WildLink Alumni Celebrate Earth Day with Youth Leadership Summit

On Earth Day, April 22, a very special group of youth convened in Fresno to participate in WildLink's first annual Youth Leadership Summit. Students came from both Merced Union High School District's Gear Up program and Madera High School. They were joined by volunteer facilitators from Kingsburg, Turlock, Madera, Fresno and Los Angeles.Our theme was "Be the change you want to see in the world". And after spending the day with these youth, I feel good about the world to come, as long as it rests in their capable hands.

The event was held on the beautiful grounds of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust's Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies. We spent the first part of the day playing the Community Change game, which was especially designed for this event. The game simulated the real-life experience of acting as an agent of change in your community. By the end of the game, students had the tools they needed to get started in the process of effectively addressing issues in their own schools and communities, and getting others to engage with those issues.

We spent the second part of the day in extensive group discussion of local environmental and social issues each group was facing in their communities. The Madera group chose to focus on problems they were encountering in implementing an effective recycling program in their high school. The Merced group spent their time discussing a controversial public lands use issue currently under discussion in their county. In the end, both groups came together to share the outcomes of their discussions and provide feedback to one another about their solutions.

It was a day full of learning and new connections, both to new ideas and each other. A great big thanks to all of our particpating students and facilitators; the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust; Terry McLaughlin for her excellent curriculum development contributions; and the Yosemite Institute for sponsoring this event.

We hope to see more of you next year!

WildLink Expansion Plan 2006/2007 School Year

We realize that things might have seemed a little quiet at Wildlink this winter. However, the truth is that we are in a state very much like the plants and animals hidden right now by the mountains’ wintry blanket. Though we haven’t made a lot of noise in the last few months, we have been very busy developing the structure and funding foundations necessary to begin moving forward with an expansion plan that will allow us to double the number of individuals we reach in the 2006/2007 school year. So get ready to see WildLink burst into the warmth of a new season with a brightness and energy you’ve never seen! Here are a few of the developments we have planned:

1)Our first annual Youth Leadership Summit, to be held in Fresno on April 22, 2006. This day-long workshop will be a fun, social environment in which WildLink alumni can play and learn the skills involved with community change. We plan to reach between 40 and 60 WildLink alumni with this program and will build on its success in subsequent years to reach more and more of our youth.

2)A full-time school year Community Organizer, who will be based out of Forest Service offices in Clovis, CA. Their primary responsibilities will include acting as a local support for teachers and students before the expedition as they plan and prepare for their trip, and guiding them through the process of selecting, carrying out, and documenting their Wilderness Ambassador projects. They will also be available for Wilderness Assemblies at schools, as well as publicizing events like our WildLink Family Weekend, Teacher Development Weekend and our new annual Youth Leadership Summit to WildLink alumni in their home communities and schools.

3)A half-time WildLink Assistant, who will be a senior instructor from the Yosemite Institute Field staff. This person will take over the field instruction part of the program by leading our WildLink expeditions. They will also take part in school pre-trip visits, special events and management of the WildLink website.

4)Ten new expeditions of twelve students each, if our development efforts are successful. This increase from six to twelve expeditions per year will double the number of students we serve.

And of course, we will continue to offer our annual Teacher Development Workshop and WildLink Family Weekend.

All of these additions to the program are designed to help us reach more students and teachers with WildLink, and to better support our teachers and alumni. We would like to recognize the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, Yosemite Institute and our many funders; for without their support, none of this would be possible. Thank you.

Richard Iglehart Memorial Expedition II 2006

As a result of the generosity of the Iglehart Wilderness Foundation, students from Liberty High School in Bakersfield and Madera High School in Madera were able to enjoy a true spring backpacking experience to Hite Cove in the Sierra National Forest. The group was small and intimate, due to several flu victims from Reseda High School who were unable to join us at the last minute. However, we made up for our small number with a group that was endowed with tremendous leadership, energy and enthusiasm for new experiences. We wish to thank the Iglehart Wilderness Foundation for increasing their support to make a second expedition in memory of Richard Iglehart possible for this year.

Click here to learn more about Richard Iglehart.

Click here to learn more about the Richard Iglehart Foundation.

Despite an ominous stormy forecast for the week, the weather held and we were only touched with gentle showers as we hiked into our campsite Tuesday morning. The big rain had the courtesy to wait for us to get snug and sleepy in our tents to fall.

We took an adventurous and challenging hike up to a high mountain ridge, where we enjoyed a cool breeze and view worth all the work.
We enjoyed sighting various birds (including a golden eagle!) and learning bird lore from Deeps, and also spotted lots of newts on the trail. But the biggest treat of all was the wildflowers, which unfurled all their best for the sun which graced a spectacular hike out as we revelled in the quintessential spring experience in Hite Cove.

For most it was a trip full of first time challenges and experiences, but throughout our journey, we all discovered what it means to be a leader; how to find your way if you're uncertain; and what Wilderness has to offer each of us in our very different lives. As Deeps reminded us, "the juice is worth the squeeze". And I can assure you, the juice was indeed sweet, well worth the work it took to obtain it this week. Thank you to a group of outstanding expedition members, and to the Iglehart Wilderness Foundation, for a week we won't forget.

Click here to view pictures and journal entries from the expedition!