VISITING CALIFORNIA
STATE PARKS
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Our 2022 Annual Report is now available.
Parks California’s Career Pathways program offers career training and mentorship for people interested in parks and public land careers. We launched the Career Pathways Grant Program in 2021 to support workforce development between State Parks and local organizations. Parks California plays a unique role in bringing diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and Indigenous knowledge into stewardship of our state’s parks.
The Career Pathways program supports participants in building skills and connections to mentors and professional networks to support them in their career journey.
This program is made possible through a public private partnership, supported by private fundraising by Parks California, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Waterway Connections Initiative.
The goals for this grant program are:
The Natural Resource Summer Internship Program is in partnership with California State Parks’ Orange Coast District. This program provides aspiring graduate and undergraduate students underrepresented in the sciences an opportunity to gain hands-on experiences in natural resource management at Crystal Cove State Park. The internship program aims to create new pathways for nontraditional students passionate about natural resources to gain hands-on and practical experience, equipping them for future careers within State Parks. Tailored training sessions focus on developing interns’ technical skills, professional demeanor, and confidence for future careers. The program tackles pressing natural resource challenges in the Orange Coast District. Through hands-on projects like habitat restoration and environmental monitoring, we address issues like habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.
Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods partners with the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps to support summer youth crews to support fire recovery priorities within Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and Austin Creek State Recreation Area. The program provides youth and young adults 18-24 years of age with paid work experience, training, the opportunity to explore careers and develop work-readiness skills. Approximately 70% of those employed are at-risk youth including those enrolled in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs, those receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Services for Transitional Age Youth (STAY), and current or former foster youth.
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Parks California connects people to nature, helps parks become more climate resilient, and increases access for everyone. Your donation to Parks California supports programs for 280 parks, across 1.6 million acres, including one quarter of California’s coastline.
Please make a donation today!
