Stories from the Field

I am thrilled, though not surprised, to report that the 2025 Armstrong Scholars are THRIVING!!! It was such a delight to see them glowing radiantly this past weekend when we, the Resupply Angels, arrived. They were standing arm in arm in a tight arc, singing the most beautiful round for us. SO precious! The round then transitioned into a boisterous rap-rendition dance party! After our collective laughter subsided, the Scholars greeted us with smiles, appreciation, and hugs for those they knew. Such warmth, such beauty, such joy!

NatureBridge is 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 our mission and governance of our organization 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.

Keith Eshelman, Los Angeles-based founder and CEO of Parks Project, is also an active member of NatureBridge’s Yosemite regional board of directors. His stewardship journey began not in a boardroom, but at the trailhead of a closed trail in Big Sur, CA. Hoping to share an outdoor experience with his young daughter, Keith found the trail shut down—and it sparked a question that changed his life: How are we leaving parks and trails for the next generation?

When Dave Yacubian arrived at the windswept Marin Headlands in Northern California as a NatureBridge (formerly The Headlands Institute) Field Science Educator in 2001, he already had a deep connection to wild places. His initial connection—first sparked during a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course in the Rocky Mountains that Dave participated in when he was 20 years old—has shaped a career dedicated to environmental education and the transformative power of the outdoors. Dave’s roots run deep with both NOLS and NatureBridge—and he sees powerful connections between the two organizations.

Working in Yosemite, every week poses a new challenge, whether it's snowy weather in the winter, mosquitos in the spring, or any number of other things that could happen while working in a wild place. One week this past April, my challenge came in the form of working with a new age group of students: high schoolers from the McConnell Foundation. In the time that I’ve been working at NatureBridge Yosemite, I have mainly stuck to my comfort zone of working with middle schoolers, but this week? Something new, something different, and hopefully something exciting. I hoped that my group would also be willing to take on new challenges with me.

Terri Carta has spent most of her life championing the importance of preserving natural spaces. Growing up in Southern California, Terri avidly explored parks and outdoor spaces with her family, but it wasn’t until high school that she learned what it means to advocate on their behalf. Her conservation journey began not with a specific career goal, but with a class trip to NatureBridge (formerly Yosemite Institute) that combined adventure, discovery, and the power of Dr. Seuss’ book "The Lorax."