Guest Blog: Yosemite - Ultimate Outdoor Classroom

Freelance Travel Writer and Bay area resident Nancy D. Brown recently wrote about her high school daughter's experience with the Yosemite Institute.

With California's budget cuts in the public schools, it is nice to see that our programs offer value to not only teachers and students, but the parent's of students appreciate our offerings as well.

Here is what Brown had to say on her "What a Trip" blog about
Yosemite's Ultimate Outdoor Classroom:

Yosemite is a beautiful place in the winter time. No crowds, fresh snow and glorious days to take in the breath taking sights.

My high school senior recently returned from a five day and night trip to Yosemite. It was sponsored and partially funded by the public high school she attends in Northern California.

Jane Kelson teaches geology at Campolindo High School and spear heads the Yosemite Institute Field Course. In addition to studying geology, biology and ecology, the students do "hands on" projects such as testing the water quality of Yosemite Creek. It's outdoor classroom experiences like this that keep students motivated and opens their eyes to alternative areas of exploration.

High school senior Andi Kohen said, "the best part of visiting Yosemite was that it was an amazing opportunity to bond with fellow students while participating in a fun learning environment. Visiting Yosemite taught me a lot about how to respect nature, such as trying not to leave one crumb behind in order not to upset the ecosystem. Not only did it teach us to respect nature, it also taught us to respect others, such as our Yosemite Institute instructor when they are trying to teach us something important. It was an amazing experience and I'm so glad I got a chance to experience it."

The students slept in the canvas-covered tent cabins at Curry Village for a couple of days and then moved to the eastern part of Yosemite valley. They cross country skied on fresh fallen snow, glided across frozen ice on skates, created a human pyramid in front of a fallen tree trunk in Mariposa Grove and ate lunch at the base of a waterfall. How awesome is that?

As some of you know, California schools are taking a huge economic hit. Our Acalanes School District is experiencing  a $4.8 million district budget shortfall.

Administrators are going through classroom course offerings with a fine tooth comb to see where cuts can be made. Classes such as the Yosemite Institute Field Class may be on the chopping block. For our students, and future high school students who follow in their footsteps, I hope organizations such as the Moraga Education Foundation continue to fund outdoor classes such as this.

The experiences our children have outside the classroom are as powerful and motivating as their studies behind closed walls.

NatureBridge is striving toward the goal of giving all young people the opportunity for powerful immersive experiences in nature. How have experiences in nature shaped you?