Yosemite Conservancy is celebrating 100 years with stories. Founded as the first nonprofit partner organization to a national park, Yosemite Conservancy is celebrating 100 years of partnership with Yosemite National Park this year!
And what better way to celebrate a century of conservation than to collect hundreds of stories from Yosemite lovers across the globe! We’ll share the rich and diverse tales of daring, love, adventure, heartbreak, hope — and so much more — that this wild landscape inspires.
Our roots stretch back to August 1923, when the Yosemite Museum Association was established as the original nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Today, we help Yosemite fans from around the world explore and conserve the park, including through adventures, art, books, and retail.
With support from donors, we have funded more than $145 million in grants for more than 800 projects involving trail and habitat restoration, scientific research, wildlife management, visitor education, and more.
We want to celebrate 100 years of impact in the park by sharing the stories of people who make our work possible — YOUR stories!
Want to help us find the best Yosemite stories of the last 100 years?
Tell us about your experiences — from the life-changing to the mundane — by answering some questions on our story form.
We’re accepting stories on a rolling basis all year. Submissions may be used in emails, on our website, publications, social media, and other communications.
Submissions received by June 30, 2023 will be entered into a random drawing for a Yosemite Conservancy swag bag.
Can you describe your first memory of Tunnel View? In the past 100 years, this vista has helped shaped many special memories. Photo by Keith Walkett.
Stories could be about:
- A Yosemite love story
Do you have a story about a special moment in a sequoia grove from the last 100 years? Photo courtesy of the Yosemite Archives.
- Overcoming a challenge
- Connecting with park history
- Your favorite trail in the park
- Family traditions
- Your first time in Yosemite
- The time you laughed so hard you almost…
- Things you have lost in Yosemite
- Things you have found in Yosemite
- Your dreams of Yosemite
- Favorite Ranger or Naturalist programs
- Wildlife viewings
- Road trips
- Waterfalls
- Snow
- Fires
While Yosemite is what connects us, through sharing the wondrous diversity of our experiences our community of Yosemite Conservationists can grow and continue to support the park for the next 100 years and beyond.
Not feeling inspired by the prompts above? The monthly Conservancy newsletter will be sending out prompts along with its park updates this year. Subscribe today.
Header photo of Tunnel View at sunset by Kristine Csicsery.
