Sponsor Spotlight: Michael Doyle Properties
NatureBridge is fortunate to have the support of numerous organizations that share our vision and passion for our mission. As we gear up for our annual Evening on the Lake event in Seattle, we’d like to highlight Michael Doyle Properties, one of the evening’s many generous sponsors. Thanks to individuals like Michael Doyle, our programs are not only able to continue, but to thrive. Leading up to Friday’s event, he took the time to shed light on his personal connection to NatureBridge.
Michael understands the importance of both connecting young people to the outdoors through effective environmental education and continuing the preservation of our national parks. In fact, he believes the two are critical, which led to his sponsorship of Evening on the Lake and our mission to inspire stewardship of our planet.
Reflecting on family excursions to Yosemite National Park as a child, Michael recalls these adventures as times of discovery and learning. The respect and awe he gained for nature during those national park visits, which he considers among the most memorable parts of his childhood, have stayed with him to this day. His hope is that he can carry on the traditions of outdoor exploration and education with his own family.
I want my two young children to have similar experiences, to enjoy parks in their childhood, to learn how to simply ‘be’ in nature. In 10 years, when I ask them if they want to raft [or] kayak the Grand Canyon with me, I want them to say yes… and I want there to be a Grand Canyon as we currently know it.Michael Doyle
In addition to a commitment of advocacy, integrity and service to his clients, Michael prioritizes giving back. For each property marketed or acquired with his help, a donation is made to the Windermere Foundation, Plymouth Housing Group, Family Works and YouthCare. This year, we are very thankful to have Michael and Michael Doyle Properties as an Evening on the Lake sponsor.
A celebration of our outdoor environmental science programs in Olympic National Park, Evening on the Lake is an annual opportunity for attendees to connect with our educators and explore the impact of our programs. Contributions from the evening support our scholarship fund, which grants many deserving kids the opportunity to discover learning through the natural world.
Stories
Fall Reflections from NatureBridge Yosemite
As an environmental science educator, I spend a lot of time teaching about nature, but this season I’ve been finding that as it turns out, nature has a lot to teach us, too. Sometimes I can let the trees, the meadow, and the lichen teach for me. They show us how to respect each other’s boundaries, how to celebrate differences, how to work together, and how to lean on each other’s strengths in order to exist in a new place. These lessons felt incredibly relevant to me heading into the first week of November, a notoriously busy time at NatureBridge Yosemite. I wanted to focus on messages of kindness and inclusivity with my students, I wanted them to feel a sense of belonging in this new space, and I also hoped that they would share those messages with others.
An Incredible 10th Anniversary of Evening on the Lake
On October 25, the Amazon Meeting Center in downtown Seattle buzzed with celebratory energy as over 300 NatureBridge guests and supporters gathered for the 10th anniversary of "Evening on the Lake," our signature Pacific Northwest fundraising event for our Olympic campus.
"Science became fun" at NatureBridge for Alum Laura Lomeli Russert
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."