Earlier this summer, 37 eighth grade students capped off their time at Piedmont Middle School with a parent-led trip to Yosemite National Park organized by Judy Lin and Michelle Abernathy.
Lin is the chief operating officer of NatureBridge, a non-profit that runs outdoor schools in national parks. Abernathy is a former teacher who took her students to NatureBridge and is also a mom and wife to NatureBridge alums.
“We’re passionate about outdoor ed. Great things happen when students are learning out in nature together and we wanted our kids to have that experience with their classmates. Michelle and I knew we wanted to make a NatureBridge trip happen,” said Lin.
What began as an idea last fall became a reality in early June 2025 as a busload of rising ninth graders and parent chaperones unloaded into Yosemite Valley for their weeklong program. Lin and Abernathy organized everything from travel logistics to finances and chaperone support to make their vision for the trip come true. The result? An unforgettable outdoor adventure.
Led by NatureBridge educators, the students hiked miles around Yosemite Valley, learned science, and got to know their classmates through team building activities. The kids challenged themselves and gained confidence throughout the week, from crawling through narrow caves to wading in cold rivers to completing their challenge hike to the top of the Mist Trail in 95 degree heat. “I liked exploring with my friends and doing cool team building activities. Not having phones meant we could do all kinds of other stuff together,” said student Ben McMurtry.
“An important goal for our trip was for it to be completely tech-free,” said Abernathy. “I think that no tech first felt like a challenge for these kids but it ended up being a highlight for them.”
Students passed the time on long bus rides by talking and playing games. They made friendship bracelets and bonded over card games and chess after their days on the trail. The kids played hide and seek and “pinecone baseball” in Curry Village and rediscovered the joy of sitting around and simply hanging out with friends — all without screens. “It felt like the kids were able to let down their guards and be themselves,” said parent chaperone Becca Posamentier. “There was a lot of silliness and laughter and also some real introspection and serious appreciation for the environment around us.”
Most students knew each other before the trip, but this shared outdoor experience that included sleeping in tent cabins and mixed trail groups allowed for wider and deeper connections.
“Being in a different environment with people I normally see at school was definitely a bonding experience,” said Penelope Hopper. “It was so much fun, and I’ll never forget the random memories we all created together.” The kids left Yosemite with a stronger sense of community that they can hopefully carry into high school.
The success of this first eighth grade trip has inspired plans for more. Lin and Abernathy currently have sixth and eighth grade middle schoolers and hope to make this trip a tradition for these younger siblings. “Meaningful experiences in nature are more important than ever for kids” said Lin. “This trip will hopefully be something that our kids and their classmates will always remember about middle school.”