The "School Day"
Yosemite Institute
Connecting youth to nature
Yosemite Institute partners with the National Park Service to inspire personal connections to the natural world through environmental education programs in Yosemite National Park. For almost four decades our residential education programs have provided students from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds with the opportunity to actively experience nature’s classroom, often for the first time.
By tapping into our students' sense of wonder through adventure and exploration of this World Heritage Site, we:
- build scientific understanding and effective connections
- forge cooperation, problem-solving, and leadership skills
- teach the skills needed for informed decision-making, active citizenship, and stewardship.
 |
Year-Round School Field Trips » We offer 2 to 5 day residential programs for grades K-12 featuring hands-on, inquiry-based science education in the national park. |
|
 |
Summer Field Research Course for Teens » 16-18 year olds create their own ecological research project and earn college credit while backpacking in the Yosemite wilderness. |
|
 |
Armstrong Scholars Program » An empowering summer backpacking adventure in the high Sierra for young women age 15 - 18 |
|
Bring Your Class to Yosemite Institute!
For more details, call our office at 209.379.9511 or complete our online inquiry form» .
TELL A FRIEND
PRINTCampolindo became affiliated with the Yosemite Institute in 1998, when Geology teacher Jane Kelson discovered the program and coordinated the first trip. "I wanted to give students the opportunity to take what they were learning in the classroom and apply it in a real setting," explains Kelson. Her enthusiasm for the extended field trip has not waned over the years and she continues to oversee and chaperone the program along with five other teachers. Kelson notes, "The students get very excited about science on this trip."
Read the full story at lamorindaweekly.com »
"The Yosemite Institute opened my eyes to the beauty of one of the most majestic natural wonders in the United States, while celebrating the geological and ecological richness of the area," noted Lafayette's Kiera Peacock.
Since 1998, biology, ecology and geology students, along with teachers such as Jane Kelson, have been able to experience the grandeur of one of California's national treasures, while carrying out "hands on" experiments in Yosemite.
The WildLink Club at Turlock High, and now at Pitman High, offers club members the opportunity to explore nature surrounding the Valley area, especially for those who have never had the opportunity before. “It opens up a new world to them,” said Ryan Hollister, WildLink adviser for Turlock High. “They didn’t have the knowledge of what exists out of the bubble of the Central Valley and now they get to see what is out there.”
Read the full story at turlockjournal.com
WASHINGTON – Don Neubacher has been selected as the new superintendent of Yosemite National Park in California. Neubacher takes over from David Uberuaga who has been acting superintendent since Mike Tollefson retired last year.
Read the full story at nps.gov »
The public is invited to review the environmental study that favors building a new Yosemite Environmental Education Center at Henness Ridge near Yosemite West.
Read the full story at mercedsunstar.com »
The Yosemite Institute’s environmental education campus at Crane Flat would be torn down and the site returned to nature under a plan that would see the educational center moved to a new facility at Henness Ridge in Yosemite National Park.
Read the full story at centralvalleybusinesstimes.com »
January 21, 2010
Date: January 15, 2010
A biting cold at Pacheco State Park on Dec. 5 didn't slow down 12 high school students, all members of the WildLink program.
During the five hours the students were at the park they refurbished about 130 yards of trail that WildLink students put in last year and created more than 100 yards of new trail. They also set six new metal trail sign posts in concrete.
San Francisco, Calif. December 21, 2009 –Few people have a passion for Yosemite National Park like Jonathan "Moose" Mutlow. For the past seven years, he’s become well-known for teaching kids about nature, responding to emergencies and for a unique study called "SPLAT Goes the Weasel," which resulted in a new bear protection program.
Date: December 21, 2009
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga has announced that Tom Medema has been selected as the Chief of Interpretation and Education at the park. Tom has been in the position in an acting capacity for well over a year and will officially begin his duties in January, 2010.
Teens from L.A.'s notorious Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools come together in Yosemite. Read the whole story at sierraclub.org»
Yosemite National Park, CA - California kids going back to school are sharing stories of what they did on summer vacation. One group of teens has a unique story to tell. These high school students took a field research course in Yosemite and became young scientists for the National Park Service. Listen to the broadcast and read the story at publicnewsservice.org»
Nature's classroom looks to expand: Yosemite Institute plans for $25 million upgrade
Most classrooms have chalk, desks and bulletin boards. Only one has thundering waterfalls, massive granite rock formations and tranquil green meadows.
Filmmaker visits Yosemite Institute
In late April, Acclaimed documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan visited Yosemite National Park for a screening of selected clips from their new documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.
Directed by Ken Burns, and written by Dayton Duncan, the 12-hour, six part documentary series took over six years to film. It tells the history of our National Parks through the stories of the people who helped shape them. The series will begin airing September 27, 2009 on PBS.
Yosemite Institute's Dr. Adam Burns talks to San Francisco Newstalk radio station KGO about the summer field research course. The program allows teens to create their own research project and earn college credit while backpacking in Yosemite National Park.
NatureBridge Awarded Centennial Challenge Grant
Sausalito, CA–Yosemite Institute is proud to announce today that 10,000 school children from underserved populations will be introduced to the National Parks through scholarships funded by a $750,000 Centennial Challenge grant from the National Park System and matching funds from private donors.
Your contribution helps students participate in life-changing programs in outdoor classrooms.
Sign up for the latest news & information
What are you doing this summer?
 |
For Teachers » |
 |
For Parents » |
Blogs
Contact Yosemite Institute
For general questions: yi@naturebridge.org
Yosemite Institute
P.O. Box 487
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
tel 209.379.9511 | fax 209.379.9510