From September 30 - October 2, 2005, WildLink teachers from all over California for a special WildLink adventure in Yosemite National Park. Enjoy the following writings, photographs and artwork which share the story of their experiences.

As I sit looking across an expanse of perhaps 15 miles with jagged peaks in the distance and a tree filled valley in the foreground, Ii feel a connection with nature that is special. More than at most times, I feel the beauty of this world--its immensity and grandeur. There is silence and peace-a time to appreciate the warmth of the sun on my back and the little chill of the air on my face. I think that being in the High Sierras "refreshes my soul" or awakens a deep sense of "awareness" with nature that can get lost in the hubbub of everyday life. I feel closer to nature. I feel closer to myself. These mountains are special because they insire in me awe, wonder and introspection.

-Sally, Madera High School

Yosemite/the Sierra is sacred to me because it is a place of unbelievable beauty. The air, the rivers, the sky are beyond the imagination in beauty. Yosemite is a place where there is more wilderness than civilization. Every time I visit it is always new with the comfort of the familiar. Yosemite has history of memories reaching over 50 years. There are memories of my children, of youthful friends, of my children, of my students and of my adult friends. Most of all it is a place of comfort and solace. It can be a place to be anonymous with your thoughts.

-Anonymous

These are our mountains in the sense we are the generational custodians. Wilderness is a monument to dedication to our children and grandchildren.

-Caroline, Vista High School

Why are these mountains your mountains?

Because I care about them and I want them to be here in their next to pristine state for generations to come. I will support them.

-Cathy, Vista High School

Mount Dana, Yosemite. Mt. Dana and the sierra in general, are special to me because of the humbling and inspiring experience that the sierras have provided and continue to provide for me.

-Anonymous

Yosemite is my mountain. It is sacred to me because it provides us with water. Water is life itself. Even though the water has to travel a great distance the water finds me and my family. This mountain is sacred because it has to be climbed. A pilgrimage must be made to appreciate this vast sacred place. It is a place that we have a need to share with someone. I believe in God. Places like this cause me to have greater faith in God and everything he does. I am grateful that he allows me to be a part of all this. The wonder of it all. To be a part of it is the greatest wonder of all.

Also the wonder of how many humans before me had similar thoughts and meditations. Though a sinner I am part of this sacred experience. As I ponder these words I listen to the wind through the trees, over the rocks and around my ears. The wind is so primitive but at the same time I hear the contemporary sounds of jets, and the traffic over the highway. It is very odd but they seem to go together-so natural!

My wish is to provide this experience for my grandchildren and their children. That they too will appreciate the sacred mountain, maybe even more than I. Yosemite is in our backyard, but we spend very little time appreciating what we have. WildLink takes us to the mountain for a spiritual encounter. If we are touched we will protect it. If we are touched we will share it.

-Anthony, Turlock High School

These mountains do not hold special meaning for me. They are another example of beautiful unspoiled mountains which are found all over the world. Man has something within which drives us upward. We want to be higher than we are. The mountains can give us this feeling. They can inspire us to dare new things. The mountains also remind us of our smallness which keeps our lofty feeling about ourselves in balance with the reality of our finiteness. Mountains give us hope because they refresh us and remind that we can try again, that there is higher ground and we can go there. I believe a student coming here would be awed by all that he or she sees. I think we would get a fresh wholesome look at the physical world we all live in. I think a student would be proud to be able to come here, to be on a mountain, to look on the valleys below. I think a student might feel “hey, my life can be different; I can get to the mountaintop. I can do things in many places. This is what I am meant to do, to move onto higher ground."

-Anonymous

Oh the beauty of this place! 360 degrees of proof to me that God created my world. These mountains truly are sacred. For me to write about the sacredness of this place, I must first define sacred. Sacred is a place of respect, a feeling of understanding of the unknown. Sacred is the ultimate of creation, the center of my being! These mountains offer to me that the world just didn’t happen. For such a “perfect” place to exist, there must be spirituality. The vastness, the contrasts, the serenity of these mountains makes me slow down to realize I am just a part of the big picture. But I also, with that realization, know I have to help preserve this beauty for future generations. Along with my privilege of knowing this place, I must accept the responsibility of ownership. I must share with others the beauty of and the majestic feel of these mountains. To see off in the distance snow covered peaks, plateaus, trees, wildlife, and a vastness beyond pictures, is to experience the euphoric feeling of sacredness. The emotional side of my mind’s pictures of this beauty is beyond words. A place where I can experience levels of deep thoughts in my mind, is truly a special, sacred place. Nature is the ultimate sacred place for me. Sitting here now makes me so special!

-Mary Ann, Turlock High School

My Mountain

On my mountain I can see with clarity.
On my mountain I can feel the wind.
On my mountain I can hear myself.
On my mountain I can taste the purity of what it is to be alive.
On my mountain I feel the cold granite on my back;
On my mountain Trees sway with the wind
On my mountain I can fall asleep.
On my mountain I can eat.
On my mountain I can taste the complexity of what it is to be alive
On my mountain I can forget my worries
On my mountain I can think of my worries.
On my mountain I can smile, laugh, and scream with excitement.
On my mountain I can cry.
On my mountain I can be sane.
On my mountain I can be Insane.
On my mountain can be me.
I am my mountain.

-Rudy, Reseda High School

These mountains mean to me the evolution of Earth. It took probably millions of years for Mother Nature to create them. It is a very beautiful site. I think students would gain a lot more respect for nature if they participate in this program. I also believe they would gain very valuable lessons about life like don’t give up, teamwork, and respect for the environment. I also believe that it is a spiritual place because it’s you against Mother Nature and overcoming the obstacles like making it to the top. A very rewarding feeling of accomplishment, teamwork and camaraderie. For many socioeconomically challenged youth it is a life changing experience to be on this mountain. By taking them out of their element you are providing experiences that they might not otherwise experience.

-Ricardo, Harbor City Boys & Girls Club

Mt. Dana. What is its significance for me? Things tend to come easy to me for the most part. However, I cannot make this same claim when it comes to physical challenges. When I was younger, I was quite athletic. Now, even though I may appear athletic, my body tells a very different tale. Because of this, I often shy away from activities that I might not succeed in. Failure is unacceptable. Yet failure is not unacceptable. It is a learning opportunity in which I can take away even more than had I succeeded. This mountain, Mt Dana, kicked my butt. Every time I wanted to quit, I asked for help. Help usually would have come from Donnie, but he is not here. Help came in the form of a gust of wind that pushed me on. Despite the pain and fatigue, I made it. I would like to say that I made it on my own, but I know better. It was definitely a team effort and it inspired me.

Significance for my students? What mountains have they climbed? None. This will have a huge significance in their lives because it will push them where they have never gone before. They will be able to look back on this experience and remember the sense of accomplishment they felt the day they arrived at their destination. What seemed out of their reach will now be in the palm of their hands.

-Christina, Franklin High School