Our Educators

Our staff of highly skilled field educators is key to the success of NatureBridge. Equipped with a wealth of experience, education, and training, our educators change lives by creating dynamic programs that foster connections in Yosemite.

The best in our field

Our field science educators have years of teaching experience in outdoor and environmental education programs and a contagious enthusiasm for exploring the natural world.

All of our educators have:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Wilderness First Responder certification
• Passion about teaching, youth, and the environment

Many of our educators:

• Have traveled or lived abroad, sometimes volunteering for organizations or studying foreign languages.
• Have worked as national park rangers or as certified classroom teachers.
• Currently serve as educators, musicians, photographers, philosophers, poets, birders, artists, athletes, and more.

Educator Spotlight - Katie Wallace

“Teaching at NatureBridge is a dream come true. How is it that I get to spend every day in Yosemite National Park, working with inspiring staff and teaching the next generation of stewards how to take care of the earth?” — Katie Wallace

Katie has been coming to Yosemite on family vacations since she was in the womb, and is proud to now call Yosemite her home. She considers those family vacations to be the guiding force in her love of the outdoors and her decision to work in environmental education. Katie is passionate about teaching park management issues, human history, ecology, and personal growth through physical challenge and introspection. While at NatureBridge, Katie has led an Armstrong Scholars Program and several WildLink expeditions. She has worked with children in one capacity or another since she was 17 years old, including work with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Girl Scouts, and the Peace Corps in Ecuador. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Environmental Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara, where she conducted her senior thesis on Yosemite National Park. 

“Without a doubt, [NatureBridge’s] teaching staff is central to the success of field science programs. They are a principal motivation behind participating teachers’ decisions to attend. Their content knowledge, passion, and creativity in working with children are outstanding.” — 2000 Stanford Evaluation, Final Report

"From the moment we met our NatureBridge field educator until the moment we said our goodbyes, we were learning. Not just about Yosemite, but about ourselves and the world we live in!” — Tracy Nuñez, North Star Academy parent chaperone