The Newsletter for Members of California State Parks Foundation
A NEW LOOK FOR CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION
elcome to the latest edition of Parklands! As you may have noticed, we’ve done a bit of redesign. We’re very excited to announce our new logo and visual brand. This fall felt like the perfect time to refresh our look and focus on the future of state parks. In October, thanks to amazing supporters like you, we’re celebrating our 50th anniversary.
But rest assured, our park priorities haven’t changed. California State Parks Foundation is still dedicated to preserving, protecting and meeting the needs of California’s greatest treasures. Our passion for parks will always guide our work.
We hope you enjoy the new, more visual format of Parklands. We’re so grateful for your continued support and are thrilled to share the new brand with you!
A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
California was an American cultural phenomenon – the idea of the “California Dream” and finding a better life drew millions. Now, part of that dream lives on in the natural and cultural treasures of California state parks.
Dave Mandelkern, the outgoing Board Chair of California State Parks Foundation, said something recently that has really resonated with me and other members of our staff. As we were discussing California State Parks Foundation’s upcoming 50th anniversary, someone asked him: of all the great accomplishments over the years – and there have been many! – what has been the most important accomplishment?
“We‘ve periodically reinvented California State Parks Foundation to do what parks need most,” he said. In the early years, that meant receiving gifts of land and other donations on behalf of the state parks system. Later on, we took on fundraising for complex capital and restoration projects. In recent decades, we’ve focused on our advocacy work, ensuring that parks stay open, protected and adequately funded for everyone to enjoy. In our first 49 years, the population of California has nearly doubled and become far more diverse.
California is always changing. And as we look ahead to a changing climate and a population with more diverse needs, we know our state parks will be at the forefront in meeting the challenges of climate change and the educational, health and wellness needs of our young people. Now, in our 50th year, you will begin to see us pivot again to address these critical issues. We know that a thriving parks system leads to a thriving California –doing what parks need most will remain our north star.
Rachel Norton Executive Director
A recent staff outing to Jack London State Historic Park
YOUR IMPACT ON PARKS
s a member of California State Parks Foundation, you enable us to make amazing things happen for state parks. We envision an inspiring and welcoming state parks system where there is access for all, sustainable funding and parks are protected for future generations. We couldn’t do this work without your enduring support.
With our 50th anniversary around the corner, we’ve been looking toward the future and are reminded of the critical work you help make possible:
Park Protection
State parks face many threats – from the depletion of their priceless resources to dangers like climate change and wildfires. They must be preserved as our state’s greatest collection of natural, historic and cultural treasures.
Access for All All Californians should have access to the positive impacts parks have on health, happiness and quality of life –but not everyone does. By increasing access, more Californians enjoy the benefits of state parks, and we can build the next generation of park stewards.
Adequate and Sustainable Funding
Maintaining state parks requires a tremendous amount of support. Wildlife habitats, cultural resources and visitor amenities are all threatened by a lack of financial resources. Adequate and sustainable funding provides parks with the means to reach their full potential.
THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE
other Nature is a powerful force – in one moment, it can be destructive and perilous, and in the next, it’s the wildly transformative antidote you’ve been seeking all along.
Tony Catalano, Executive Director of Feather River Center, knows this well.
Located in Butte County, Feather River Center is in a region that’s undergone devastating natural crises in the last few years. In 2017, severe damage to the Oroville Dam spillway prompted the evacuation of more than 180,000 people, and in 2018, the Paradise Camp Fire became the most catastrophic wildfire in California’s history.
In response to these disasters, Feather River Center wanted to help locals reconnect with nature. As the nonprofit operator of the
Forebay Aquatic Center, they invite children and families to the North Forebay in Lake Oroville State Recreation Area to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Feather River Center hosts special days for former residents of Paradise, waiving the park entrance fee and offering aquatic rentals at a discounted price.
“We want to help Paradise Camp Fire survivors reclaim their emotional and mental health by being outdoors. The idea is to see nature as therapeutic, as something that can help them deal with the stress caused by the fire. We want everyone to see nature as a positive thing,” said Tony.
A $12,000 grant from California State Parks Foundation is helping fund the nonprofit’s Discover the Bay in Your Backyard program,
where kids and families can enjoy water-centric activities at the Forebay Aquatic Center. With discounted rates for renting canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and hydrobikes, Tony finds people visiting time and again.
“It’s kind of an undiscovered jewel in the area,” he said of the North Forebay’s calm, glassy water surrounded by rolling hills. “We’re helping people discover more places where they can engage with the healing power of nature. They have something in their backyard that’s both recreational and educational, and this grant is allowing us to expose more people to that.”
“SOMEONE SAID NATIONAL PARKS ARE AMERICA’S BEST IDEA. STATE PARKS ARE AMERICA’S SECOND. PEOPLE NEED PARKS – IT HELPS MAKE US BETTER HUMANS.”
TONY CATALANO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FEATHER RIVER CENTER
CONNECTING YOUTH TO THE OUTDOORS
arlier this year, California State Parks Foundation funded 27 organizations through our most recent grant round, with a focus on youth access. These grants reflect our commitment to getting kids outside and are instrumental in bringing more meaningful and highly impactful youth-focused programs into state parks. For a full list of current grantees, visit calparks.org/whatwedo/grants.
Latino Outdoors
Designed to alleviate barriers to the outdoors, this program educates youth from underrepresented communities about park access by providing culturally appropriate programming. Activities through this grant include hikes, camping and interpretive presentations in Humboldt Lagoons State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Leo Carillo State Park and others.
Mono Lake Committee
Mono Basin Outdoor Education Center connects Los Angeles youth to the source of their drinking water through outdoor activities. Because of this partnership, the program will be able to provide 70 low-income Los Angeles youth with five-day, hands-on watershed education in Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve and Bodie State Historic Park
GirlVentures
GirlVentures empowers adolescent girls to develop and express their strengths through outdoor adventures. This grant helps fund backpacking, hiking, rock climbing and kayaking trips in Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin State Park, Samuel P. Taylor State Park and Half Moon Bay State Beach.
Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park
This grant increases the reach of their free summer program in Oakland, connecting 300 youth to hiking, camping and more in Angel Island State Park, Mount Diablo State Park and Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach.
PHOTO © EILEEN ROCHE
STATE PARKS: A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR YOUTH HEALTH
e recognize a great opportunity for state parks to improve the lives of Californians – especially youth. To explore this further, we’re conducting research with UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.
According to extensive research, spending time outside is greatly beneficial to children: “Getting outdoors, alone or with others, actively playing or just passively enjoying nature is good for the physical and mental health of youth,” said Jon Christensen, researcher at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA.
These health benefits are especially important for youth from disadvantaged households, who tend to experience higher levels of stress and risk of disease and death.
“California state parks are a tremendous resource for getting kids outdoors and improving their
physical and mental health. Our research shows that more than half of young Californians — 5 million youth under the age of 18 — live within the ‘visitorsheds’ of state parks,” said Jon. “State parks can play an important role in helping to get youth outdoors.”
We are working to identify how state parks can contribute to youth health and be pathways for meaningful outdoor experiences. The research is still in progress, and we look forward to sharing more findings from UCLA as it develops.
Special thanks to Jon Christensen, Alessandro Rigolon, Spencer Robins, and Jenny Alemán-Zometa for conducting this research. Learn more at calparks.org/research
Who lives within the “visitorsheds” of California state parks?
54% of the state youth population (5 million people under 18)
53% of impoverished youth (1 million youth living in poverty)
59% of the state’s disadvantaged households (3 million households)
We commissioned this research with UCLA to analyze the “visitorsheds” of all state parks in California.
The main takeaway from the preliminary results of this new research? California state parks are a tremendous, potentially underutilized resource for youth health.
NUMBER OF YOUTH IN VISITORSHEDS OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
NUMBER OF YOUTH
URBAN PARKS RURAL PARKS UP TO 100
101—1,000
1,001—10,000
10,001—100,000 OVER 100,000
50 YEARS OF PROTECTING AND PRESERVING
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
Fifty years ago, visionaries with a passion for California’s state parks saw the need for a strong, independent voice speaking out on their behalf.
n a hot August afternoon in 1969, a group of men and women sat in the governor’s office in Sacramento discussing an idea. When they left that office hours later, they had volunteered to be the first Board of Trustees for California State Parks Foundation. Thus an organization was born –with the official blessing of the State of California, high hopes and no money.
Now – 50 years later – thousands of Californians have worked, volunteered, advocated and made personal contributions for protecting and preserving California state parks. To those of you who watched this tiny organization struggle and slowly grow, it may seem like a miracle.
It is no miracle. It happened because people cared – because they were determined that California’s priceless natural and cultural heritage should not be lost to future generations. As we celebrate 50 years of supporting California state parks, we also celebrate the park champions who helped get us to this point and will inspire us for 50 years to come.
We will continue to work to preserve and protect the future of state parks by building the next generation of inspirational park champions. We envision a parks system that tells the story of all Californians, creatively engages visitors, and responds to California’s changing demographics and visitor preferences. Californians who feel connected to their parks will fight in the future to protect and preserve them.
PARK CHAMPION: WILLIAM PENN MOTT, JR.
To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we’re honoring park champions from the past 50 years. These are the passionate advocates who stepped up to make sure our California state parks were here for us and the generations to come. We are incredibly grateful to these park champions and the many more who dedicated their time, money and lives to state parks. Our first park champion is one near and dear to us: our founder.
illiam Penn Mott, Jr. was perhaps the most influential parks professional in the last half of the twentieth century.
His influence was pervasive, extending to all levels of government –local, regional, state and national. He shaped the celebrated East Bay Regional Park District in the early 1960s, served as Director of California State Parks under Governor Ronald Reagan (1967 to 1974) and acted as Director of the National Park Service for President Reagan (1985 to 1989).
Mott was responsible for many innovative changes in the state parks system, including opening the park ranger ranks to women and setting up the first ticket reservation system for public campground use.
In 1968, Mott proposed to the governor that a private nonprofit organization be created to solicit and receive gifts on behalf of the state parks system. The idea appealed to Governor Ronald Reagan and his advisors – and thus California State Parks Foundation was born in 1969.
As president and founder of California State Parks Foundation, Mott continued his efforts to preserve and enhance the state parks of California. During that period, land and historic artifacts worth over $50 million were acquired and deeded to state parks.
In the 1980s, Mott was appointed Director of the National Park Service by Secretary of the Interior Don Hodel. “William Penn Mott is one of the most widely respected conservationists in America today with an unparalleled record of achievement,” said Hodel. “America has the finest parks system in the world, but Mott’s dynamic, experienced leadership can improve even that impressive record.”
Mott passed away in 1992, leaving behind a long legacy of protecting parks and their priceless resources.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
These falls are breathtaking any time of year, but during autumn visitors are in for an especially vibrant display of color. California black oaks abound, and the changing leaves create a palette of orange and yellow that reflects in the pool beneath the falls.
Visit the Heritage Harvest Festival this October to make crafts, see living history demonstrations, listen to music and participate in harvest-time activities. Admission is free, and food will be for sale at the event. Don’t forget to walk along the coastal bluffs before you leave!
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Located in the heart of wine country, this region bursts with brilliant foliage in the fall. Coyote Peak Trail and Ritchey Canyon Trail are ideal places to see maple leaves turning yellow. Go for a weekend and stay in one of the park’s yurts or cabins!
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Located northeast of San Diego, this is a great spot to get your fall color fix in Southern California. Because of its elevation at 5,000 feet, there are distinct changes in the park’s scenery each season. And if you camp overnight, you’re in for some extra beauty: a magnificent display of stars.
EXPLORE CALIFORNIA THIS FALL
ummer is over, but that doesn’t mean travel and adventure has to stop! Fall is a spectacular time to visit state parks, and there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy in California. How will you spend the season and find new ways to explore? Here are some of our top picks.
Bodie State Historic Park
Why visit a haunted house when you could go to a real ghost town? Bodie was once known for gold mining, but now visitors can walk the deserted streets lined with historic buildings. Dance halls, saloons and general stores are maintained in the condition they were left, filled with old goods and furniture from the past.
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Temperatures are cooler here in the fall, making it the perfect time to trek around and explore the stunning rock formations. The park protects significant paleontology sites and has been used for filming TV shows and movies, such as Westworld and Jurassic Park.
UPHOLDING THE
“It’s pretty amazing that as a society we’ve collectively agreed on the importance of having a place to go to experience nature. It’s easy to take parks for granted and assume that they’ve always been there and always will be.
Parks are a gift to ourselves and future generations, and we must do our part to give back. Thank you to California State Parks Foundation for setting up these wonderful volunteer opportunities, and thank you to all the other volunteers who get their hands dirty and do the work to uphold this gift!”
BRIAN FRANGE
VOLUNTEER AT BALDWIN HILLS SCENIC OVERLOOK
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers are so important to the work we do in state parks. Below are some upcoming dates where you can get into the dirt and weeds yourself!
OCTOBER
October 19
Grover Hot Springs State Park
October 19
Palomar Mountain State Park
NOVEMBER
November 9
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
November 16
Half Moon Bay State Beach
DECEMBER
December 7
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
December 7
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Visit calparks.org/volunteer for a full list of volunteer dates and details.
FLASHBACK PHOTO
In 1973, California State Parks Foundation acquired 4,800 acres of property in the Santa Monica Mountains, forming a “land bridge” between Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park. This photo was taken in 1974 when second and third graders from 75th St. Elementary School in central Los Angeles visited the newly acquired land, many of which had never been away from their own city neighborhoods. Thanks to supporters like you, these youth were able to have their first outdoor experience in a new recreational area within the city limits of Los Angeles.
ENTER OUR PHOTO CONTEST
Our Photo of the Month contest is now on social media! Share your photos with us by using the hashtag #MyCAStatePark and tagging @calparks on Twitter and Instagram, and California State Parks Foundation on Facebook. If you are a member of our My California State Parks Flickr group, don’t worry! You will still be able to submit your photos on Flickr for your chance to win.
Monthly winners will now receive a California Explorer Annual Day Pass and another special prize. We hope photographers, both amateur and professional, will continue to bring their passion, talent and dedication to the contest.
We look forward to seeing your outdoor adventures in California state parks!
33 New Montgomery St., Suite 520 San Francisco, CA 94105 members@calparks.org
California State Parks Foundation is an independent, member-supported nonprofit that mobilizes a diverse network of Californians to be active champions for our state parks. Stay Connected Visit us online at calparks.org and follow us on social media: @calparks @calparks /calparks
Front cover photo: McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park