Check out members of our amazing NatureBridge team who care passionately about the students who join us every week. They are proactive problem solvers, caring and creative programmers, and they see each student as both independent and interdependent.
At Coastal Camp in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a table for our new climate solutions lab was unfortunately delivered broken, on a bashed-apart pallet, with plastic wrap strewn across the student assembly area. Callie, one of our team members, immediately took action, cleaning up the mess, and not waiting for anyone else to do the work. Soon, PaHoua Lee, MBA, Stephanie, Andrea, and other passerbys joined in. A new board member who was observing the program, Michelle Bonner Techel, dove in to help. Together, they laughed, lifted, and loaded, each focused on taking action so that the kids would have a safe and beautiful final campfire celebration.
Reflecting on an interview I listened to this morning with Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone and The Upswing, I was reminded of the importance of active and involved membership in building community. This resonates deeply with the NatureBridge community and the experiences I had this week. From sharing snacks and drinks with volunteers from Yosemite, Golden Gate, and the national board, to mini-retreats with staff, to learning from our newest team member Audrey Galo, I’m reminded that our work is not just about connecting kids with nature but also about fostering connections among ourselves.
I am grateful for the honor of working with such a dedicated team, helping kids discover the natural world and each other. NatureBridge, Carroll Yandell, David C. Jones, Monte Meyers, Will Thompson, Dan Cummings, Leslie Smith, Judy Lin, Aaron Rich, Ari Blum, Ben Toland, Steve Nelson, Melissa Armanini, Susan S. Boren #BowlingAlone #NationalParks Michelle Bonner Techel