About Us

How We Teach

Lasting connections

You’ll find field science at the core of everything we do. But we can’t bring every student to a national park. We have to reach beyond park boundaries if we are going to gain momentum toward a more sustainable future. So we do more.

We support teachers and students with free curricula and tools they use in the classroom, online, and in their local communities to expand on their NatureBridge experiences. Our research-based training programs prepare teachers to teach environmental education topics in the classroom. Youth leadership and skills development programs provide more opportunities for students to connect with the environment and explore careers in environmental education.

High standards

Our field science curricula meet California, Washington state, and national science standards. And every program is built on the NatureBridge Core Educational Framework, which was developed in partnership with academic, research, and environmental experts from leading institutions. It enables us to meet students where they are and capitalize on their unique strengths and prior knowledge. As a result, every NatureBridge student has a meaningful experience that stays with them long after they’ve left the national park.   

Three common themes

Three Core Educational Framework threads provide a common foundation for every program.

• Learning about the natural and cultural features of the parks in which we teach provides our students with a strong sense of place.
• A range of scientific, cultural, and social topics help students form interconnections and begin to think differently about their relationships to nature and to each other.
• And stewardship lessons help our students understand the need for responsible choices and inspire them to take action.

Always focused on outcomes

The goal of environmental education is responsible environmental behavior. NatureBridge focuses on three key program outcomes that directly support responsible environmental behavior. Our focus on personal growth, improved interpersonal skills and increased academic ability all support our ultimate goal for every student to choose to behave responsibly to protect and preserve the natural world.