Yakona Learning Center

Education: in 2024, we served 18 preschool students, 207 elementary students, 394 middle and high school students, and 5 college students through creating connections. Between educator professional development days and field trips, 255 educators and chaperones availed themselves of yakona's unique curricular experience. Yakona centers "students as scientists" - all are actively engaged in experiential learning through nature journaling, climate science monitoring and data collection.

Community arts: heart connections served 157 people 16+ years old with a variety of art workshops inspiring nature-based creative expression.

Community engagement: yakona was served by 19 dedicated volunteers (board members are not included in that total) in 2024. Docent projects included trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, trail camera operations and monitoring, pollinator plant cultivation, and more. Yakona's board members totaled 10, adding collective wisdom and skills to the team. We also held three volunteer events, proving an opportunity for team-building with our community partners. Collectively, yakona's volunteers donated 1,414 hours in 2024.