- Career Connection: Jul 8-20, 2012
- Yosemite-WildLink Bridge 2012
- Yosemite National Park
Six students spent two weeks in Yosemite exploring the variety of careers that exist here, learning about the lifestyle of a national park resident, giving back to the park through volunteer service, and gaining valuable professional skills.
Students from 2012's "Team Spidey" hailed from Los Angeles, New York, and the Central Valley. They bonded over games of basketball, soccer, and playing cards, as well as through music and shared meals at the Yosemite Lodge.
Highlights for the course included discovering new historical artifacts with Yosemite's fire archaeologist, dismantling inappropriate fire rings in the Wilderness, meeting with the park superintendant and deputy superintendant, going on patrols with Wilderness, Law Enforcement, and Wildlilfe rangers, and sunrise on the last day at Tunnel View.

Meeting with interpretive ranger Shelton Johnson to learn about his efforts at telling the Buffalo Soldier story to the American public.

Trying on firefighter gear with fire archaeologist Jun Kinoshita

Removing illegal fire pits and restoring the landscape to a natural state.

Working on problem solving and leadership skills in a teambuilding challenge.

On an overnight patrol with wilderness rangers at the Cathedral Lakes.

Checking out the social scene and soaking up some local history in El Portal.

Getting tips on photo composition from the park videographer Kristin Ramsey

On boat patrol at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.