Applications open november 1st to 30th

Jump To Requirements

In 1989, The McConnell Foundation began funding the Yosemite Program for students in the North State.  Each spring, high school sophomores and juniors from public high schools and public charter schools in Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties, and Big Valley High School in Lassen County spend a transformative week in Yosemite. Groups of students, led by NatureBridge educators, explore the park and participate in discussions and activities designed to heighten awareness of the importance of our natural world.  Keeping this goal in mind, curriculum taught during the week aligns with state and federal standards.

The McConnell Foundation provides full funding for student tuition, transportation, and administration.  Adult chaperones from the schools served accompany students on the trip.  Students who participate in the program are selected by Yosemite Advisors at each high school. Once selected, participants must complete 8 hours of community service related to the environment in order to secure their spot. In past years students have volunteered at organizations such as the Shasta County Wildlife Refuge, Whiskeytown Environmental School, the Upper Sacramento River Exchange, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and the Department of Fish & Game.  They have also cleaned up roadways and started recycling programs in their schools.  The aim of the community service requirement is to further connect students to their community and the earth.

NST’s administration and supervision of The McConnell Foundation’s Yosemite Program align seamlessly with its cradle-to-career mission.  By connecting students to their natural surroundings and offering a real-world on-ramp to environmental education, the program fosters a lifelong sense of stewardship and opens doors to future academic and career pathways in the environmental sciences.  NST is honored to continue this legacy and support the next generation of changemakers as they learn about their role in stewarding our environment.

For more information about the NatureBridge in Yosemite Program, please contact Program Director Onica Mello at (530) 395-8532 or omello@shastacollege.edu.

This program is funded by The McConnell Foundation, Redding, California.  The McConnell Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to help build better communities through philanthropy.

Yosemite National Park

Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

NatureBridge School & Group Environmental Science Programs

Our multi-day, immersive programs transport students in grades 4-12 to outdoor classrooms in world-renowned national parks where they learn scientific concepts first-hand. NatureBridge helps students create lasting connections with themselves, their peers, and the environment through experiential learning.

NATUREBRIDGE IN YOSEMITE 2026

COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT AND IDEAS

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Eight hours of community service, Community Service Verification Form, and a short essay stating how and why you chose your particular community service project. Include details about what you did and what you gained from the experience.
  • Community service must be related to the environment either directly (like picking up trash) or indirectly (like making informational posters raising awareness at your school).
  • Community service can be done for a specific organization (like Turtle Bay or the City of Redding), OR you can do something on your own for the benefit of your school, neighborhood, or the community as a whole. Whatever you do, list the name, phone number, and e-mail address of at least one person who can verify your hours.
  • Community service project submissions must be sent to Program Director Onica Mello at omello@shastacollege.edu by the assigned deadline. Please reach out with any questions — thank you!

IDEAS:

  • Turtle Bay Exploration Park:  sign up by sending an e-mail to lendicott@turtlebay.org.  Dates fill up fast, so the earlier you request work dates, the more likely you are to get them.  Volunteer days for Yosemite students are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on (all Saturdays) January 18th, January 25th, February 1st, and February 15th, 2025.  To meet the 8-hour community service requirement, you’ll need to sign up for two days.  Wear gardening clothes and boots or sneakers, and appropriate outerwear for the weather (rain gear if necessary).  Bring a snack.
  • Ascend Wilderness Experience: contact Keyri Cruz Garcia, Program Director, at ascend@gmail.com or 530-739-1177 for volunteer opportunities in Weaverville
  • City of Redding: contact the Community Services Department at 530-225-4095 for possible opportunities, such as the Community Creek Cleanup or Adopt-A-Spot,
  • Shasta Living Streets: contact Anne Thomas at 530- 547-3198 to find out how you can help Downtown Redding
  • Whiskeytown Environmental School: contact Shasta County Office of Education at 530-225-0200
  • Bureau of Land Management: call 530-224-2100 to see if they have any community service projects
  • California State Parks: Castle Crags, Burney Falls, Old Shasta
  • Shasta Ranger District: 530–926-4511
  • Shasta Trail Association: call 530-926-4511
  • Redding Trail Alliance: call 530-515-0908
  • California Department of Fish and Game: fish hatcheries, habitat restoration
  • US Forest Service: adopt-a-stream programs, education programs, lookout programs
  • The Ecology Center, Mt. Shasta: annual restoration of Panther Meadows. 530-926-5655
  • Dye Creek Preserve: contact Scott Hardage at shardage@TNC.org or 530-527-4261
  • Conservation Districts: Shasta, Siskiyou, Central Modoc, Trinity County
  • Lake, school, and neighborhood roadway cleanup
  • Organize and carry out a recycling program for school sporting events
  • Design and implement a recycling program for your family
  • Do a radio show about environmental topics/projects
  • Give a presentation to elementary school students about the environment
  • Bulletin board displays at school on environmental topics
  • Design and carry out a plan to acquire and plant native trees on school grounds
  • Design and carry out an anti-junk mail campaign
  • Design and carry out a composting project
  • Check social media or your local newspaper for volunteer opportunities
  • Watch a documentary or read a book/article related to the environmental field and create a write-up on your thoughts and takeaways

Be creative! There are many ways to connect with and support the environment!

Applications open november 1st to 30th