If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience
Picture a distracted, fidgety seventh grade boy sitting in a middle school science class. The teacher lectures about the interconnections of old-growth forest ecosystems as the boy’s eyes drift to the window, then glaze over.
Now picture that same student hiking through the Sol Duc Rainforest in Olympic National Park. Partway along the trail, he stops and gazes up at a towering, moss-encrusted Douglas Fir, its stout branches spreading high overhead.
The boy runs his hand along the thick, furrowed bark, then puts his fingers into the damp emerald-green moss. His teacher, standing nearby, invites the boy to look around as they begin to talk about the interconnections of old-growth forest ecosystems.
This bridge, from the classroom to the environment, is what the NatureBridge program in Olympic National Park seeks to build. Since 1988, students from Washington state and beyond have engaged in this nature-based educational experience, with about 4,000 students participating each year.
As its name implies, NatureBridge complements students’ school curriculum by illuminating their academic studies with immersive, hands-on lessons in the outdoors. Through environmental science programs offered in four stunning national park settings across the country, NatureBridge students step beyond the classroom to develop critical thinking skills, teamwork and a lifelong sense of environmental stewardship.
“We value our relationship with the national park,” says Jennifer Kidder, NatureBridge Olympic campus director. “Were proud to partner with them.”
It’s easy to see why. Simply approaching the NatureBridge campus, you feel “outward bound” driving along the winding, picturesque shoreline of Lake Crescent. Entering the grounds, a cozy feeling comes over you. Douglas fir and western red cedar surround you. The setting is spectacular.
“Our students get to enjoy this beautiful place as their home for a few days,” Kidder adds. “For a lot of kids, this is a unique experience; they’ve never been to a program like this. Some have never been on an overnight away from home.”
Students come to the program from across Washington (34 different school districts, representing 15 counties). NatureBridge is open to students in grades four through 12, with the most common participants being fifth and sixth graders.
Arriving with their teachers, students stay in the park overnight, typically from three to five days. And while their teachers accompany them through the program, students are taught by NatureBridge staff educators. The campus involves students – up to 180 at a time – gathering in Storm King Hall, utilizing classroom and lab space at Rosemary Inn, and sharing cabins near Barnes Point on the shores of Lake Crescent, experiencing the ultimate mix of school and summer camp.
“We’re a school, so we try to avoid saying ‘camp,’ ” Kidder says.
And they’re an accredited school. NatureBridge staff are trained, professional educators. The lessons are modeled on scientific inquiry, but there isn’t a set curriculum. It’s planned ahead of time in conjunction with the students’ school. Staff work with visiting teachers to align curriculum, so the outdoor education lessons coordinate with material being taught back at school.
“We have students focus on critical thinking,” Kidder explains. “We encourage them to ask questions, then design investigations and gather data. From there, they try to make meaning of it.”
After experiencing the program, one fifth grader reflected, “I enjoyed it because it was cool to see everything we’ve learned about in class in person. Everything was hands-on and very fun.”
Participating in a NatureBridge program is considered part of the students’ school day, and while students utilize indoor classroom space, especially for lab work, the real classroom is Olympic National Park.
“Their classroom,” Kidder says, “is on the trail to Marymere Falls, or out on the lake in a canoe, or along the shoreline, or at the top of Mount Storm King.”
Standing at Barnes Point and looking over the lake as the morning mist begins to rise toward the top of Pyramid Peak, it’s hard to imagine a more captivating school house.
Students work in small groups, with a maximum size of 15. They might participate in a forest ecology lesson while hiking along Barnes Creek, or bus to the mouth of the Elwha River to study watershed science and the effects of dam removal. The park provides an inviting, engaging classroom.
The core mission of NatureBridge is its educational program, but the organization also sponsors camps for kids whose schools haven’t participated – or for former students who want to return with their families.
Students pay a fee to attend; about 70% of the program’s cost is covered by tuition. NatureBridge makes up the rest through grants and donations.
“We try to be sure our program is accessible,” says Ashlee Dahlberg, NatureBridge Olympic’s director of outreach and enrollment. “We offer substantial scholarships.”
In addition to her role as campus director, Kidder is the chair of the Outdoor Schools of Washington Coalition.
“There has been a drop in enrollment this year because of cuts in state and federal funding,” she said. “It’s been a hard year, but we’re doing OK. Funding is the challenge, and we’re working hard to make this happen for students.”
It’s a worthwhile goal. Students disconnect from screens at NatureBridge, develop as people through thoughtful activities, and link with other students and instructors in an extraordinary setting. They come away more connected to nature, knowing how their actions impact the environment.
NatureBridge staff survey students and gather data to evaluate their experience, invariably seeing comments like, “This is the first time I’ve felt really comfortable in nature” and “I got to make new friends this week” and “I have strengths I didn’t even know I had.”
The influence the program has on kids is measurable: 78% reported they were likely to spend more time outdoors, and 77% said they were more likely to protect the environment following their time at NatureBridge. “Now I see my home, classroom and the world differently than before,” one elementary student commented.
With a mission of connecting young people to the wonders and science of the natural world, NatureBridge helps students develop an understanding of, and thoughtful connection to, the environment.
As another fifth grader put it, “I learned that the ecosystem is thriving with many different roles. I now realize where I live is nature, too. I should care for it.”
For many, it’s a joyful, inspirational experience in nature – a classroom without walls.
One student summed it up by saying, “This experience completely changed my way of seeing life and nature … thank you forest, thank you nature for showing us to be here and learn and connect with you.” X
