Activities Will Take Place In Select Parks This Summer
June 7, 2024
To help more people experience the wonders of nature and cultivate a sense of belonging, in collaboration with California State Parks, Parks California is excited to announce the 2024 recipients of its Adventure Pass Grants Program. Grants will support these nonprofit organizations in providing multiple, meaningful, and relevant outdoor experiences for over 600 fourth graders and enable them to take advantage of the California State Park Adventure Pass, which gives free entry for fourth graders and their families at 54 participating state parks. This grants program will support nonprofits and local community organizations that offer relevant and engaging programming for participants while tackling challenges, such as awareness and transportation, that often prevent families from taking advantage of the program.
Research indicates that access to parks and green spaces can enhance children’s well-being, social and emotional learning and academic outcomes. Children experience reduced stress and show increased enthusiasm for school with more time outdoors. Ensuring every child has access to parks is vital, and supporting California State Parks’ fourth grade Adventure Pass program is one way to help make that possible.
“Children have more fun when they learn outside, and every child deserves that opportunity,” said Myrian Solis Coronel, Parks California’s Director of Access & Belonging Programs. “Thanks to the nine fantastic non-profits providing transportation, free activities and programming, and multilingual resources, more fourth graders and their families can experience the wonders of our state’s extraordinary park system.”
Awarded grants averaged between $10,000-$20,000, and were awarded to organizations that met eligibility criteria and submitted an application. Activities are expected to help nearly 647 fourth graders and 646 family members to access participating state parks this year. Activities will take place within the grant cycle year, which runs from June to August 31, 2024.
Parks California is providing the following nine non-profit organizations with funds to support a range of programs that will help fourth graders and their families travel to and explore participating California State Parks using the Adventure Pass:
- California Outdoor Recreation Foundation, serving the Diablo Range area and facilitating visits to Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
- City of Carson, serving the Angeles area and facilitating visits to Will Rogers State Historic Park.
- City of Patterson, serving the Central Valley and facilitating visits to Millerton Lake State Recreation Area.
- Friends of California Citrus Park, serving the Inland Empire and facilitating visits to California Citrus State Historic Park, Chino Hills State Park, Mount San Jacinto State Park.
- Little Saigon San Diego, serving the Colorado Desert and San Diego Coast and facilitating visits to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Silver Strand State Beach.
- MeWater Foundation, serving the Bay Area and facilitating visits to Samuel P. Taylor State Park
- Orange County Coastkeeper, serving the Inland Empire and facilitating visits to California Citrus State Historic Park, Chino Hills State Park, and Mount San Jacinto State Park.
- Readi Ministries International, serving the Northern Buttes, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Bay Area and facilitating visits to Clear Lake State Park, Jack London State Historic Park, Monterey State Historic Park, and Seacliff State Beach.
- Un Mar de Colores, serving the Colorado Desert and San Diego Coast and facilitating visits to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and Cardiff State Beach.
Additional information about each grantee can be found here.
If you know a fourth grader who could benefit from the Adventure Pass program, take a look at these participating locations and learn more.
ABOUT PARKS CALIFORNIA
California is home to the highest quality park system in the world. There are 280 State Parks, ranging from urban parks in the heart of our cities, to beaches along our iconic coast, to historic parks celebrating the ingenuity of humanity, to redwood groves and desert expanses. Parks California is based on a new model for public, private, and nonprofit partnership, with our strength realized through statewide collaboration working together to solve complex problems more efficiently and effectively to create long term solutions. As California State Parks’ statutory partner, we have a simple mission — to help strengthen parks and inspire all to experience these extraordinary places
Media Contact: Elizabeth Kubey, Parks California, media@parkscalifornia.org
