Project overview: Foster a sense of connection between visitors and Yosemite’s intricate ecological web through walking programs in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows that focus on the importance of pollinators in the park.  

How your support helps: Demand for guided programming at Yosemite National Park has skyrocketed over the past four years. As more and more visitors are looking for free opportunities to learn about the history and resources of Yosemite, National Park Service rangers hope to direct audiences to the smallest story in our park: small creatures. 

To connect visitors with the importance of small creatures in Yosemite, the Ranger Buzz and Butterflies program will highlight the key roles pollinators and butterflies play as micro-parts of the park’s ecosystem. Rangers will encourage visitor participation through hands-on activities that bridge the gap between complex research and public understanding. 

This program will also focus on creating resources for developing visitor programs and training seasonal employees to lead outreach efforts to ensure a continuation of similar programming for years to come. 

This year: In 2025, park rangers will lead 16 walking programs in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadow that highlight the importance of pollinators and butterflies to foster a sense of connection between visitors and Yosemite’s intricate ecological web. 

Project partner: Yosemite National Park