Parks in Focus

Parks in Focus 

Part of the Morris K. Udall & Stewart L. Udall Foundation, the Parks in Focus program connects middle school youth from underserved communities to nature and National Parks through photography, environmental education, and outdoor learning. In 2017, the Udall Foundation marked its eighth summer of Parks in Focus programming in partnership with Yosemite National Park. During the summer months, Parks in Focus leads three five-day camping trips to the area, providing thirty-six Bay Area youth with the opportunity to visit, explore, and photograph Yosemite for the first time.

Over the course of each trip, participants learn about Yosemite’s natural and cultural history as well as the importance of our National Parks. Students meet and work alongside park rangers, professional photographers, and staff from the Udall Foundation to sharpen their photography skills while taking in the awe-inspiring views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. Camping in Yosemite Valley, participants learn basic outdoor skills and practice Leave No Trace principles for enjoying nature in a conscious and sustainable way. This summer, they worked together on several important stewardship projects and challenged themselves with a sunset hike to the top of Sentinel Dome. Inspired by the wonders of Yosemite’s outdoor classroom and the area’s rich photographic history, participants produce images of their adventures, and the flora, fauna, and topography they encounter along the way.

The Parks in Focus program at Yosemite is a collaboration between the Morris K. Udall & Stewart L. Udall Foundation, Yosemite National Park, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, Real Options for City Kids, the YMCA of Silicon Valley, and the Ansel Adams Gallery. The program is also made possible by the support of Yosemite Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the park and enriching the visitor experience.

© 2017 by the San Francisco Airport Commission