Connecting Students to State Parks for Nearly Two Decades
Almost 20 years ago, PORTS Programs (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students)® started a new idea that our parks could look a student in the eye, ask a question, and solicit a response through live, interactive virtual programs just as they would if together in forest, deserts, beaches, and historic structures of our California State Parks. […]
Training Students for Careers in Eco-Stewardship: A Chat with Literacy for Environmental Justice
Meet Literacy for Environmental Justice (LEJ) – an organization that promotes ecological health, environmental stewardship and community development in Southeast San Francisco – and one of our Natural Resources Stewardship Career Pathways grantees! Through its Eco-Apprenticeship job-training program, LEJ supports San Francisco youth by providing hands-on experience in environmental stewardship, restoration education, leadership development as well as […]
What is a Bioblitz anyway?
iNaturalist and Bioblitzes are fun ways to contribute to our understanding of the natural world as community scientists. What is iNaturalist? When I am out hiking and see a beautiful flower or a moth that looks completely unusual, I pull out my phone and open iNaturalist. iNaturalist is a free mobile app where I document my finding and get help from other community members and scientists to identify the species that I encounter. […]
California Biodiversity Day is Just Around the Corner!
With summer in full swing, now is a great time to explore nature in your backyard. California boasts not only the largest state parks system in the country, but also the most plant and animal species in the country. Celebrate California’s Biodiversity Day— September 7th. Throughout September you can attend events across the state that showcase California’s unique plants and wildlife. Have you ever […]
A Perfect Marriage
Do you know what it is like to be out in nature when you are missing one of your senses? At the Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections Outdoors/Central Group, we are finding out. We recently partnered with an agency called Hearts For Sight that encourages blind and visually impaired people (VIPs) to participate in physical activities. […]
Kids and California State Parks – Programs and Opportunities for Everyone!
As we venture outside to enjoy the long sunny days, we all have the responsibility to be intentional and mindful of the spaces we’re in. When every person can #RecreateResponsibly, we ensure that our collective footprint is minimal and state parks continue to thrive for everyone to enjoy. A crucial step to ensure the sustainability […]
Pride Outside: Everyday Ways to Support LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Outdoor Spaces
Every June, it happens – rainbow logos, colorful marketing campaigns and a very welcome focus on the LGBTQIA+ community from brands and organizations nationwide. At Parks California, we know that this sense of pride and investment doesn’t end on June 30. It takes consistent and intentional effort all year long to ensure the millions of […]
Promoting Public Transportation to LA State Historic Park
By Catherine Bubser and Michael Gatheru Bubser studies environmental science with a concentration in environmental systems and society at UCLA. She is passionate about conservation and aims to study environmental law in the future. Gatheru is graduating UCLA this year with a degree in environmental science and plans to pursue a career in environmental and […]
Surf Ambassador to California’s Youth
Masterson is an intern and instructor for the City Surf Project from San Francisco. She is proud to be a first-generation Irish American born and raised in San Francisco with a passion for all things surf. We connected with Sheena to discuss the surf opportunities available to California’s youth and get her advice. The City Surf Project is a 2020 Route to […]
Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities for Anywhere in California
Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities for Anywhere in California The weather is getting warmer. The days are getting longer. Summer is almost here in California! With more than 280 state parks, finding a worthwhile adventure doesn’t have to mean spending multiple days on a camping trip or spending a ton of money on expensive equipment. There are […]
