Finding the Beginning in Every Ending: NorthBay’s 2025 Year in Review

I’ve always believed the end of a year feels a bit like standing on a shoreline at dawn. The water is calm, the horizon stretches wide, and for a moment you can see both where you’ve been and where you’re heading next. As 2025 comes to a close, that horizon at NorthBay feels brighter and busier than ever. This year has been one of bold steps, meaningful milestones, and countless moments that reminded us why this work matters. When I look back, what stays with me most are the stories: the moments when young people stepped outside their routines and into something bigger than themselves.

Stories that Shaped Our Year

One story that continues to echo is that of James Obasiola, a former NorthBay sixth grader now studying environmental justice at Harvard. He shared how a single week at NorthBay helped him understand “what healthy looks like, not just in nature but in community.” Watching him return this fall as the keynote speaker at our first-ever gala was a powerful reminder that while students may only be with us for a few days, the impact can last decades.

Another moment of transformation came with the relaunch of the Miss Nancy, our floating classroom, made possible through our partnership with Knorr-Bremse. Beyond the vessel’s upgrades, what stands out is Captain Jamie McCoy’s journey shaped by courage, training, mentorship, and a willingness to step into a role she once thought was out of reach. Her story mirrors what we hope every student feels here: that stepping into something new can change the trajectory of your life.

This spring, our team also wrestled with one of the biggest questions facing environmental educators today: How do we teach climate science in ways that empower students rather than overwhelm them? Our “Get Outside” initiative answered that call by shifting the lens from distant global crises to meaningful local connection. When kids fall in love with the world right around them, environmental stewardship stops feeling like an assignment and starts feeling like a purpose.

Threaded throughout these stories is a core truth we explored again this summer: this is not camp. This is school reimagined. What looks like a week outdoors is actually a living, breathing extension of the classroom, where academic rigor meets curiosity, challenge, and reflection.

We also deepened our commitment to research and innovation through an expanded partnership with Virginia Tech. Together, we are building new pathways to measure impact, strengthen instructional design, and ensure that outdoor learning continues to evolve in ways that meet the needs of today’s students. Our rental program also played a significant role this year, welcoming thousands of guests to campus and generating vital support that directly sustains our mission and expands access for students.

Every one of these moments from James’s return to the evolution of our instructional approach, from the Miss Nancy’s relaunch to the partnerships that made it possible reflects the collective strength behind NorthBay’s mission. Our schools, foundations, corporate partners, donors, and our dedicated staff all stand behind the belief that every child deserves the chance to learn, explore, and grow in the outdoors. Their support fuels the stories we tell, the programs we build, and the moments of transformation we witness every day.

A Strategic Impact

This year also marked one of the most meaningful program updates in our history: a shift from a 5-day/4-night model to a 3-day/2-night experience. This change was rooted in listening. School leaders, teachers, and families were honest about the barriers a full week created attendance pressures, transportation challenges, and staffing limitations that were preventing some students from participating at all.

By shifting our structure, we removed those barriers. And the response exceeded our hopes. Students told us the program felt like “the perfect amount of time.” Teachers shared that the rhythm aligned naturally with their curriculum. Administrators expressed that this model finally made participation possible. Most importantly, more students walked through our doors, students who might never have been able to otherwise.

None of this would work without the extraordinary dedication of our staff. They are the ones who welcome each bus with energy and care, who guide students through challenges with patience, who create moments of joy and discovery, and who adapt seamlessly to new schedules and program structures.

This shift wasn’t just responsive; it was strategic. It strengthened access, deepened program quality, and positioned us to serve more students more sustainably for years to come.

Looking Ahead with Hope

As we step into 2026, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude and a renewed sense of possibility. In the year ahead, even more students will discover strengths they didn’t know they had, form relationships that will shape them for years, and learn in ways that are hands-on, challenging, joyful, and deeply human. We will continue strengthening the partnerships that make the NorthBay experience accessible, and we will continue expanding opportunities for schools and communities to join us. I hope you will be part of the year ahead—at our Earth Day celebration at Rising Tide Farm, during a “Day in the Life at NorthBay” experience, or at our second annual gala next fall.