLink. That morning, eleven eager students came together at their school ready for a week of adventure, challenge, fun, and connection.

2025’s last WildLink expedition saw the first year Mariposa CountyHigh School participate in the program. The most local school, only one hour away from Yosemite valley yet ten out of eleven of the participants had never backpacked in Yosemite National Park and were excited to explore their back yard. Chaperoned by their brave Kerry and Peter the group arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) on a Sunday afternoon. There they met one of their educator guides, Katie, and would soon meet their second one, Cassie, the following day. The group settled into cabins and reconvened for dinner and an evening together around a fire. There important pieces of information were shared and the participants had an opportunity to reflect and welcome the week ahead.

Late September arrived and WildLink was fortunate enough to welcome one more group of amazing participants from Health Careers Academy in Stockton for another expedition. The group arrived full of energy and ready to make some awesome memories. Having sat in a car for a few hours they were eager to stretch their legs and wasted no time in settling into their cabins before coming together for dinner and their first evening program from NatureBridge.

Venture Academy’s 2025 WildLink students arrived in Yosemite hungry for adventure and excited for the week ahead. After a long drive from home in Stockton the group arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) and settled into cabins for the first two nights. A delicious dinner led to an evening program under the clear night sky where the group gathered around a fire and looked up at the stars while getting to know each other. The next day the group woke up and spent the day in Yosemite Valley with their guides Sam and Cassie gearing up for the backpacking expedition ahead. Once everyone had everything they needed for the next four days, 3 nights in the backcountry, they enjoyed the rest of the day in Yosemite Valley before heading back to the NESC for dinner and one last night in the cabins.