– John Muir

“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.”

Join an adventure for change

in YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER

The National Environmental Science Center will allow us to reimagine environmental science education. It will be the most advanced facility of its kind. From the stunning buildings to the backdrop of Yosemite National Park, it will provide the space, the tools, the technology, and the gifted outdoor educators so that students, teachers, and guests will learn, explore, and create new educational benchmarks.

Now is the time to propel conservation, exploration, and environmental science to new heights. To do so, we need like-minded partners like you. Here is why it is worth the effort to join us on this adventure for change:

THE MISSION

“Thanks to these experiences at Yosemite, I began to develop an environmental conscience that lead me to choose not just a career but a life dedicated to environmental protection.”

– Ray Cheung, NatureBridge Student

THE REASONS

Building a National Beacon: The future of environmental science begins with this project. For more than 40 years NatureBridge and the National Park Service have partnered to provide world-class environmental science to over 1 million participants. The National Environmental Science Center in Yosemite will cultivate the next generation of scientists, conservationists, and community leaders.

Quality & Impact: The National Environmental Science Center will serve as a laboratory for modeling best practices in the field of environmental education. By opening our doors to thought leaders from around the world, we will spark innovation. Through our research and practice we will become an accessible resource for environmental science education practitioners.

Meeting an Urgent Need: With only 21% of the nation’s 12th-grade students proving proficient in science, coupled with growing environmental challenges, the need for specialized focus on environmental science is urgent. Young people suffer from Nature Deficit Disorder, spending less than seven minutes outside each day. At the National Environmental Science Center, children will spend over eight hours a day learning to connect with and understand nature.

Modeling Efficiency & Sustainability for the Future:The National Environmental Science Center will dramatically increase NatureBridge in Yosemite’s program participation to 20,000 students per year. But it’s not just the numbers. The center will integrate the latest design and energy efficiency concepts to provide a model of sustainability that students can interact with and learn from, firsthand. The center has been designed to meet the highest levels of LEED certification and will be a Net Zero facility.

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Feeling awe, even for a moment, can shake the foundation of what we believe. It arouses courage to face the unknown, rewarding us with excitement and discovery. Its resonance is undeniable. At its most basic, awe incites a pause, and at its most potent, a lifetime of dedication.

Awe can come from many places, but none parallels nature’s ability to humble and astound. The pinnacle expression of nature’s awe-inducing prowess is the majesty of Yosemite National Park. Standing at the base of El Capitan, walking amongst giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove, or basking in the embrace of the grand cathedral of the Yosemite Valley, your heart flutters, your thoughts slow, and a feeling unlike any other overwhelms. That is awesome.

As the pace of modern demands exponentially quickens, experiencing awe and wonder is rare. However, for over 40 years NatureBridge and Yosemite National Park have partnered to plant the seed of environmental stewardship in our youth, through immersive experiences in nature paired with science-based education.

The National Environmental Science Center is an unprecedented project. It heralds a new era for science-based environmental education on a national scale by serving as a residential laboratory for modeling best practices and promoting innovation within the broader field of environmental education.

This project is not a dream; it’s a declaration. It’s a resounding commitment to conservancy, an investment in hundreds of thousands of life-changing educational experiences and their cumulative impact on multiple generations of young people. In short, it proclaims:

AWE: THE RESULT OF EXPOSURE, THE EXPRESSION OF WONDER AND THE FUEL FOR CURIOSITY.

LONG LIVE AWESOME

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THE CENTER & SUSTAINABILITY

1. Highly insulated and air-tight building envelopes and abun-dant daylight reduce the need for energy use in buildings.

2. Elimination of fossil fuel use except for cooking and emer-gency power generation.

3. Use of local materials, including the use of Incense Cedar for wood siding, the same species of trees that naturally grow on the site.

4. On-site photovoltaic for a renewable energy resource.

5. Bio-gas recovery system, an additional renewable energy resource to heat water.

6. Ground source heat pump wells for building heating, do-mestic water heating, and cold storage refrigeration.

7. Water comes from and returns to local watershed, and on-site use is reduced by 60 percent over current use.

8. Greywater harvesting system collects water for use in flushing toilets.

9. Durable materials for longevity and limited maintenance.

10. Triple-glazed windows for additional energy efficiency in the buildings

The National Environmental Science Center will provide a permanent, sustainable home for environmental science in Yosemite. Setting the endeavor further apart from any previous undertaking is the thoughtfulness and priority placed on assuring the center harmonizes with its immediate environment. From the final selection of Henness Ridge inside Yosemite National Park as the optimal location to the careful sourcing of the construction materials, no detail was left unconsidered.

THE IMPACT

7 MINUTES Average time children and teens spend

outside, daily.

224: Future capacity available year-round for environmental education.

100%: Level of Universal Access.

60: Current capacity available year round for environmental education

0: Number of National Parks that have an education facility like this.

8+ HOURS Time children and teens spend outside every day of a NatureBridge Program 100%

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As we approach the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service, we are inspired by John Muir’s bold vision, his revolutionary words, and his accomplishments. It is now our time to imagine new ways to foster environ-mental literacy for future generations.

Construction of the National Environmental Science Center has begun, but to complete the project we are calling for additional support and allegiance from foundations, corporations, and individuals for whom conservation, environmental science education, and the future impact of environmental stewardship are top priorities.

Generous supporters have provided a strong foundation for the $56 million campaign to realize our vision of building the National Environmental Science Center in Yosemite National Park.

Join us on this adventure for change.

JASON MORRIS | jmorris@naturebridge.org | 415-992-4760

WE’RE READY. JOIN US.

· Anonymous · The Anders Foundation · Matthew A. Baxter, Jr. · S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation · The Benjamin Family Foundation · David G. and Maureen E. Brown · The Eucalyptus Foundation · Randi and Bob Fisher · John and Elaine French Family Foundation · The Kendeda Fund · Stephen H. Lockhart, M.D., Ph.D. and Karen Bals · Elizabeth G. Maughan Charitable Foundation · The McConnell Foundation · National Park Service · Allan J. and Kristina J. Prager · The Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation · William W. and Leslie Thompson · NatureBridge Board of Directors (past and present)

Current Major Funding Provided By ($50,000+):

THE JOURNEY

2019 Photovoltaic, amphitheater

2018 Classrooms, east bath house, four east cabins, remaining water treatment

2017 Crane flat ecological restoration

2014 - 2016Surface level construction begins

2014Break ground on first buildings

2013 Underground utility project starts

2012 Domestic water project completed - funded by NPS

2010National Park Service Approval Record of Decision for selection of Henness Ridge

2009Final Environmental impact statement issued

2007 Range of alternatives identified

2005Full-time Project Manager hired

Our goal is to provide future generations with the environmental know-how to create healthy communities and a healthy planet.

The National Environmental Science Center will influence these two pillars of our vision. From the point of conception, every design detail of the center has been informed by the educational experience. This student-centric approach to design will result in an unrivaled environment to deliver our educational curriculum. Closely paralleling the focus on programmatic needs is our commitment to creating a universally accessible campus.

Our educational philosophy and core framework in action

Increasingly complex environmental challenges inspire us to deepen the impact of NatureBridge programs. By exposing students to the wonder and science of nature, we teach them to analyze and understand scientific data, encourage collaboration with peers, and increase science literacy.

Our multiday residential environmental science programs spark our students’ curiosity and builds their confidence to critically analyze the world around them. Students are challenged to make informed decisions about the relationship between humans and the natural world, and to protect and sustain our natural resources.

Our programs inspire remarkable personal growth, improved interpersonal skills, and increased academic ability. This all adds up to our ultimate goal: fostering environmental literacy to sustain our planet.

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE:

“The power of imagination makes us infinite.”

– John Muir

A Proud Partner of the National Park Service

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SOMETHE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

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