Stories from the Field

Fresno’s Building Healthy Communities non-profit brings together high school aged youth from all over Fresno to empower them to become change agents within their schools and communities. In 2025 these agents of change were invited to come to Yosemite for a six day expedition where they got to know their local national park.

When NatureBridge students arrive in Yosemite National Park with their peers, the excitement is instant—shared discoveries, group hikes, laughter echoing between granite walls. But one of the most powerful ways to connect with a place is by stepping away from the group and taking a moment alone. Yosemite belongs to everyone, and in solitude, it can feel like it belongs just to you.

For Andree Blanchier, the memories of Yosemite aren't just mental snapshots of granite peaks and waterfalls; they are the foundational layers of a life dedicated to education and making an impact in her community. Now the Executive Director of the Shasta College Foundation, Andree looks back at her time as a McConnell Scholar in the late 1980’s at NatureBridge (then Yosemite Institute) as the moment the world grew larger than her high school hallways.

Over the past year, NatureBridge has been thrilled to welcome a group of dynamic new leaders to our National Board of Directors and Regional Boards. These all-volunteer roles are vital to the mission and governance of our organization, and they are filled by people who are inspired by outdoor education. Board members offer invaluable guidance and support across our campuses, helping us expand access to transformative environmental science experiences for young people across the country.

San Lorenzo High School students woke up early one Sunday morning in June, some of them having just graduated from high school the week before. They gathered at their school, welcoming summer break, now ready for an adventure. All eleven students and two chaperones jumped into vehicles with their belongings and the group began making their way to Yosemite National Park. Along the way a crucial snack and refreshment stop was made before making their way up the Sierra Nevada foothills and into Yosemite National Park.

June arrived and Yosemite was immersed in summer as the Monache High School group rose one Sunday morning in Porterville, CA. ready for their six day expedition. Full of excitement and anticipation the group piled into their vehicles and began making their way toward Yosemite National Park. No one in the group had ever spent much time in Yosemite or with each other, which was the perfect environment for stretching some boundaries, connecting, and exploring.