Project overview: Develop a five-year Interpretative Strategic Plan that uplifts visitor experiences and programming by explicitly guiding operational decision-making processes for the park’s Division of Interpretation and Education.  

How your support helps: Yosemite National Park attracts visitors from across the country and around the world, and the rangers in the Division of Interpretation & Education (I&E) are often the primary public face of the park. I&E staff are found at visitor centers and contact stations, leading formal programs, and connecting with millions of people online via websites, publications, and social media. In this way, I&E staff are an essential component in the connection visitors feel to nature — and the memories they build in the park. 

Even with such a strong impact on the public, the division currently lacks a comprehensive framework — an Interpretive Strategic Plan — that explicitly guides operational decision-making processes. This has led to missed opportunities to capitalize on new audiences and partnership collaborations, as well as a way to strategically allocate funds toward interdisciplinary projects that address specific needs and innovative new programs. 

With your support, I&E will develop a strategic approach to visitor outreach efforts that aligns with the highest national and park priorities. A key aspect of this process involves fostering a stronger collaborative approach in working with Yosemite Conservancy and aligning I&E initiatives with Conservancy priorities, including diversity, Tribal partnerships, and the interpretation of climate change. 

This year: In 2025, this initiative will result in the development of a five-year Interpretative Strategic Plan to create a unifying vision that reflects the shared values and common goals of Yosemite’s Division of Interpretation & Education. The strategy will identify division priorities and key future projects, determine achievable steps and actions, and develop an interpretive media strategy. 

Project partners: Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Conservancy, and various park partners