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About Us

The Youth Science Institute (YSI) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization whose mission is "to inspire enthusiasm for science and a love of learning". We fulfill our mission by offering hands-on, nature-based, science education to children, families, and the general public. We offer School and Group Programs, Summer Science Camps, weekend Science Safaris, and annual community events. Many of our programs include live animals and nature hikes. Each year, we deliver inquiry-based life, physical, earth, and social science to nearly 30,000 pre-K to sixth-grade students. Since our founding in 1953, we have served hundreds of thousands of children.

YSI maintains three Science and Nature Centers, where we deliver our hands-on science and experiential environmental education programs: Alum Rock Park, San Jose, CA; Sanborn County Park, Saratoga, CA; and Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos, CA. Each Center has unique artifacts, collections, and resources that connect the public with nature while teaching science.
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Our Board of Directors:
Robin O'Hern, President

Dave Ziegler, Treasurer

Padmaja Nadkarni, Secretary

Shaylynn Graydon, Director

Kathryn Kaczmarski, Director

Pamela Bentely Mills, PhD, Director

Anshuman Mohapatra, Director

Shilpa Nagaraja, Director

Priyanka Soni, Director


Our Staff:
Erika Buck, Executive Director
erika@ysi-ca.org

Serena Flores, Program Manager
serena@ysi-ca.org

Alex Schord, Animal Curator
alex@ysi-ca.org

Allyson Dudzinski, Education Manager
allyson@ysi-ca.org

Max Sunberg, Assistant Camp Manager.
max@ysi-ca.org

Cammy Tran, Program Administrator
cammy@ysi-ca.org

Instructors:

Leigh Henderson
Leisa Johnson
Audrey Joy
Gabriella Udelhoven
Alexis Villasenor

IRS Form 990: (Click to download PDF copy)
IRS Form 990 - 2014
IRS Form 990 - 2015
IRS Form 990 - 2016
IRS Form 990 - 2017
IRS Form 990 - 2018
IRS Form 990 - 2019
IRS Form 990 - 2020
IRS Form 990 - 2021
IRS Form 990 - 2022

Financial Statements: (Click to download PDF copy)

Financial Statements - 2014
Financial Statements - 2015
Financial Statements - 2016
Financial Statements - 2017
Financial Statements - 2018
Financial Statements - 2019
Financial Statements - 2020
Financial Statements - 2021
Financial Statements - 2022

YSI Policies:

Donor Privacy Policy
Records Retention and Destruction Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Whistleblower's Notice
Conflict of Interest Policy

YSI In The News:
The Mercury News