Written by students who attended the program
Photos by Ms. Kravitz and students who attended the program

On October 26, 12 DVGS high school students went on a road trip to attend Nature Bridge’s Environmental Science program in Yosemite National Park. Nature Bridge, a nonprofit organization, opened the door to this incredible experience. Their mission is to provide students with the opportunity to learn about the science and wonders of the natural world. The group arrived in Yosemite Valley and stopped briefly at Bridalveil Falls, where we witnessed the park’s beauty. Afterwards, we settled into our cabin tents in Curry Village to get ready for three days of exploration and outdoor activities. 

On Monday, we woke up bright and early to prepare for the long day ahead. After eating a nutritious breakfast, we packed our bags and headed off on our adventure to see Yosemite Falls. The trek to Yosemite Falls is not short, so we were able to see many sites on the way there, where we were able to explore the theme of the day, “Attention is the doorway to awe”. During our walk and hike to Yosemite Falls, our instructor, Alicia, taught us about the names of the different mountains and about the various animal and plant species we encountered. We learned about why some mountains in the sun appeared a lighter color than mountains that don’t have as much exposure to sunlight. It’s because lichen, which has a dark grey hue, grows in areas with more water and less sunlight, that’s why some mountain sides are darker than others.

We finished our picnic lunch and walked the final paths that led us to the platform where we could see Yosemite Falls. We took in this beautiful sight as we breathed in the fresh air and listened to the water fall onto the boulders. Yosemite Falls is said to be the tallest waterfall in Northern California. It is a three-layered waterfall and stands around 2,425 feet (739 meters) tall. As we walked back to camp from Yosemite Falls, we took an hour to do a solo nature walk in the field and sat under the towering trees to conclude our day through journaling.

On Tuesday, we woke up excited for another day of exploring Yosemite. We took a bus to the other side of the valley, where we had not been the day before, and began our walk to El Capitan, a huge mountain. We learned about map reading and took turns leading the group towards our destination. On our way there, we stopped by a river to have lunch and played some games before continuing our walk. As we walked closer towards El Capitan, we understood the theme of the day, “The more you look, the more you see”. Students observed rock climbers climbing on El Capitan. The closer we looked at the mountain, the more climbers we saw. Since October is perfect weather, not too warm and not too cold, rock climbers enjoy climbing at this time and call the month “Rocktober”. As we finished up our walk, we stopped by the Devil’s Elbow, a beach-like location, to do some reflection and watercolor to end the journey.

After a long day of hiking, we have exciting afternoon activities waiting for us. The activities took place at night, allowing us to see the shining stars in a sky undisturbed by light pollution. We admire the starry night sky, truly living in the moment. Everyone bonded by telling stories; sharing heart-warming stories and stories native to Yosemite. It was interesting to hear about the history of Yosemite Park. We also had personal time with nature; we had the opportunity to find a space for ourselves and sit down to observe the night sky. Additionally, we were also allowed to meditate under the stars, focusing on the environment around us and appreciating the wonderful gifts nature has given us.

With excitement and a touch of bittersweetness, the students spent their final hours in Yosemite scrambling and climbing on rocks in an exciting cave adventure. Our Nature Bridge educator led us through Bear Cave, which got its name from the bear-like shape on the top of the entrance. After finding our way through the small cave, we were able to admire the Yosemite Valley from a rocky platform high among its treetops. Upon gazing up at the Yosemite mountains that we have grown so familiar with in the past days, we deeply appreciated the precious memories we had in this gorgeous place, and a couple of students made vows to visit again

The students cherished this unique learning experience as it taught valuable lessons beyond the traditional classroom setting. Each student moves forward with a new perspective on nature and countless joyful memories to look back on. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all Nature Bridge staff who made this experience possible, as it has made a profound impact on each student’s view of the world. Lastly, we would like to express our appreciation to Ms. Kravitz and all the chaperones who drove the students down to Yosemite National Park, helping make this unforgettable trip possible. 

Students share their experience. 

“Through this trip, I developed a deeper gratitude towards nature and realized its beauty. Additionally, it gave me the chance to disconnect from the distractions and embrace the present moment.”  – Ella Ng, 10th grade

“It was truly a magical experience. I am so glad that I went on the trip and I’m truly grateful for everyone who enabled this to happen.” – Doris Guo, 11th grade

“The trip opened a new door, as an opportunity to learn and experiment, and change to a closer lens to examine the environment surrounding. We learn a lot more from what we know, as well as a time for friends to bond. ” – Gabby Nguyen, 12th grade