• Venture Academy Family Schools, September 11-16 - Wonderful students from Venture Academy braved rain, hail and snow during their expedition to May Lake and Mt. Hoffman. These students learned the importance of community and discussed how every person within a community brings out a certain piece of each individual. They concluded that in order to truly be yourself, you need friends and family surrounding you. They were taken aback by the beauty of the high country during their expedition. One student wrote this in her journal "It's our final morning with fresh breeze, beautiful scenery, and great times. It's a bittersweet feeling, though, because I will miss this place so much, but I have to go back and tell everyone they need to take a step in their beautiful backyard. I'm relaxing by May Lake and it's breathtaking. I've shared so many memories and laughs with new friends I made and I hope it doesn't end here. I love the challenges all the hikes bring. I love trying to fight the cold, sitting around the campfire, I will definitely be back. So it's really not a goodbye, but more of a see you soon"

• Kingsburg High School, September 25-30 - 2 WildLink alumni helped usher 11 new students into their week long adventure in Yosemite Valley and Cathedral Lakes. One student took time to appreciate what this time in the Wilderness has helped her realize. She writes in her journal, "The...concept that has really struck me so far this trip is that I am capable of so much more than I think I am. My mindset will determine whether I make something incredible and difficult happen. Whether I can accomplish a huge feat or not. So I need to be kinder to myself...In the middle of a hike, you can't just decide it's too hard and stop on the trail. In day-to-day life it is way easier to just stop in the middle...when circumstances seem too difficult. You have to keep going anyways. You can do whatever you put your mind to. it's a truth I am so grateful to have discovered"

• Turlock and Pitman High Schools, October 9-15 - explored the Merced River Valley and Cloud's Rest during their expedition in October. In their words, "We went on a hike along the Merced River. The trail took us through a burnt forest that provided its own natural beauty quite different from the rest of the park. Through the charred remains of the forest that once was, new life is beginning. Succession is more obvious in some places, but the land endured as a whole. Coming towards the end of our river cuts across an emerges this beautifully colored rock split by this awe-inspiring waterfall that made everything worth it"

• Health Careers Academy, October 23-28 - Our newest WildLink school Just completed their first expedition to Little Yosemite Valley. They learned about technology Wilderness Rangers use while they are on patrol, as well as the importance of stewardship in connecting to wild places. When Liu was asked to reflect on things he would both like from the group and to give to the group he wrote, "What I would contribute to the group is the stillness of the water where I am sitting. I mean I like the waters flowing and all of what nature offers, but looking at still barely moving water is more of my type. Everyone is like water, when they are calm, the water doesn’t move or barely moves. But when we get other emotions such as happiness or anger, the water flows dangerously and quickly. What I would take from the group is that we are all going through life just like stepping stones, you may fall on some uneven rock, but we always know to get back up or have some peoples in our life to give us a hand to stand up and start walking again"

Now, please enjoy pictures highlighting the expeditions of Venture Academy, Kingsburg, Turlock/Pitman and Health Careers Academy!