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Service & Stewardship

stew·ard·ship

(stü-ərd-ˌship), n. the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care <stewardship of our natural resources>

(definition from Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

At Yosemite Institute, we teach the value of stewardship through both ideas and actions.  We want students to leave Yosemite with an understanding of what stewardship means, because they are the ones who will ultimately take care of this amazing place and of our planet. 

Stewardship is an idea

The stewardship idea is instilled in our student’s minds and lives by their educators when they are in Yosemite National Park.  The stewardship idea includes the following concepts:

  • Taking care of Yosemite National Park
  • Taking care of their home community
  • Leave No Trace ethics
  • Appreciation for the natural world
  • Recognition that our decisions have consequences for the environment, the Earth, and the people we love

Stewardship is an action

The stewardship action is what students do in Yosemite or at home to care for the Earth. Examples of the student service actions that take care of Yosemite and the Earth are:

Invasive Species Removal – Yosemite Institute students and faculty spent over 841 hours last year removing invasive species that threaten the biodiversity of Yosemite National Park. Students were able to completely eradicate Himalayan blackberry in Ahwahnee Meadow and in a sizable portion of Lower River campground.
 
Field Science Projects – Students can contribute to our scientific understanding of Yosemite by collecting data for ongoing research projects such as water quality monitoring and bird surveys. Click here for a list of our current field science projects. 
 
Litter Removal – Last school year, Yosemite Institute students removed over 275 kilograms (605 pounds) of trash from Yosemite National Park. 
 
Eco team - Find out how your students can create a club in school to make a difference in the community.
 
Carbon offsets  – Find out how you can offset the carbon dioxide emissions produced by your trip to Yosemite.
 
 
 

Share your stewardship stories

If our students are inspired to help their home community after learning about stewardship in Yosemite, we want to hear about their efforts on our blog.