Wildlink/Yosemite Bridge 2007 gave six WildLink alumni a two-week, hands-on, learning experience in Yosemite National Park. Through the efforts of the National Park Service personnel and WildLink staff, the Bridge program began to span the divide that exists between diversity oriented education programs and NPS careers. It gave participants the confidence they need to commit to internships and paid positions with the National Park Service in the future. Participants included WildLink alumni Crisol, Juan, Natalie, Juan, Renee and Ana. It was an inspiring, educational, adventurous and exhausting two weeks, and we can't wait to do it again next year! Former WildLink Community Coordinator Melanie Medeiros, NPS Yosemite Leadership Program Manager Jesse Chakrin, and WildLink Program Coordinator Cynthia Ramaciotti took the lead on this very exciting program.

Participants had a wide range of experiences, including:

1. Exposure to 25 presenters representing 7 different organizations operating in Yosemite National Park. Within the Park Service, they heard from 6 different divisions and 12 different branches of Park operations.

2. Assisting with a restoration project in the East Valley.

3. Completing a Wilderness Patrol in Tuolumne Meadows. This included the reduction or removal of 7 fire-rings and the removal of 4 pounds of trash from Lyell Canyon.

4. Completing a tour of Hetch Hetchy, and a boat tour of the reservoir.

5. Assisting with the monitoring of the Peregrine Falcon population at the Rostrum.

6. Assisting Interpretive staff with 3 bear-roves.

7. Job-shadowing Yosemite Institute instructors during a day of field-based, educational programming.

8. Receiving a take-home library of Yosemite literature to participants through a partnership with the Yosemite Association.

9. Spending time getting acquainted with the Yosemite community through events and activities such as Sal’s Tacos, rock-climbing, and live music and dancing with the Adam Burns Band.

We would like to thank the Yosemite Fund, Yosemite Valley School, Yosemite Institute, Delaware North Company, and Yosemite National Park for their generosity, which made this program possible.

We anticipate offering this program next year to another six WildLink alumni, so keep your eyes open for our call for applications, which should be posted in the next few months. We want to see YOU here next summer!