Bridge to Nature: In-School & Community Programs
Why Bridge to Nature?
At the heart of WYP is a belief that connection to the land is a birthright that belongs to all people from the beginning of time.
Wilderness Youth Project’s Bridge to Nature programs serve our community and meet participants where they already are, at our partner organization sites and at schools. From preschool through the teen years, we meet at community centers, low-income housing and schools, and partner youth service agencies.
Our Bridge to Nature programs exist as a way to bring WYP to locations that have more limited nature access at no cost to participants. These programs, paired with the opportunities to join summer camps, allow participants to maintain consistent and reliable connections with our mentors.
Bridge to Nature Registration
Visit the website and follow the on-screen instructions to register your child and choose your program by community meeting location or by school/child’s teacher (for example, El Centro or Franklin/Ms. Limon).
Read the blog to learn more about how registration and waitlisting works at WYP. Please read our Covid-19 Precautions and Protocols.
Cost
Thanks to the generosity of our community, Bridge to Nature programs are fully subsidized and are therefore free of charge to participants.
| Early Childhood | Pre-K | Van-based, school day nature program for students at Carpinteria Children's Project or Storyteller Childrens Center | Morning |
| In-School | Grades 4-5 | Van-based, school day nature program for students at Adams, Adelante, Cleveland, Franklin, Harding, Peabody, Notre Dame/St. Raphael | Morning |
| After-School | Grades 2-6 | Van-based, after-school nature programs open to the communities near/at El Centro, McKinley, Los Carneros, Dahlia Court | Afternoon |
| After-School Teens | Grades 5-8 | Van-based, after-school teen program for participants at Police Activities League (PAL) | Afternoon |
Early Childhood
Ages: Pre-K
Van-based school day nature program for students at Carpinteria Children's Project or Storyteller Childrens Center
Morning
In-School
Grades: 4-5
Van-based, school day nature program for students at Adams, Adelante, Cleveland, Franklin, Harding, Peabody, Notre Dame/St. Raphael
Morning
After-School
Grades 2-6
Van-based, after-school nature programs open to the communities near/at El Centro, McKinley, Los Carneros, Dahlia Court
Afternoon
After-School Teens
Grades: 5-8
Van-based, after-school teen program for participants at Police Activities League (PAL)
Afternoon
WYP programs provide fun, adventure, and learning outdoors
- Circle of Thanksgiving—Sharing words of gratitude
- Awareness Games—Camouflage, animal forms, and more
- Wandering—Outdoor exploring nature
- Storytelling—Telling stories with words, journaling, acting
- Art of questioning—The answer always leads to more questions…
- Sit Spot—Knowledge of place, quiet reflection, observation and experience
- Earth skills—Learn fire by friction, cordage,
tracking, archery and more while building relationships with materials from nature
Want to know more about what we do?
Our favorite words to hear from your children are... "That was the best day ever!" And we hear that a lot.
Check out our Parent Resources to read more about program days with WYP.
What community leaders say about WYP
“Wilderness Youth Project sparks an excitement for learning in students. Over the years, I have seen Wilderness Youth Project transform the lives of students, especially students that have experienced trauma.... It has been wonderful to see a student's self-confidence and motivation to learn transformed as they establish deep relationships from staff, students and nature. This love for learning is what we as educators strive to achieve in all of our children."
Former Principal, Adams Elementary School
“WYP leaders served as amazing mentors, seeing students in terms of their assets and potential, encouraging each of them to their unique “greatness”. The students will never be the same. I only wish more educators recognized the importance of this intimate connection to the natural world so that more children in Santa Barbara could have similar experiences.”
Elementary Science Education Consultant for Santa Barbara Unified School District
“Of the many high-quality programs offered to students in the area, Bridge to Nature has by far been the most engaging, informative and inspiring. Their lessons of local nature, the environment, and the natural wonders surrounding them everyday, provide learning that schools alone cannot provide. Thank you, WYP!”
Former Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, SBUSD
“Wilderness Youth Project is like therapy. We’re giving enrichment opportunities to a slice of society that might never have experienced the beauty of nature or felt a part of the environment around them.”
Teacher at McKinley Elementary School Where we Run One of Our School-Based Programs
One reason we are "moving the needle" on test scores is because of our commitment to student engagement and experiential education, especially in the STEM subjects. As we implement Common Core and a focus on process, Wilderness Youth Project helps us to provide the real life inspiration and information these students need to learn.
Adelante Charter School Teacher
