NatureBridge Yosemite

Retreat Space at Henness Ridge

The National Environmental Science Center (NESC) is more than just a retreat space—it’s an inspiring haven surrounded by beautiful landscapes, scenic trails, and majestic forests within Yosemite National Park. This brand-new venue (officially opened in October 2024) offers lodging and dining options, convenient access to Yosemite’s iconic landmarks, and unforgettable experiences for groups seeking to come together in nature.

Whether you’re planning a corporate retreat, team-building event, or group getaway, the National Environmental Science Center at Henness Ridge offers bunk-style lodging and meals as a great base camp, and a private and peaceful setting for meaningful experiences.

Your retreat makes a difference: At the NESC, your retreat isn’t just an opportunity to strengthen bonds within your team or group—it’s a chance to make a lasting impact. By booking your retreat with NatureBridge, you are directly helping to provide scholarships for schools in need and connecting the next generation with the wonders of Yosemite and the natural world through environmental science education.

Student Education Opportunities

NatureBridge’s environmental science school programs in Yosemite National Park offer students in grades 4-12 the opportunity to engage in inclusive, hands-on learning experiences in one of the world’s most iconic national parks. Students explore the deep valleys, grand meadows, and sequoia forests while challenging themselves physically, building meaningful relationships, and discovering a caring relationship with the natural world. NatureBridge collaborates with each school or group to ensure their program experience meets their educational goals.

NatureBridge Yosemite students have the opportunity to explore Yosemite National Park in two different locations that offer two wholly unique experiences. In the heart of Yosemite Valley, students wake up under the towering granite giants of Half Dome and El Capitan, with the sound of thundering waterfalls in the distance. At the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) located 25 minutes south of Yosemite Valley at Henness Ridge, students experience Yosemite in a way few can—surrounded by a mosaic of ecosystems away from typical park crowds. This state-of-the-art facility provides easy access to Yosemite’s lesser traveled trails and provides teachable moments from examining spaces shaped by fire, to cultural history, and offers hope and inspiration for tackling some of our most pressing challenges today.