Making Waves at An Evening Outside with NatureBridge
On May 16, we hosted our annual fundraising event, An Evening Outside with NatureBridge, at our Golden Gate campus. In classic Bay Area fashion, the fog and mist arrived as unexpected guests, but the weather did not deter us from celebrating a momentous occasion for NatureBridge: for the first time ever at this event, we raised over one million dollars, which will directly support our students, our campuses, and our staff.
The evening began with a bustling cocktail and activity hour that showcased our beautiful Golden Gate campus and the inspiring work our environmental science educators do every day. Guests visited our Intertidal Lab and Skins and Skulls Lab, participated in team-building activities, and chatted with our staff about the impact NatureBridge programs have on young people.
Gathering for dinner in our luxe, hilltop tent, guests mingled and enjoyed a delicious meal amid the live music of a jazz trio from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the breathtaking backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. The evening's program included messages from emcee DawnMarie Kotsonis, Yosemite Regional Director Corinne Dedini, Golden Gate Campus Director PaHoua Lee, and NatureBridge President and CEO Phil Kilbridge. Each speaker in turn illustrated how NatureBridge programs have played a role in the development of thousands of young people, unlocking students' love for nature and facilitating meaningful connections to the people and world around them.
We were awe-inspired by our Student of the Year, Kai Diaz, who shared how they felt as though they could touch the stars during their trip to NatureBridge in Yosemite. Kai's experience led them to the decision to pursue a career in outdoor education and outreach; they are currently working as a seasonal park aide at Colonel Allensworth State Park, and they hope to serve as an interpretive ranger at additional parks in the future.
Being in Yosemite solidified my decision for my future career path... I wish to inspire, teach, and instill the love and care I have for the great outdoors on to future generations.Kai Diaz, 2024 Student of the Year
Our featured speaker Dr. Britt Wray shared incredible insights from her research on the intersection of mental health and the climate crisis. Dr. Wray lauded the curiosity, hope, and passion that NatureBridge inspires in students, and she emphasized how young people can influence the hearts and minds of their families when they bring the lessons of NatureBridge home with them.
The gathered guests, donors, and sponsors took Kai's and Dr. Wray's words to heart and declared their support of NatureBridge with a rousing auction and raise the paddle fundraiser. Altogether, we raised a record-breaking $1.17 million in donations!
We’d like to express our gratitude to everyone who made this evening such a success: our regional and national board members, our event planning committee, our staff and environmental educators, our student alumni and their families and teachers, our sponsors, and our guests. Thank you, and we hope to see you at our next event!
Stories
In Memory of Ty Cobb: A Visionary Leader of Resilience and Impact
Ty Cobb, former CEO of Yosemite National Institutes (now NatureBridge), passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in Reno at the age of 84. Known for his visionary leadership, resilience, and ability to inspire collaboration, Ty guided YNI through some of its most difficult moments while building a foundation for its future growth and success.
WildLink November 2024: Woodlake High School
This November, Woodlake High School students and chaperones arrived in Yosemite for their first year as a WildLink school, and we are so excited to have them on the team! That means that the brave students who signed up for this expedition had virtually no idea what to expect before signing up for the trip, because none of their peers had experienced it before them! The week, although quite frigid, was full of lovely views, learning about Wilderness, spending lots of time by the river, and enjoying the beauty of Yosemite Valley and Wilderness. Their educators Sarah and Amelia were excited to help this group feel a sense of belonging in this place. They were also lucky enough to be joined by Ranger Lissie on their first day in the Wilderness!
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.