Initiative
Children today spend more than 50 hours a week in front of a screen and only seven minutes each day playing outside. We work to reverse that trend—to reestablish the connection between kids and nature. At NatureBridge, kids spend more than eight hours a day outside learning, growing and connecting to their national parks. This connection is the most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult. Together with our park partners, supporters and donors, we are building the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders.
Each Year
Today, NatureBridge is forced to turn away schools due to a lack of capacity at our campus in the Marin Headlands. By expanding our existing campus, the Golden Gate Initiative will increase our capacity by 30% to enable 3,000 more students each year discover a personal connection to the natural world.
1,000 Additional Scholarships
Each year, NatureBridge's Golden Gate campus awards over 3,000 scholarships to children who would otherwise not have access to our programs due to financial hardship. Expanding our capacity will allow 1,000 additional scholarship students to live and learn for three to five days in the Marin Headlands. For many of these students, a trip to NatureBridge means a first night away from home, a first visit to a national park, or even a first time seeing the ocean.
We are a very low-income school. Many of our students have not been far outside of Sacramento. This experience was amazing for them. Many had never seen the ocean before! It shows them that there is a world out there that they can be a part of. There is no price we can put on what this program does for our students.Marie Wenger, Teacher
The Project
- Renovated historic army barracks will provide dormitory space for 60 additional participants each night and a remodeled kitchen will allow NatureBridge to provide the additional meals needed.
- A new state-of-the-art science lab will deploy the latest technology to bring science to life in the Marin Headlands.
- Campus improvements will create a safer and more comfortable experience for all.
40 Years in the Marin Headlands #
In 2017, we celebrated our 40-year anniversary in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area! Established in 1977, our Golden Gate campus now serves 10,000 students each year from the Bay Area and beyond. Through our core environmental science programs, teen leadership programs, summer day camps, and family programs, children and adults are able to experience the Marin Headlands and discover their love for the outdoor world. Learn more about our Golden Gate programs at naturebridge.org/goldengate.
Committees
Golden Gate Initiative Committee
Anne Baxter, Golden Gate Initiative Chair
Fred Brill, Golden Gate Director
Ivy Winters
Expansion Project Committee
Fred Brill, Golden Gate Director
Jordan O'Brien
Gregory Haddock
Jack Lapidos
Patti Marshall
Ben Toland