The National Environmental Science Center at Yosemite

NatureBridge is making every effort to start running programs out of the new campus as soon as possible. However, due to complications, we will not be running programs out of NESC for the 2018-19 school year, as anticipated. All scheduled programs with lodging at NESC for this school year will be at Crane Flat. We want to recognize any disappointment this may cause, as we too, are eager to share the NESC with you. 

As of December 2018, two cabins and one bath house is complete and staff housing has been placed. 

NESC is located at the junction of Highway 41 and Henness Ridge Road, one half mile south of the turnoff for the Glacier Point road. The campus is 19 miles from Half Dome Village and adjacent to the Yosemite West community. 

The NESC sits at an elevation of 6,100 feet and is a picturesque example of an upper montane environment. Participants will gaze upon sugar pine forests and panoramic views of the South Fork Merced River watershed. Henness Ridge is peaceful and quiet refuge in a seldom visited corner of the park. 

Due to higher altitude and surrounding trees, Henness Ridge temperatures are about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Yosemite Valley. You can expect cold nights year round and snow cover throughout the winter season.

The cabins at the NESC will provide dormitory-style accommodations with bunk beds. Each 32-bed cabin can be configured into one, two, three or four rooms. Between each room is a door that can be left open or closed depending on the gender breakdown and needs of the group. Two of the rooms accommodate 9 people and the other two sleep 7 people. The cabin rooms are accessed by two separate mud rooms where participants can hang their gear to dry. Each entry way leads to two separate doors for the individual rooms. There are two separate decks off of the back of the cabins.

Each cabin has 32 beds. In most cases, one cabin will be assigned to female participants and the other to male participants. We will generally consider campus capacity to be about 50 participants to account for an uneven gender split among participants.

Schools that have traditionally rotated smaller subgroups between Crane Flat and Yosemite Valley accommodations will now rotate between NESC and Yosemite Valley. Given its similar elevation and environment, NESC will provide many of the same learning opportunities that Crane Flat has provided as well as many new opportunities for learning and exploration. Rotations should be created with an eye toward an even gender split with no more than 28 participants of one gender.

Yes, adult teachers and group leaders will stay in the cabins with students. Sliding pocket doors enable adult leaders to manage the separation of sleeping spaces so that adults can choose to be mixed in the same or different rooms from students, in most cases.

Yes, several outlets will be available in each dormitory.

No, linens are not provided. Be sure to pack the following: sleeping bag, pillow, towel, personal toiletries, and a fitted sheet (twin size). 

Yes, dormitories and other common areas may be shared by other NatureBridge groups depending on the size of each group.

Family-style meals are served in the NESC dining hall. Meals are prepared by NatureBridge staff.

As in all areas of the park, all “smellies” will need to be removed from vehicles. Personal toiletries will be stored inside dormitories and any snacks brought by groups will be stored in the dining hall in a designated storage container.

The bath house is located a short walk from the dorms.