Help Shape a New Arts & Wellness Program in Our Community
Written by Paula Wild
Photo by Anna Friedland
Balanced Rock Foundation is developing a new wellness and arts-based program—and we’re seeking your input!
Celebrating 25 years of service, Balanced Rock is a Yosemite-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting personal and community well-being through nature connection, creativity, and holistic practices. Over the years, we’ve offered free community yoga classes, mindfulness programs in schools, and NPS stress-relief workshops that bring community members together in nourishing ways.
We are in the planning phase of a new initiative centered at Midpines Park & Community Hall scheduled to launch in Fall 2025. This free program will blend movement, artistic expression, and time in nature, while also educating about mental health and career exploration. With support and guidance from the Mariposa Arts Council, the project will draw on local wisdom, cultural values, and community input to create a welcoming, relevant offering for the region.
As we shape the details of this free and inclusive initiative, we are actively seeking community input—particularly from young adults, educators, and those working in youth engagement.
📣 We invite you to share your insights by taking and sharing our short survey:
👉 https://form.typeform.com/to/yX8R9FPu
Your voice matters and will help us co-create a meaningful program that reflects and serves our community. Thank you in advance for your input!
A Few Highlights from the Planning Process
Beginning in October 2024, we have been actively engaged in building a strong foundational network to support a truly transformative community education program. Check out some aspects of this ongoing journey here…
Centering Local Miwuk Wisdom
As part of the planning phase, we hosted a pilot cultural arts workshop with Ursula Min-ne-ah Jones—a traditional basket weaver, healer, and native teacher born in Yosemite Valley. Ursula shared traditional techniques, cultural knowledge, and her personal connection to this land, helping us weave deeper roots into the heart of the program. (Learn more about Ursula here.)
Photo: Anna Friedland
Gathering Outside — Thinking Bigger
Many of our meetings have taken place outdoors—allowing the natural world to shape our conversations. Meeting under the open sky has helped ground our work in a sense of belonging, presence, and perspective.
Among our staff, partners, and key collaborators, there’s been a shared sense of purpose—and plenty of laughter too. These gatherings have reminded us that the process of building a program can be thoughtful, connective, and full of learning in its own right.
Photo: Anna Friedland
Listening Deeply
We are committed to designing a program that reflects the real interests and needs of our community. Our approach has included:
Mapping our initial understanding of the community’s needs—and inviting others to expand it.
One-on-one interviews with local high school counselors and educators.
Direct conversations with young adults aged 18–25 about their hopes, needs, and experiences.
Launching a short survey to hear from even more voices.
Every conversation has offered valuable insights that are shaping the future of this project.
Photo: Heather Sullivan
“While taking the Arts in the Park Survey, I found myself inspired and deeply reflective. Many of the questions prompted me to think carefully about what yoga, art, nature, learning, and mental health truly mean to me. As I answered, I realized how essential these elements are in helping me maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle.
The experience of completing the survey felt similar to responding to thoughtful journal prompts—it sparked a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the many opportunities and sources of joy in my life.”
Collaboration & Connection
Throughout this process, we’ve worked to connect local artists, culture bearers, community leaders, and educators around a shared goal: to co-create a program that is truly responsive to our place and time.
We hold a deep belief that “the wisdom is in the room” — that every voice matters. Honoring that wisdom has led to meaningful insights, deeper relationships, and a more thoughtful path forward.
Photo: Anna Friedland
We need your input!
As we shape the details of this free and inclusive initiative, we are actively seeking community input—particularly from young adults, educators, and those working in youth engagement.
📣 We invite you to share your insights by taking and sharing our short survey:
👉 https://form.typeform.com/to/yX8R9FPu
Your voice matters and will help us co-create a meaningful program that reflects and serves our community. Thank you in advance for your input!
Photo: Anna Friedland