Our 2022 Annual Report is now available.
Parks California announced the 2026 Route to Parks grantees. These 34 nonprofit and community organizations across the state are supporting efforts to reduce transportation barriers and expand access to California’s state parks. The 2026 grants are expected to help more than 15,000 people — many visiting for the first time — experience one of the most diverse state park systems in the country.
Since 2020, Route to Parks has awarded more than 120 grants totaling more than $3.1 million to serve more than 20,000 participants, with 75 percent of participants having visited a park for the first time through this initiative.
The 2026 Route to Parks Grantees are:
BIPOC Support Foundation, Voices of Change
Voices of Change is summer program that connects underserved San Diego youth with California State Parks through environmental education, creative expression and hands-on stewardship. Students explore parks weekly, create digital stories, meet environmental leaders and build community through mentorship and an overnight camping experience.
Blue Dot Education, California State Parks California Naturalist Program
The California Naturalist Program provides 60 students from Calexico and South San Diego access to inland waterways and California State Parks. Students earn free college credit, explore sites like the Tijuana Estuary and Salton Sea, complete a capstone project and participate in a culminating overnight camping experience that builds environmental literacy, community and belonging.
California Intertribal Alliances, Land Guardians: Stewards of the land, keepers of the spirit. Together, we guard our sacred earth.
California Intertribal Alliances plans to remove barriers of fuel cost, entry fees and the difficulties some may have in accessing cultural support and connections to each other and the lands. The program will host three monthly Eagle Watch Boat Tours at Millerton Lake, each followed by traditional arts and crafts, cultural games and a shared lunch to build community, celebrate culture and support healing.
Camp Phoenix, Connecting Oakland Youth to California’s Inland Waters and Public Lands
Camp Phoenix will engage 150 middle schoolers from East Oakland in free, yearlong outdoor learning across California State Parks centered on inland waters. From January–December 2026, youth will join day trips, a weeklong camp near Portola Redwoods and a two-night trip at China Camp. Activities include hiking, kayaking, stream study and journaling led by trained staff of color. Transportation, meals and gear are provided so every youth can belong in nature.
Central Coast State Parks Association, School Group Transportation Bus Bucks Program
Central Coast State Parks Association’s Bus Bucks program provides transportation funding for K-12 students to attend free, curriculum-based field trips led by trained State Park interpreters in our Central Coast State Parks. The program primarily serves low-income schools, many traveling long distances to visit the coast, with some students seeing the ocean for the very first time. This program ensures that all students can connect with California natural and cultural heritage in unforgettable ways.
City of Huron, Nature Firsts: Huron Youth Discover California Their first lake. Their first forest. Their first spark of wonder.
The City of Huron’s Nature Firsts: Huron Youth Discover California project will lead three summer trips for forty youth to Clear Lake, Calaveras Big Trees and Millerton Lake, providing camping, hiking, water activities and ranger-led learning. The program removes all access barriers with free transportation, meals and gear. Youth receive bilingual support, pre-trip orientations and post-trip reflections. The project builds confidence, stewardship and lasting connections to California’s parks.
Color The Water, Nature to Nurture
Color the Water: Nature to Nurture guides Black, Indigenous, eople of color on their surf journeys, connecting to state beaches to remember the joyful energy of the ocean. Through four-day events of communal surf and education sessions, the project will raise collective consciousness on Indigenous history, Land Back, environmental racism and unrevised BIPOC surf history. They will also host overnight camping trips to deepen the community’s relationships with coastal land and waters.
Community Nature Connection, To Nature and Nurture Ourselves
Community Nature Connection will organize two extended daytrips and one overnight camping trip to three state parks in Los Angeles County for 15 high school-aged youth. The program will use Vista Hermosa Nature Park as a meeting place and demonstrate an urban, local park in the community that is readily accessible and has supportive public programs. The program also includes a kayaking trip on the Los Angeles River in the recreation zone of the Sepulveda Basin.
Desert Recreation District, Bridge to Waterways: Adventures for Underserved Communities
Bridge to Waterways is a transformative community access project that reconnects underserved communities to nature and each other. Residents help shape these experiences, creating meaningful connections and breaking down barriers to public lands. Through nine guided adventures shaped by local voices, participants will experience the beauty of California’s rivers, lakes and coastal waterways, while building knowledge, confidence and community.
Dolores Huerta Foundation, DHF Outdoor Equity Youth Program
The Dolores Huerta Foundation will host a series of three-day, two-night immersive “FamCamp” experiences for approximately underserved youth from Tulare and Kern counties. We are coordinating vans to bring participants from designated local hubs to California State Parks featuring inland waterways. The program facilitates hands-on educational activities, including hiking and watershed interpretation sessions, where youth can explore ecosystems and the interconnectedness of water systems.
Edison Youth Activities, Youth to Parks: Explore, Learn, Lead
Edison Youth Activities will connect underrepresented Central Valley youth and families to California State Parks through free, guided trips that blend outdoor recreation, environmental education and wellness. The program provides transportation, food, gear and mentorship so first-time park visitors feel welcomed, informed and inspired to return on their own.
EMDAD, Pathways to Peace and Parks for Afghan Community
EMDAD’s Pathways to Peace and Parks will offer 120 low-income immigrants and refugees three seasonal, culturally tailored day trips to California State Parks. The program supports transportation, language and cultural barriers while offering trauma-informed, bilingual experiences that connect families to nature, wellness and long-term park access.
Hearts for Sight Foundation, White Cane Access to California State Parks
White Cane Access to California State Parks is a Hearts for Sight initiative launching in the Route to Parks 2026 grant cycle to break down barriers and expand outdoor access for people who are blind or visually impaired. For too long, VIPs have faced systemic challenges to outdoor recreation due to transportation limitations, accessibility gaps and persistent misconceptions about blindness — barriers this program directly addresses.
Hope and Harvest Project, Clear Lake Youth Outdoor Education Program
Hope and Harvest Project will launch a rotating outdoor education program. This initiative will reconnect young people with their ancestral lands and public outdoor spaces through immersive experiences in fishing, wildlife and ecological education. The program’s aim is to help build practical life skills and an emotional connection to nature. In doing this, removing barriers and replacing them with confidence, belonging and opportunity.
Institute for Public Strategies, Meet Mountain Empire Outdoors – Meet ME Outdoors
Institute for Public Strategies will remove barriers that prevent Mountain Empire youth and families from accessing California State Parks by offering free day trips and overnight camping with transportation, meals, gear and fees covered. Co-led with State Parks staff, activities teach environmental science, cultural history and stewardship. Family trips and listening sessions ensure the program reflects community voices and builds lasting connections to nature.
Jamul Indian Village of California, Exploring the Kumeyaay Coast at Torrey Pines
The Jamul Indian Village of California will bring community members to visit state parks and reconnect with culturally important lands. They will share the tribe’s history, traditions and stewardship values through guided activities and educational experiences. This project strengthens relationships between tribal families and park partners and supports cultural learning and environmental awareness.
Karmic Action Retribution Management Agency, L.A. Rooted: Paar on the Move: Water, Mobility, and Community
LA Rooted: Paar on the Move – Water, Mobility, and Community is a six-month youth program transforming Rio de Los Angeles State Park into a bike hub for active transportation and environmental education. In partnership with local schools, the program offers after-school bike skills, community rides and overnight bike-and-transit trips to parks and coastal ecosystems. It engages and empowers urban youth and families in environmental stewardship, mobility justice and climate resilience.
Land Together, Pathways to Belonging: Reentry Journeys Through State Parks
Pathways to Belonging: Reentry Journeys Through State Parks offers formerly incarcerated people transformative outdoor experiences that foster healing, connection and a renewed sense of public belonging. Through positive, shared experiences, Land Together’s participants are included and affirmed that California’s parks belong to everyone and support individual healing alongside collective empowerment.
Mighty Community Advocacy, Summer Splash: Mighty Millerton Lake Program
Each family will enjoy infant-toddler swim lessons to build water confidence and safety skills. Mighty Community Advocacy’s program will provide two trips to Millerton Lake for Mighty Lake Days. Each trip brings a different outdoor experience, such as paddle sports, hiking or learning about local wildlife. After a morning of exploration, relax with a picnic lunch and join family fun day activities, from arts and crafts to lakeside games, all designed to strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.
Orange County Coastkeeper, River KATS: Kid’s Activism Through Science
Through the River KATS: Kid’s Activism Through Science program, students from the Inland Empire will be introduced to their local natural areas through hands-on activities and field trips, connecting youth with their environment and inspiring stewardship. During the school year, students from underrepresented communities will embark on either a single or a series of field trips exploring the Santa Ana River watershed from its upper inland reaches to the ocean.
Inland Empire Waterkeeper, River KATS: Kid’s Activism Through Science
Through River KATS (Kids Activism Together with Science), middle to high school students from the Inland Empire will be introduced to their local natural areas through hands-on activities and field trips to connect youth with their local environment and inspire stewardship. During the school year, students from underrepresented communities will embark on a series of field trips exploring the Santa Ana River watershed from its upper reaches to the ocean. Our goal is to empower students that nature is theirs to explore, enjoy, and protect. Outdoor spaces have been made inaccessible to our target audience by our societal systems, including but not limited to transportation costs, time-consuming public transportation, the financial barrier created by the above, increasing urbanization, and additional parking or entrance fees. Providing our programming at no cost to schools alleviates the burdens that create these barriers so that all students have equal access to natural resources.
Outdoor Outreach, State Parks Discovery Project for Outdoor Leadership Youth
Outdoor Outreach will introduce 30 youth from High Tech High Chula Vista to multi-day backpacking in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Mount San Jacinto State Park. In addition, participants will visit Devil’s Postpile National Monument for an extended six-day backpacking trip.
Queer Surf, Queer Waterways
Queer Waterways, hosted by Queer Surf, is an overnight California State Parks camping experience for queer, nonbinary and transgender BIPOC adults from the East Bay with financial barriers. Campers will travel by train to Lake Tahoe’s Sierra District, Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, D. L. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay State Park to kayak, paddleboard, hike and swim. Queer Waterways builds confidence, independence and a community of empowered queer stewards of nature.
River Jim Learning Solutions, River Jim Learning Solutions
In communities where access to nature is limited, River Jim offers free, structured outdoor experiences that connect children to the natural world, their teachers and one another. River Jim will serve 6th- to 8th-graders from underserved communities in Glenn and Butte counties. These trips give students the chance to play, learn and build confidence in the outdoors, fostering a lifelong connection to nature. Trips include canoes, paddles, tents and meals featuring organic, locally sourced produce.
San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, History and Heritage Along the Tracks: Discovering California via Amtrak San Joaquins
The San Joaquins Joint Powers Authority manages the Gold Runner service, connecting California communities to more than 100 destinations in the state with its integrated rail and bus network. Since it was first awarded its Parks California grant, the Gold Runner service has increased ridership to events from approximately 100 to nearly 500 riders. SJJPA is looking to expand its program to more communities and to add the California State Railroad Museum as an additional destination.
San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, River RISE: Recreation, Inspiration, Stewardship, and Exploration
River RISE: Recreation, Inspiration, Stewardship, and Exploration connects middle school students to the San Joaquin River and state parks through hands-on outdoor learning. Serving 7th- and 8th-grade Advancement Via Individual Determination students in Madera, the program will bring learning beyond the classroom and into public lands. Students explore local ecosystems, build confidence outdoors and learn about careers in conservation and parks, helping them see themselves as future stewards of the San Joaquin River.
SHAW 4 Community, 209 HIKES Wellness Series
209 Hikes connects underserved communities in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties to nature through monthly wellness hikes in California State Parks. Activities include guided hikes, kayaking, yoga, healthy meals and wellness workshops. The program provides transportation and accessible options so everyone can enjoy nature.
Shelter Valley Citizens’ Corporation, Shelter Valley EdVenture Club
The Shelter Valley EdVenture Club is a nature-based youth program serving children in a high desert, California-designated Severely Disadvantaged Community. The program provides transportation for 15 local youth to explore nearby state parks they might not otherwise have access to. Year-round programs include afterschool, summer and weekend activities, with plans to expand to include day trips and a camping experience to inspire stewardship, curiosity and a lifelong love of nature.
Sierra State Parks Foundation, Enhancing Waterborne Recreation and Interpretive Programs in Donner-Tahoe State Parks
Sierra State Parks Foundation’s Enhancing Waterborne Recreation and Interpretive Programs in Donner-Tahoe State Parks project will fund supplies and equipment for rafting and kayak interpretive programs at Donner Memorial State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park. These programs supplement existing interpretive programs that offer valuable recreational, environmental, including water systems, cultural or historical learning experiences while connecting participants to inland waterways. These programs supplement existing PORTS programs that complement interpretive programs.
Siskiyou County Office of Education, Siskiyou County Outdoor Equity for K-12 Students
Siskiyou County Office of Education’s outdoor equity initiative expands science learning and access to nature for underserved students. By prioritizing high-poverty schools, the program reduces barriers to outdoor education and offers hands-on, standards-aligned activities in state parks and local natural areas. Running from July to October 2026, the program provides free programs, travel support and family events to build science literacy and stewardship.
Sonoma Ecology Center, Increasing Access to Nature at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for Latinos through Partnerships and Transportation
Sonoma Ecology Center Tribal Project, Returning to Wilikos: Wappo Cultural Gatherings at Sugarloaf
In 2026, Sonoma Ecology Center will expand its bilingual Senderos Naturales program, connecting more than 400 Latino community members — many visiting for the first time — with the beauty and benefits of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. This initiative reduces long-standing barriers to park access by providing transportation, bilingual guides, culturally relevant programming and welcoming, family-friendly experiences designed and led by Latino educators.
Additionally, the Sonoma Ecology Center and the Mishewal Wappo Tribe will host Wappo-led cultural gatherings at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, the ancestral homeland of Wilikos. Seasonal events will include traditional food, song, dance, storytelling and land-based teachings. The program strengthens cultural revitalization, intergenerational learning and the Wappo connection to sacred land.
South Fresno Outdoor Adventures, Operation Outdoor Independence
By providing not only experiences but also a full education on how to replicate the experiences, South Fresno Outdoor Adventures’ Operation Outdoor Independence is a program designed to facilitate increased participation in outdoor recreation among populations typically underrepresented in such activities. The yearlong program will teach students in South Fresno everything they need to know to properly plan and execute solo outdoor trips or organize trips for family and friends.
Valley of the Moon Natural History Association DBA Jack London Park Partners, Expansion of Rutas y Aventuras Program
The Rutas y Aventuras Program is designed to connect Sonoma County’s Spanish-speaking communities with Jack London State Historic Park through culturally relevant storytelling and nature experiences delivered in Spanish. We offer one free program each month, including free entry. Thanks to the Route to Parks grant, the organization will expand the program to include transportation assistance, supplies and three community days highlighting seasonal and watershed changes.
Ventana Wildlife Society, Community Hub Parks Explorations with Youth and Families Experiencing Economic Disadvantage
Ventana Wildlife Society’s Community Hub Parks Explorations expands access to California State Parks for youth and families from economically disadvantaged areas of North Monterey County. Through recurring outdoor education, family excursions and overnight camping, participants develop a sense of connection to nature. Co-designed, culturally relevant experiences — supported by free transportation and bilingual staff — foster environmental knowledge, well-being and a lasting sense of belonging outdoors.
Yurok Tribe, Reclaiming Routes
The Reclaiming Routes project supports the Yurok Tribe’s Stewards of Storytelling initiative, funded by Parks California, and provides transportation so community members can attend cultural programs led by tribal interns. The organization will increase accessibility by buying a wheelchair and conducting in-person outreach for tribal communities. The project aims to reduce barriers, rebuild trust with parks and support Indigenous communities as they reconnect with their land, histories and stewardship traditions.
