California’s state parks are living landscapes — shaped not only by forests, coastlines and wildlife, but also by the people who care for them. Through the Climate Fellows program, Parks California partners with California State Parks to bring in early-career professionals who help integrate science, planning and community voices into the stewardship of these places.
For Ryan Swanson, who was completing his studies at the UC Davis Institute of the Environment as the inaugural fellow in 2022, that meant stepping into a role to help State Parks weave climate considerations into high-level planning. “I reviewed park plans to see how climate was addressed, tracked new legislation and presented recommendations directly to leadership,” he explained.
The experience not only sharpened his technical writing for a non-specialist audience but also gave him confidence presenting to senior leaders — skills that continue to shape his work today on shoreline adaptation and ecological restoration projects with Environmental Science Associates.
A year later, Andrea Cornelius carried the fellowship forward with her focus on organizing a statewide working group that brought together natural resource managers, cultural experts, interpreters, planners and more.
“It was powerful to hear from so many experts whose work is already affected by hotter summers, stronger storms and more frequent fires,” she said. “Bringing those voices together expanded my own thinking in ways I wouldn’t have considered on my own.” That collaborative spirit now guides the UC Santa Barbara alumna and her work as an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
What unites both Ryan and Andrea’s reflections is the behind-the-scenes look at real park challenges: reviewing dense plans, translating technical data, convening diverse perspectives and testing ideas that could one day shape statewide policy. These are not abstract projects — they’re opportunities for fellows to sit at the table where decisions are made, to bring science and community voices into park planning and to gain the confidence that comes from navigating complex systems.
“The power of the fellows program at Parks California is being able to place these early-career professionals directly into our teams,” said Jay Chamberlin, chief, Natural Resources Division, California State Parks. “It is a tremendous asset to California State Parks. Their ability to convene and navigate interdisciplinary discussions helps bring science into practical planning and identify alternatives to advance priorities for climate resilience. Beyond the technical expertise, their passion for stewardship reminds all of us why this work matters — ensuring parks remain resilient and welcoming for generations to come.”Fellows are recruited in the spring for the one-year term. Application windows will be announced on Parks California social media channels and website. The Climate Fellows program is made possible by donors. To learn more about how to support programs like this, reach out to our fundraising team.
Photo: Henry W. Coe State Park, California State Parks.
Lessons for Future Fellows
Both Ryan and Andrea’s experiences underscore the unique opportunities of the fellowship: Both Ryan and Andrea’s experiences underscore the unique opportunities of the fellowship:
- Real-world projects. Fellows work directly with State Parks staff on issues like wildfire planning, visitor use and ecosystem resilience.
- Leadership exposure. Presenting recommendations to senior leaders helps fellows build confidence and communication skills.
- Collaboration across disciplines. Fellows learn how cultural, natural, recreational and planning teams all intersect when shaping parks’ futures.
As Andrea put it, “The value of collaboration and incorporating learning from subject matter experts was one of my biggest takeaways. It’s not something you can do in isolation.”