University of California, Merced
IN-1: Innovation 1

The Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP) is a partnership among Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the University of California, Merced. YLP is leadership development that educates and inspires environmental advocacy and social change through skilled, ethical, innovative, and intentional action while respecting cultural heritage and community. This two year program integrates training in leadership skills, education on the theories and practices of leadership, and personal and professional development opportunities to create generations of socially engaged, environmentally aware global stewards. YLP’s innovative design includes leadership seminars, speakers and crystallizing wilderness experiences in the first year, an immersive, park based, summer internship program, and a capstone legacy project and cross-peer mentoring opportunities in the second year. YLP has a track record of providing transformative experiences for participants and creating agents of positive social change in their communities. 43% of summer interns matriculatde into paid NPS seasonal or student positions; 19 former interns are employed in the National Park this summer. 6 capstone legacy projects were completed including - Hmong Student Association leadership retreat, and YLP-ARC cross-peer mentoring backpacking adventureaddition to other components of the program, Yosemite operates an on-campus Wilderness Education Center. This NPS-run, student staffed Center provides awareness about natural and cultural resources to students, faculty, staff and community members in and around UC Merced. Built on a place based model, the WEC meets people where they are and builds relevancy in their own communities. The center accomplishes this by both developing and leading trips to Yosemite as well as by bringing Park education, speakers and events to the campus and the community. The park hires and supervises UC Merced students who operate this innovative Center. Due to the work of the center, 600+ students participated in Ranger lead trips to Yosemite and 3300+ local school students were educated by UC Merced Student Rangers through in-class presentations.