Project overview: Introduce visitors to the world of sequoias — from their ecological importance to modern-day challenges and their interactions with fire — through ranger-led walks, talks, and hands-on activities.

How your support helps: Giant sequoias are the world’s largest trees by volume, with trunks measuring more than 30 feet across, heights surpassing 300 feet, and lifespans that can stretch beyond 3,000 years. These magnificent beings attract a wide range of visitors to the sequoia groves that these trees call home. For this reason, the three sequoia groves in Yosemite — Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Merced — are an easy point of connection to broader environmental topics in the Sierra Nevada, including fire regimes, climate science, watersheds, and more.  

The new Sharing Sequoias project supports ranger-led programs that introduce the public to these topics, with a special focus on the ecological importance of sequoias, modern-day challenges, and their interactions with fire. Through guided walks, talks, and hands-on activities, two seasonal park rangers will connect visitors with the science behind sequoias, fostering a deeper understanding and inspiring stewardship of these iconic trees and their ecosystems. 

This year: In 2026, National Park Service teams will hire two seasonal rangers to develop and lead a minimum of 24 giant sequoia programs in the Mariposa and Tuolumne Groves, in addition to incorporating up–to–date research information into other existing ranger programs. With your support, these recurring ranger programs will share the awe-inspiring world of giant sequoias with hundreds of park visitors who have yet to learn the importance of preserving this incredible species.

Project partner: Yosemite National Park

Photo credit: Ali Huerta