Day 3: Science, Sounds, and Stories in the Dark

Today was a full day of science, rooted in the living classroom of Yosemite.

We began by diving into the world of Yosemite’s native plants. Surrounded by towering pines and flowering understory, we explored how these plants don’t just belong here—they anchor the ecosystem. Together, we asked an important question: Which native plants would thrive in our own backyards? The answer, we learned, depends not only on soil and sunlight but on the animals that call those plants home. Birds, bees, butterflies, and countless others rely on native species for food and shelter.

To bring this idea to life, we played the Pollinator Game and even had a round of Taboo, turning science into laughter and strategy. Each round reminded us how interconnected plants, pollinators, and people truly

Later, our focus shifted to carbon stored in trees. On the surface, it looked like an equation lesson—numbers, formulas, calculations. But what unfolded was deeper than math. We discovered that trees aren’t just data points in a carbon chart; they’re lifelines. Every trunk, leaf, and root is part of the cycle that keeps us alive.

Nature Bridge added a little twist when the power went out again for a few hours. Instead of missing out, we leaned in. With pencils in hand, we created sound maps, capturing every rustle, crackle, and call drifting across the forest. I’ll admit—I may have “snuck in” a few bird calls from the Merlin app, just to see if anyone noticed. (They did!)

As the lights finally flickered back on, we gathered for our scat activity and ended the night around a fire, marveling at the 17 species of bats, which seemed to all be hovering over our heads 

Yes, the power came back—but by then, we had already lit our own sparks of wonder.

Photo by Stephanie Schoening Spencer