Stories from the Field

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.

This year’s Evening on the Lake was nothing short of extraordinary. Against the elegant backdrop of the Four Seasons Hotel along Seattle’s waterfront, more than 250 guests joined us to celebrate the power of experiential outdoor education in Olympic National Park and to champion NatureBridge’s mission of connecting young people to the natural world.

Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in an environmental science program at our Olympic National Park campus. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at the Evening on the Lake, which will be held on Friday, November 7 in Seattle. We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Olympic Student of the Year: ninth grader Jackson Blocker.

On Tuesday, October 14, NatureBridge hosted a Teacher Night at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale, VA for a meaningful evening of connection, exploration, and learning with a group of dedicated educators from across Northern Virginia—including teachers from Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County Public Schools, and several local private schools.