The Passing of a Giant: Matthew A. Baxter, Jr.
Andy Baxter, prince among men and one of the last true gentlemen, passed away in February 2022. Andy committed himself passionately to several organizations he held close to his heart—lucky for our mission and the students we serve, one of those organizations was NatureBridge.
Andy came to know NatureBridge through tragedy. His son Matt was a NatureBridge educator in Yosemite National Park. In 1999, Matt died in a rock climbing accident. Following his passing, the Baxter family established the Matthew A. Baxter, III Memorial Fund and the Baxter Award was born. The award inspires staff to dream their wildest dream, seek adventure, push their personal limits and impact the world. To date, over 65 staff members have had their dreams realized thanks to the generosity of the Baxter family.
Andy was tireless. He was unique in his ability to push NatureBridge to be better, to make a greater impact and to support our staff and the students we serve with ferocity and compassion. Andy joined NatureBridge’s Board of Directors in 2007. He served as Vice Chair and Treasurer, and was named Emeritus in 2021. His involvement with and support of NatureBridge was profoundly impactful and an inspiration to all. He made us all more generous and thoughtful, and he made NatureBridge a better organization. A celebration of Andy's legacy will take place on May 12, 2022 with NatureBridge friends.
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."