NatureBridge

NatureBridge, formerly Yosemite Institute and later Yosemite National Institutes, is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that provides environmental education through field studies. It has programs for elementary, middle, and high school students in four national park locations: Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Olympic National Park, and Prince William Forest Park.[3]

NatureBridge
Established1971
PurposeEnvironmental education
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, United States
Area served
President and CEO
Phillip Kilbridge[1]
Ian Yolles[2]
Websitehttps://www.naturebridge.org/

The organization is estimated to serve 30 000 students each year.[4][5] Its lessons include hiking, laboratory-style experiments, and excursions in the backcountry.[6]

History

The organization was founded in Yosemite National Park in 1971, under the name Yosemite Institute.[7] Its founding was inspired by a student trip to Yosemite led by high school teacher Don Rees in the same year. He consequently became the organization's first Executive Director.[3] Its first board chair was Jack H. Walston,[7][3] who also served as vice president and director of the Los Angeles-based company Walston and Co. Initial funding was provided by Curry Co. and Yosemite Park itself.[7]

In 1973 Yosemite Institute acquired a special use permit for a blister rust facility in Crane Flat, which it used for longer than was envisioned.[8]: 264  This aging facility was replaced with a new building in Henness Ridge in 2002.[8]: 41  To reflect its growth beyond Yosemite, the organization changed its name to Yosemite National Institutes in 1984.[3]

NatureBridge partnered with Stanford University, the S.D. Betchel Jr. Foundation, and the Pisces Foundation in 2010 to form the ChangeScale initiative, intended to improve environmental education.[4] In 2012, it merged with the Headlands and Olympic Park Institutes.[5] In August 2020, the organization was forced to terminate 21 already-furloughed employees and shut down its Seattle office due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an attempt to counter these losses, it subsequently established an online learning program.[9]

Lake Crescent

The NatureBridge on the coast of Lake Crescent, near the Lake Crescent Lodge, has a variety of activities depending on the school. Some activities range from canoeing, walking in the forest, and maybe even climbing Mt. Stormking.

Awards

On Outside magazine's list of best employers for 2011, NatureBridge was ranked at #30.[10]

References
  1. "National Parks Traveler Episode 73: Teaching Children Well In National Parks". National Parks Traveler Podcast. July 5, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2022. In this episode, [Lynn Riddick] talks with Phillip Kilbridge, president and CEO of NatureBridge.
  2. "Ian Yolles". HuffPost. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  3. "About Us". NatureBridge. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  4. Shive, Ian (August 18, 2020). America's Natural Parks: An American Legacy. Earth Aware Editions. p. 474. ISBN 978-1-68383-927-9.
  5. Vaughn, Jacqueline; Cortner, Hanna J. (November 6, 2013). Philanthropy and the National Park Service (illustrated ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 3. doi:10.1057/9781137353894. ISBN 978-1-349-47107-2.
  6. Khalil, Kathayoon A.; Clavijo, Katherine (February 15, 2020). Practical Evaluation for Conservation Education and Outreach: Assessing Impacts & Enhancing Effectiveness. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 40. LCCN 2019956634.
  7. "Broad environmental perspective goal of new Yosemite Institute". Washington Bulletin. Vol. 23, no. 5. Washington, D.C.: Social Legislation Information Service. March 12, 1973.
  8. A Sense of Place: Design Guidelines for Yosemite Valley. United States: National Park Service. 2004.
  9. Gottlieb, Paul (August 13, 2020). "NatureBridge outdoors program shuts down". Peninsula Daily News. Port Angeles. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  10. "Take This Job & Love it" (PDF). Outside. September 2011. pp. 57–59. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
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