WildLink Families Enjoy Autumn in Yosemite

Four families joined us for our annual WildLink Family Weekend from November 3-5. Yosemite graced our weekend with a full mantle of autumn color. Activities included a private screening of the film The Spirit of Yosemite, a day of guided hiking and independent exploration in Yosemite Valley, and a campfire under the stars. Read on to hear the participants' highlights of the weekend.

When asked what his highlight of the weekend was, one participant wrote that, "I thought that happy isles was a very enchanting place, especially where the water began to turn a deep blue color before the first bridge."

Click here to learn more about the WildLink families' experiences and to see more photos.

Click here to view some of this weekend's WildLink Family Recipes!

New WildLink Curriculum Online: the Empowerment Game

Today’s leaders come in all shapes and sizes. With so much going on in the world leaders emerge as opportunity demands. Learning how to lead and how to work with communities for positive change can be powerful and important skills to know. This game is a great first step for introducing youth to these skills in a hands-on, engaging way.

To see pictures and read an account of the use of the Empowerment Game at the WildLink Youth Leadership Summit in spring 2006, click here.

To access everything you need to play the game with your own youth, click here.

Madera and Kingsburg High Schools Go the Extra Mile: Wilderness Ambassador
Project Spotlight

WildLink alumni from Madera and Kingsburg High Schools went the extra mile for their Wilderness Ambassador Project last month. In an effort to link their expedition experience to their home communities, they spent a Saturday doing their part to restore the watershed of the San Joaquin River in Fresno.

They volunteered their time to WildLink partner the San Joaquin River Parkway. Their River Steward Program includes volunteers who are instrumental in maintaining the San Joaquin River Parkway. River Stewards are the driving force of the River Parkway Trust’s Land Stewardship programs, which include habitat restoration, removal of invasive exotic plants, trail maintenance, and river cleanup events. In return for their time, these River Stewards get a number of rewards. These include spending time at the river, and having an opportunity to learn more about this wonderful resource. A tremendous amount of satisfaction can be gained by helping to protect and restore the San Joaquin River.

In recognition of the valuable service volunteers provide to the community, River Stewards are invited on an exclusive, guided canoe tour of the San Joaquin River each year, and will also be eligible to go along on canoe tours that are not fully booked.

WildLink would like to salute the efforts of these very special alumni, and recognize their willingness to really get involved in their Wilderness Ambassador Project.

If you would like to get involved as a River Steward, training is provided for each project. The Workdays are typically the first Saturday of the month and last from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Volunteers meet either at the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies or various other locations on the river.

For more information, please visit the San Joaquin River Parkway website.

Click here to view the Kingsburg and Madera High WildLink expedition pages.

Are you a WildLink teacher or a past student who has something to say? Maybe you've recently had a Wilderness adventure of your own you'd like to share, or you've taken part in a really special Wilderness Ambassador Project. We want to hear from you! If you have a story to share, contact Mandy Vance, WildLink Program Manager at mandy_vance@partner.nps.gov , or phone at (209)372-0607.