Partnership kicks off with a special double collaboration between Drea’s Doodles x Dodo Banana
Parks California is proud to announce its 2024 art collaboration with visual artist and New York Times bestselling illustrator Andrea Campos of Drea’s Doodles. Andrea is obsessed with color and loves encouraging play in people’s lives. Her playful style has led her to work on a variety of projects, including marketing campaigns and products like lunch boxes, books, toys, and even a bilingual children’s book co-authored by Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Fallon.
Each year, we select an artist to create a custom work of art that captures their creative interpretation and inspiration of our rally cry, “Parks for Everyone!” The collaboration with Drea’s Doodles marks the third consecutive year we are partnering with an artist to help raise awareness and support for California’s 280 state parks, and builds on previous collaborations with Obey Giant’s Shepard Fairey in 2022 and with Jeremy Collins last year.
“I moved to California 10 years ago because I wanted to build a bridge between myself and nature,” Campos says. “I quickly noticed, however, that a lot of the people I came across while hiking and camping were not from communities of color and that there wasn’t a lot of diversity in the parks or even in park leadership and stewardship. So, when Parks California reached out to me, I was super excited to get involved. Their whole mission is summed up as ‘Parks for Everyone,’ and I wanted to be a little bit of that representation.” This year’s partnership debuts with the extra special addition of a double collaboration between Drea’s Doodles and Fiona Montgomery’s Dodo Banana, home of children’s organic cotton pajamas featuring original hand illustrated artwork beloved by kids and grownups alike. Dodo Banana and Drea’s Doodles teamed up to create a very special edition pajama called Adventure Awaits! inspired by Parks California’s mission.
Made in the softest organic pima cotton with original hand-illustrated artwork from Drea’s Doodles, the Adventure Awaits! pajama will raise funds for and awareness of Parks California’s mission to make state parks and public lands more welcoming, inclusive, and climate-resilient spaces where all people can truly feel at home.
The design by Andrea Campos of Drea’s Doodles features playful bears (one holding a banana!), swimming ducks, colorful forest trees, snow-capped mountains, a beaming sun, tents, campfires, and, for the discerning eye, marshmallows on sticks and flags emblazoned with Parks California’s rally cry, “Parks for Everyone!” The Adventure Awaits! pajama launched and is available for purchase on dodobanana.com.
“I grew up going to California parks on weekends, school trips, and family vacations,” says Fiona Montgomery, owner of Dodo Banana. Fiona says the collaboration made immediate sense. “There are so many interesting ways to partner with artists and organizations, and I especially enjoyed working on our Adventure Awaits! print because it allowed Dodo Banana to develop a print with an artist we have long admired and also give back to an organization that is meaningful to the brand. My son declared, ‘I love camping!’ the other day, so I think it’s working.”
Read more about the collaboration.
25% of profits of each pajama will benefit Parks California’s mission to help more people – primarily younger visitors and people from historically underserved communities – get to a park and, while there, create meaningful and relevant experiences.
“Parks California is delighted to partner with artist Andrea Campos of Drea’s Doodles and Dodo Banana on ‘Adventure Awaits!’ – a whimsical children’s pajama print that is sure to inspire the next generation of park explorers,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, President and CEO of Parks California. “We believe everyone deserves to experience the wonders of nature and feel a sense of belonging in parks.”Andrea’s collaboration with Parks California continues with a brand-new one-of-a-kind print she will unveil on September 11 at an event in Los Angeles. Stay tuned for more details by signing up for our newsletter.
About Andrea Campos of Drea’s Doodles
Originally from Chicago, Andrea made her way to the West Coast 10 years ago in an effort to be closer to nature (and better weather). Since then she has lived in both San Francisco and Los Angeles and has spent much of her free time camping, hiking and exploring all of the natural wonders that California has to offer. When she’s not working on her next book or designing colorful products, you can find Andrea speaking at events and conferences: inspiring both kids and adults alike to follow their dreams.
Learn more about her work at dreasdoodles.com and follow along at @dreasdoodles on Instagram.
About Dodo Banana
Every night’s a pajama party at Dodo Banana, the company that designs children’s pajamas loved by parents and kids alike. Parents love Dodo Banana because the pajamas combine the highest standard of quality—G.O.T.S. certified 100% organic pima cotton with an emphasis on ethical sourcing and manufacturing, all designed with original hand-illustrated artwork to create the softest pajamas that promote a good night’s sleep, while kids love the whimsical designs and that the pajamas feel like dreamy clouds on their skin. Dodo Banana is owned by Fiona Montgomery, a retailer and designer who lives in San Francisco with her husband, their son and daughter, Max and Elinor, and their faithful Norwich Terrier, Ivy.
Follow Dodo Banana at Website / Instagram
About Parks California
Parks California was launched in 2019 as a new model of public, private, and non-profit partnership. As the official statutory non-profit partner to California State Parks, working statewide, it’s uniquely positioned to innovate and work hand-in-hand with communities and experts to bring resources together, ensuring that everyone can experience healthy and thriving parks for generations to come.
This year, parks California celebrate 5 years of partnering with over 100 non-profits and tribal groups to help more than 28,000 people experience one of California’s 280 state parks – many for the first time ever – so that they can start a lifelong love of nature. #ParksForEveryone For more information, contact: media@parkscalifornia.org.
Follow Parks California on Instagram / Facebook
