Meadow Restoration Several of Yosemite's meadows have received intensive care in recent years. Restoration projects funded by The Yosemite Fund and the National Park Foundation have been carried out by volunteers from the Sousson Foundation, Student Conservation Association, YCS, San Francisco Conservation Corps, Sierra Club, Yosemite Association, and many other groups. They have planted native vegetation, fenced meadows, installed boardwalks to channel foot traffic, and removed non-native plants. Educational Exhibits Educational exhibits can be seen at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center, Mariposa Grove Museum, Nature Center at Happy Isles, and Indian Village behind the Yosemite Museum. The National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and YI conduct four-day summer workshops to train teachers in environmental studies pertaining to Yosemite and the Sierra.
Teachers gain new knowledge, skills, and inspiration, which they then can use in the classroom.
Two-hour school programs are conducted in Yosemite Valley in spring and fall. Program fees vary, but entrance fees are waived. Advance reservations are required. The NPS is studying mountain lions, peregrine falcons, goshawks, great gray owls, black bears, bats, and amphibians to learn more about the animals to help ensure their survival. When a hiking trail fills with water, hikers step to the side out of the muddy water and thus create a new trail.