NatureBridge
EIN: 94-2145930
Mission
NatureBridge connects young people to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet. Our Vision: We envision a society transformed by new generations that understand, celebrate and protect the natural world.
Notes from the nonprofit
NatureBridge connects young people to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet. Pre-pandemic, our overnight, experiential environmental science programs hosted more than 30,000 students each year in our national parks to explore the outdoors, connect with their peers, discover themselves and develop a lasting relationship with the environment. During the pandemic, NatureBridge has served thousands of students in virtual programs, and hosted summer backpacking, family camps and daytime environmental science explorations. Our environmental science programs are inclusive. Access for all to transformational science experiences and diversity of participants and educators are core organizational values. NatureBridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We rely on generous donations to support our mission, student scholarships, and new curricula development and program extensions into classrooms.
Ruling year
1997
President & CEO
Mr. Phillip Kilbridge
Main address
1033 Fort Cronkhite
Sausalito, CA 94965 USA
Formerly known as
Yosemite National Institutes
EIN
94-2145930
Environment
Environmental education
Parks
Population served
Children and youth
Infants and toddlers
Adolescents
Families
Economically disadvantaged people
NTEE code
Environmental Education and Outdoor Survival Programs (C60)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Affiliations
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reports Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
With the world's changing climate, increasing threats to wild places, and declines in science in the classroom and in civic engagement in local communities, NatureBridge's mission to foster environmental literacy to sustain our planet has never been more urgent. Our students are the stewards and leaders of tomorrow; our programs inspire personal connections to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. These experiences in the natural world are life changing.
NatureBridge is a leader in the field of environmental education. We collaborate with partners, including leading academic institutions and government agencies such as the National Park Service. Our partnerships in the philanthropic community and with other leading environmental education programs fuel innovation in our programs and in the larger field, elevating environmental education from a nice to have to a necessary component in every child's education.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Environmental Science at NatureBridge
NatureBridge provides outdoor environmental science programs for students in the world's best classrooms—our national parks. Our mission is to connect young people to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet.
In order to further our mission, NatureBridge is committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion and to promoting equal opportunity for students and staff in the field of environmental education.
Armstrong Scholars
Inspired by and in memory of former NatureBridge environmental science educator Joie Armstrong, the Armstrong Scholars Program brings together young women, ages 15 to 18, for a truly empowering summer backpacking adventure in the High Sierra.
Alcoa Scholars
This two-week program is a unique opportunity for high school students to learn and grow in Yosemite National Park or Olympic National Park. Students from communities around the globe explore the wonders of the natural world in UNESCO world heritage sites that provide the optimum experience for hand-on-learning in science.
WildLink
An innovative partnership program between NatureBridge and the National Park Service, WildLink engages underserved high school students from California in wilderness and public lands. WildLink empowers youth to improve their own lives and their communities through a series of wilderness- and home-based experiences.
Summer Day Camp: Coastal Camp
Surrounded by stunning coastal landscapes, Coastal Camp is a summer day camp in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Campers entering grades K-9 engage their curious minds and boundless energy by exploring and investigating the natural world.
TEEM - Teen Environmental Education Mentorship
The Teen Environmental Education Mentorship program is a skills development and environmental education training program for high school students. Participants learn firsthand about coastal ecology and develop outdoor and teaching skills, learning from NatureBridge educators and teaching elementary school students on NatureBridge programs. Interactive workshops introduce environmental education concepts, teaching strategies and public speaking tools.
School and Group Environmental Science Program
NatureBridge’s environmental science programs offer students in grades K-12 the opportunity to learn hands-on science in Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Olympic National Park and Prince William Forest Park. Our three- to five-day residential outdoor science programs are led by experienced educators and customized to enhance a school’s curriculum.
Pre-School Programs and Family Programs
Educator-led, hands-on, experiential programs designed specifically for preschoolers are offered at our Golden Gate National Recreation Area campus. Programs combine student-centered learning and the natural inquiry process that arises from a young child's inherent curiosity about the natural world. Programs can be a one-time field trip or a monthly visit featuring different themes and activities. We also offer a variety of Family Programs that include hikes and nature programs for the entire family. Family programs are offered at our Olympic National Park and Golden Gate National Recreational Area campuses.
Summer Backpacking
High school students learn to think like scientists as they create their own ecological research project while backpacking in the Yosemite National Park wilderness and in the Olympic National Park.
Distance Learning
NatureBridge invites 3rd to 12th grade students to learn and explore environmental science in our reimagined virtual classroom. Guided by skilled NatureBridge educators, students participate in interactive, synchronous sessions that connect them to national parks and the natural world in their own community.
NatureBridge offers modules that are based on our traditional campus-specific curriculum. Generally, a module consists of three sessions of up to 60 minutes each. Two NatureBridge educators lead each session as presenter and host using a video conference platform such as Zoom. Attending classroom teachers participate as chaperones who observe and assist students as needed. Interactive technology tools may include Prezi, Jamboards, Google Slides, breakout sessions and participant polls.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total Environmental Science Scholarship Funds Awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Environmental Science at NatureBridge
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
FY data. In Fiscal Year-20 and Fiscal Year-21, programs were impacted by Covid-19. A Distance Learning program was implemented until National Park operations resumed at all campuses in April 2022.
Total Number of Schools Receiving Scholarship for ESCI Programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Environmental Science at NatureBridge
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
FY data. In Fiscal Year-20 and Fiscal Year-21, programs were impacted by Covid-19. A Distance Learning program was implemented until National Park operations resumed at all campuses in April 2022.
Total of Schools Attending NatureBridge Environmental Science Programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Environmental Science at NatureBridge
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
FY data. In Fiscal Year-20 and Fiscal Year-21, programs were impacted by Covid-19. A Distance Learning program was implemented until National Park operations resumed at all campuses in April 2022.
Total Participants for all Programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
FY data. In Fiscal Year-20 and Fiscal Year-21, programs were impacted by Covid-19. A Distance Learning program was implemented until National Park operations resumed at all campuses in April 2022.
Total Youth Participants for all Programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
FY data. In Fiscal Year-20 and Fiscal Year-21, programs were impacted by Covid-19. A Distance Learning program was implemented until National Park operations resumed at all campuses in April 2022.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
NatureBridge’s mission is to foster environmental literacy to sustain our planet. Founded in 1971 in Yosemite National Park, NatureBridge is the largest residential environmental education partner of the National Park Service and has educated over one million young people. Annually, NatureBridge reaches more than 30,000 K-12 students and teachers with multi-day programs in four national parks: Yosemite National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California; Olympic National Park in Washington State; and Prince William Forest Park in Virginia.
Our goal is to provide residential environmental science and community-based education programs that improve overall environmental literacy to a diverse group of participants. To accomplish this, we generate a newfound interest in science, enhance academic skills, inspire a deep and personal connection with nature, and produce the motivation and knowledge needed for students to become conservationists. We provide tuition assistance to underserved schools based on their percentages of students eligible for the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
NatureBridge responds to the urgent need for environmental science literacy by offering multi-day intensive science programs in national parks and providing tuition assistance to under-resourced schools so that students who need it most can reap the educational benefits of our programs. In the environmental science education program, students live in national parks for two to five days, learning through direct observation and experimentation about what they may have previously only read in textbooks. NatureBridge catalyzes excitement about science for students from diverse financial and cultural backgrounds.
Our environmental science education programs are built on NatureBridge's evidence-based Core Educational Framework. This model was created by the organization's Education Advisory Council, which includes representatives from the National Science Foundation, Stanford University, National Geographic, and others.
The Core Educational Framework is built around three themes:
1. Sense of Place: In order to nurture a sense of place, making students comfortable and prepared to learn, students might look for environmental clues to find the cardinal directions, build interactive maps of the state of California using natural objects, or study state or park geography.
2. Interconnections: Using scientific processes, the parks' natural and cultural histories, and students' own experiences, educators work with students to demonstrate the complex connections between all living things, the environment, and human societies. Through the lens of interconnections, an oak tree becomes a food source for humans and wildlife; a home to acorn woodpeckers; a symbol of Yosemite Valley's disappearing meadows; and a small but important piece of the carbon cycle.
3. Stewardship: Educators engage students in educational park stewardship projects, such as removing invasive plant species and monitoring birds and water quality—an instrumental component in helping students realize their ability to positively impact their home environment and community.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our staff of environmental science educators is at the core of our organization. Working with small groups of elementary, middle, and high school students, our educators bring science to life in national parks through engaging environmental science lessons: walks, hikes, scrambles, explorations, and overnight backcountry expeditions to the best spots in each park. Our educators bring diverse backgrounds to NatureBridge, including advanced degrees in science and education, experience with scientific research, classroom teaching, wilderness expeditionary leadership, outdoor education, and a wide range of other professions. Our educators' strong skills in environmental science and outdoor education, combined with the magnificent settings of our national park campuses, have strong impacts on the students we serve.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
NatureBridge welcomes more than 700 schools and 30,000 students and teachers each year to our four campuses. After more than 40 years of teaching and inspiring students, NatureBridge has provided life-changing experiences for more than 1 million participants and is a national leader in the field of environmental education. NatureBridge is widely recognized for excellence, both regionally and nationally. Education staff members are regularly invited as presenters at conferences to share expertise in best practices in environmental education. NatureBridge received the 2009 North American Association for Environmental Education Award for Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by an Organization and the 2010 John Muir Conservation Award. In additional acknowledgement of our leadership role, NatureBridge was invited by federal officials to share our expertise at a White House summit on environmental education and a congressional hearing conducted by the US Senate Subcommittee on National Parks.
As part of a broader plan to increase our reach substantially across the country, NatureBridge has embarked on two campus expansions: Yosemite and Golden Gate. The expansions will allow NatureBridge to expand our impact through outcomes of: increased student numbers; more scholarship funding available; accommodations and programs for visiting scholars and thought leaders; and refreshed, relevant curriculum on climate change and fire ecology.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
NatureBridge collects feedback through surveys of every school the organization serves to better understand the social and educational impact of our programs and to seek suggestions for improving all aspects of the participant experience. In addition, NatureBridge collects information from every school prior to their trip to the national park to allow our educators to prepare programs that meet the health, accessibility and learning needs of each student.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
other
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2020 info
1.58
Months of cash in 2020 info
7.4
Fringe rate in 2020 info
31%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
NatureBridge
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
NatureBridge
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
This snapshot of NatureBridge’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $701,933 | $779,425 | $736,393 | $349,583 | -$375,021 |
| As % of expenses | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.0% | 1.9% | -2.6% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $141,994 | $182,378 | $202,236 | -$107,842 | -$838,562 |
| As % of expenses | 0.9% | 1.0% | 1.1% | -0.6% | -5.5% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $19,706,584 | $25,279,485 | $21,334,330 | $19,439,441 | $15,639,255 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | -3.1% | 28.3% | -15.6% | -8.9% | -19.5% |
| Program services revenue | 65.7% | 51.7% | 68.3% | 70.8% | 57.7% |
| Membership dues | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| Government grants | 0.4% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| All other grants and contributions | 32.5% | 46.7% | 27.6% | 27.6% | 42.5% |
| Other revenue | 1.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 0.2% | -1.3% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $16,012,478 | $16,974,404 | $18,539,046 | $18,408,702 | $14,690,184 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 0.6% | 6.0% | 9.2% | -0.7% | -20.2% |
| Personnel | 57.5% | 60.3% | 58.3% | 58.8% | 62.3% |
| Professional fees | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| Occupancy | 8.3% | 8.4% | 8.3% | 7.7% | 7.5% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 7.8% | 7.9% | 10.8% | 8.4% | 5.3% |
| All other expenses | 23.3% | 20.3% | 20.1% | 21.0% | 20.0% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $16,572,417 | $17,571,451 | $19,073,203 | $18,866,127 | $15,153,725 |
| One month of savings | $1,334,373 | $1,414,534 | $1,544,921 | $1,534,059 | $1,224,182 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $2,465,683 | $0 | $967,286 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $4,994,072 | $1,072,851 | $4,220,958 | $2,089,290 | $1,037,227 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $22,900,862 | $22,524,519 | $24,839,082 | $23,456,762 | $17,415,134 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 7.4 |
| Months of cash and investments | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 9.1 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | -12.4 | -13.7 | -14.2 | -16.0 | -22.0 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $3,629,133 | $3,928,648 | $5,553,510 | $4,155,320 | $9,118,551 |
| Investments | $2,203,795 | $2,827,802 | $2,934,135 | $3,141,176 | $1,960,337 |
| Receivables | $4,337,968 | $8,572,899 | $6,177,408 | $5,249,248 | $2,820,171 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $30,940,829 | $31,827,772 | $35,995,010 | $37,985,800 | $38,807,419 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 19.9% | 20.7% | 19.6% | 19.5% | 19.8% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 22.9% | 14.4% | 16.2% | 13.6% | 16.0% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $3,631,764 | $3,814,142 | $4,016,378 | $3,908,536 | $3,069,974 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $22,816,111 | $30,459,990 | $32,049,208 | $32,874,883 | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $634,998 | $636,998 | $636,998 | $640,998 | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $23,451,109 | $31,096,988 | $32,686,206 | $33,515,881 | $34,886,217 |
| Total net assets | $27,082,873 | $34,911,130 | $36,702,584 | $37,424,417 | $37,956,191 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
President & CEO
Mr. Phillip Kilbridge
With more than a 25-year career in non-profit leadership, Phillip Kilbridge continues to transform community-based organizations for increased sustainable impact. He served as CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco where he grew the nonprofit from annual revenues around $800,000 to over $16 million in 2015. Kilbridge also held numerous management positions in the social sector, including Development Director at the Charles River Conservancy in Boston, MA.
Kilbridge earned his undergraduate degree from UC Davis, graduate degree from Colorado State University and a leadership certification from Stanford GSB’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders. He is also a graduate of the Coro Fellows and Justice Outside’s Working Toward Equitable Organizations programs and an alumnus of the Outward Bound program in Washington's Northern Cascades.
Kilbridge is on a quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks with 25 left to explore. He lives in St. Louis, MO with his wife and two sons.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
NatureBridge
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
NatureBridge
Highest paid employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
NatureBridge
Board of directorsas of 03/01/2023
Board of directors data
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Kevin T. Newman, Ph.D.
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Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/15/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Contractors
Fiscal year endingProfessional fundraisers
Fiscal year endingSOURCE: IRS Form 990 Schedule G
Solicitation activities
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