Explore to Learn: NatureBridge Field Research Course

If your high school kids or students are looking for a great way to spend the summer and build up their resume for colleges, the summer field research course (FRC) is a perfect fit. I had the opportunity to participate last summer on a scholarship and had the absolute best time of my life!

The Field Research Course is a summer backpacking program hosted by NatureBridge that provides an opportunity for students from all over the world to come to one of three parks and embark on a backpacking trip where they will come up with a scientific question, develop methods to test that question and then collect data and present their findings! Here's a short video with student and educator reflections about the trip.

All of these students come together from different backgrounds and immediately build friendships and bonds. In my group we had a student from Florida, a student from Louisiana, and even a student from China! The rest of us were from all over California. I still keep in touch with all of the people that were in my group and am incredibly thankful that I had the opportunity to participate!

For my project I worked with three other students and measured the impact that runoff from trails has on plant growth and diversity. We also compared natural runoffs to made-made runoffs to see if there was a difference in their overall impact. Another project tested the growth of California Corn Lilies in an attempt to find their ideal growing location. In addition to our projects, we got to learn about the geology of the park, constellations, plant species and animals. We also got to eat amazing food and see some absolutely spectacular places!

An additional aspect of this trip that makes it amazing and one of a kind is that there is financial aid for families that need it, and NatureBridge can supply students with everything they need in order to be fully equipped for the backcountry! Students also don't have to have any backpacking experience in order to participate.

The group that I went with is part of a research project being conducted by graduate students from Stanford University (that hasn't been published yet) that is studying the impacts that programs like FRC have on its participants. A few weeks ago, I did an annual follow-up interview over the phone and found myself surprised at my answers to the questions that I was being asked. This trip really changed me and I'll give you some examples of how. It gave me the courage, desire, and assurance to make the decision to switch majors from civil engineering to earth systems science. It also made me aware of all the things that I personally can do to have an impact on our planet. As soon as I got home I transformed my home and my parents businesses into more sustainable and less wasteful places. I also declared a minor in global sustainability to learn about more things that I can do to make an impact.

Opportunities like the Field Research Course really do have the potential to change your child's life. I strongly encourage every student to take the opportunity to go on a program like this one. Coming together and working with peers in a beautiful setting makes anything seem possible.