Women in Science

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."

"It’s pretty impressive to say that I’ve been obsessed with a place since I was 13—thanks to the NatureBridge program!” For alum Anya Gupta, that place is Yosemite National Park. Starting with her eighth grade trip to NatureBridge Yosemite in 2014—a trip that Anya declares “changed my life”—Anya has been pursuing paths that would allow her to return to Yosemite to explore, discover and serve. Even when she is physically distant from the park (as she is right now while completing dual bachelor’s degrees in Earth Climate Science and Environmental Science at Duke University), Anya keeps Yosemite close to her heart.

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.

This year, NatureBridge is proud to welcome Armstrong educators Amanda Adams and Kaitee Levinson. Their love of the program, strong backcountry experience, social emotional learning skills and commitment to equity and inclusion will serve them and the Scholars well as they explore the High Sierra and so much more together this summer.

As a science teacher, Paula Bush has long been an advocate for hands-on, out-of-the-classroom opportunities. For high school students, testing can be a huge obstacle. At NatureBridge, Paula was always thrilled that students were granted the opportunity to be curious without being tested. “We’ve killed curiosity in kids!” she said. “NatureBridge is important because it’s not about book knowledge: It’s experiential. You walk on a trail and all of a sudden learning is much more alive.” Most important was the continuity Paula found at NatureBridge: Tangible lessons that she could reinforce back in the students’ community about nature, being outdoors, caring for the earth and empowering leadership.

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.

In this week's Lessons From the Field, we learn about local Bay Area marine life from NatureBridge's Rachel Loud as she shares about her more than a decade of volunteer experience with The Marine Mammal Center.

Next month, NatureBridge's very own Amy Osborne will venture to Antarctica to conduct field research with the PolarTREC program! Learn more about what she's calling the "opportunity of a lifetime."