Learning Outcomes

As a result of Yosemite Institute programs, students will:

Experience personal growth

  • Demonstrate increased self-understanding, self-reliance, and self-esteem.
  • Demonstrate an increased interest in and appreciation for science, environment, community, and the world around them.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of both natural & human-built environments.
  • Recognize that their actions can make a difference.

Develop interpersonal skills                      

  • Improve their relationships with others.
  • Demonstrate respect for and acceptance of diversity, including differences within a group.
  • Improve their communication skills.
  • Understand and explore the role(s) they play within a group.  

Comprehend academic concepts         

  • Understand how natural & human-built systems function and interact.
  • Understand and think critically about the ways in which humans depend upon and impact the environment.
  • Be able to ask and investigate questions and experience learning as an inquiry-based process.  

Appreciate responsible environmental behavior

  • Understand the impact of their decisions and daily actions on the environment.
  • Understand the value of National Parks, Recreation Areas, and local open spaces.
  • Be familiar with specific behaviors that promote stewardship of the environment.
  • Feel more empowered to initiate or engage in environmental stewardship at home and beyond.