December 17, 2021

Photo Contest Top Five: Spooky Fall in California State Parks

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park

Photo title: "Right This Way"

What inspired you to take such a “spooky” photo? “The light and the narrow hall caught my eye. Made me think of the movie 'The Shining' or maybe the Eagles song 'Hotel California.'”

Photo taken: September 2021

Photo by: Jeff Brown, Southern Service Center. Jeff is a Senior Landscape Architect and has been with the department for almost 25 years, spread over two “tours.” He has worked in San Diego his entire career, starting with the Southern Region Office, which became the Southern Service Center.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Photo title: "Feeling Oozy"

What inspired you to take such a “spooky” photo? “When I was looking at the dead trunk of an oak tree, I saw the chicken of the forest fungus was growing by some char marks on the trunk. The char marks looked like a skeleton screaming in pain because the fungus was growing out of the skeleton’s eye socket.”

Photo taken: Oct. 10, 2021

Photo by: Michele Hernandez, Colorado Desert District. Michele is a state park interpreter and has been with the department for six years. She works at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Photo title: "Haunted Cypress"

What inspired you to take such a “spooky” photo? “Since it was my first time to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and I only had a short time to hike around, I asked the gentleman in the kiosk where I should go and he suggested Cypress Grove Trail. As I hiked out to Pinnacle Point, I saw the cypress trees covered in a reddish moss and it reminded me of something out of the 'Sleepy Hollow' story. Beyond was this soft, sunlit ocean view, framed by the eerie, 'bloody' cypress branches. I decided to shoot this image as a long exposure, making the ocean waves appear smooth and calm. I just loved the way the harsh branches were a chaotic, dark contrast against the warm sunlight and serene ocean.”

Photo taken: Sept. 22, 2021

Photo by: Jason Tucker, Central Valley District. Jason is a maintenance worker I and has been with the department since May 2020. He works at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area.

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

Photo title: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat, How I Wonder What You’re At" (from a poem recited by the Mad Hatter in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland")

What inspired you to take such a “spooky” photo? “This sleeping Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) was photographed in a haunted mine. OK, that’s a stretch inspired by too many 'Scooby Doo' cartoons—the only ghostly wails hereabout are those of wild burros that the miners left behind. When this species catches some shut-eye, they curl their huge ears back. I imagine it helps deaden sound—and with those ears, I bet they need it. While they have faces that many find spooky, the spookiest element to this photo is the danger bats face in our present time. White nose syndrome, an almost apocalyptic fungal infection, has been decimating bats across North America. While we take precautions to keep it out of our cave, it is a lingering threat. Consider how many insects bats eat and the protection this affords to farmers, food supplies, consumers and outdoor enthusiasts, and the scariest part of this photo is imagining a world without these fascinating (if ghastly) little mammals.”

Photo taken: Nov. 6, 2021

Photo by: Andrew Fitzpatrick, Inland Empire District. Andrew is a state park interpreter I at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, the Home of Mitchell Caverns, and has been with the department since February 2009.

San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area

Photo title: "What’s Hairy and Has Eight Legs?"

What inspired you to take such a “spooky” photo? “While I may not be an arachnophobe, I would be spooked to find this critter crawling on me! I would prefer to observe spiders and tarantulas from a safe distance—thank you very much! (Just thinking about one crawling on me makes my skin crawl! Ah!)” 

Photo taken: Oct. 6, 2021

Photo by: Renee Souza, Central Valley District. Renee is a senior park aide and has been with the department for five years.

WHAT'S NEW

State Parks Employees Honored with Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Award

Story from: Doug Johnson, Communications and Marketing Division

From left to right, top row: Christopher Beehner, Northern Buttes District – Gold; Sabrina Buis, Northern Buttes District – Gold; Zackery Chambers, Northern Buttes District – Gold. Second row: Kirk Coon, Northern Buttes District – Gold; Travis Gee, Northern Buttes District – Gold; Andrew Helble, Gold Fields District – Silver. Third row: Chris Hendricks, San Luis Obispo Coast District – Silver; Mark Hofer, Northern Buttes District – Gold and Silver; Daniel Marinella, Northern Buttes District – Gold; Scott Sipes, Santa Cruz District – Gold; Matthew Stalter, Northern Buttes District – Gold. Fourth row: Lori Martin, Northern Buttes District (retired) – Silver; Eldon McBride, Northern Buttes District – Gold; Ean Miller, North Coast Redwoods District – Gold; Michael Van Pelt, Northern Buttes District – Silver; Brett Weber, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services – Silver.

California State Parks is proud to announce that 15 state park peace officers (SPPOs) and one seasonal non-peace officer lifeguard were honored this week with the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Awards for acts of heroism. The Medal of Valor Award is the highest honor the state can bestow upon its employees, given on behalf of Governor Newsom. 

“While many of the public servants honored this year may say that they were simply doing their job, their heroic and selfless acts that they perform every day while putting their own lives at risk are to be admired and recognized,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “Thank you for your heroic strength to face danger.”  

Actions taken by this year’s State Parks recipients include saving countless lives and property during the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise; the 2018 Carr Fire near Whiskey Town Lake and Shasta State Historic Park; saving kayakers in dangerous ocean conditions off Fort Bragg; responding to an active shooting and manhunt at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area; and rescuing a shark attack victim while off-duty in San Diego County.

Awarded Gold from Northern Buttes District were Christopher Beehner, SPPO (Ranger); Daniel Marinella, SPPO (Ranger); Eldon McBride, SPPO (Ranger); Kirk Coon, SPPO Supervisor (Ranger); Matthew Stalter, SPPO Supervisor (Ranger); Travis Gee, SPPO State Park Superintendent II; and Sabrina Buis SPPO (Ranger). Awarded Silver from the Northern Buttes District were Lori Martin, SPPO State Park Superintendent II (retired) and Michael Van Pelt, SPPO (Ranger). And awarded both Gold and Silver were Mark Hofer, SPPO (Ranger), also from the Northern Buttes District.

From Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District Ean Miller, Lifeguard II (Seasonal), was awarded Gold. From Gold Fields District, Andrew Helble, SPPO (Lifeguard) was awarded Silver. From San Luis Obispo Coast District, Chris Hendricks, SPPO Supervisor (Ranger)/K-9 Handler was awarded Silver. From Santa Cuz District, Scott Sipes, SPPO Supervisor (Ranger) was awarded Gold. From the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Division, Brett Weber, SPPO (Ranger), was awarded Silver while Zackery Chambers, SPPO (Ranger), was awarded Gold.

To view the award ceremony, visit CalHR’s YouTube page. For more information about the award, visit the Medal of Valor website. Details of each recipient’s award will be posted to the website after the ceremony.

Congratulations to all the honorees!

California Department of Public Health Requires Everyone to Wear Masks in All Indoor Public Settings Regardless of Vaccine Status

Story from: Adeline Yee, Communications and Marketing Division

As 2021 winds down, we are once again reminded that we’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that beginning Wednesday, December 15, everyone in California must wear a face covering in all indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status. This mask requirement will be in effect for four weeks until Jan. 15, 2022, and at that point, CDPH will make further recommendations as needed in response to the pandemic.

CDPH is reminding all Californians that the COVID-19 vaccines remain effective in preventing serious disease, hospitalization and death. Unvaccinated persons are more likely to get infected and spread the virus, which is transmitted through the air and concentrates indoors. This latest mask requirement comes as the more transmissible omicron variant was recently detected in California and across the nation and the world, and during the busy holiday season for travel and family gatherings.

Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased 47% and hospitalizations have increased by 14%. CDPH has also issued a new travel advisory effective immediately to recommend that all travelers arriving in California test for COVID-19 within three to five days after arrival, regardless of their vaccination status.

State Parks continues to urge visitors to recreate responsibly and "Know Before You Go" prior to heading to any of our park units or the outdoors. For the latest visitor guidelines, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19. On this webpage, you’ll find links to what parks are closed or open, frequently asked questions, press releases and the latest graphics for the mandated face coverings. The public is welcome to download these graphics from our webpage and share them on social media. Don’t forget to include the hashtags #CAStateParks and #RecreateResponsibly.

2021 Year in Review: Changes and Milestones Amid Wildfires, Oil Spill and Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

Story from: Laura Kujubu, Communications and Marketing Division

Top left: Santa Cruz District Superintendent Chris Sphorer on the hike to Berry Creek Falls at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Top right: Fourth grade student Max and Museum Guide Supervisor Jason Rankins walk through California State Railroad Museum. Bottom left: Armando Quintero was confirmed as director of State Parks in June. Bottom middle: The "We Are Not Strangers Here: African American Histories in Rural California” traveling exhibit at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Bottom right: Kids celebrating at Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division's 50th Anniversary event at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. 

2021 proved to be yet another challenging year. California dealt with a massive oil spill in Orange County, closing some state beaches, as well as dramatic effects from climate change such as devastating wildfires and sea level rise—all against the pervasive backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as with previous years and their accompanying incidents, the department once again rose to the challenge with tireless commitment, adaptability and resilience. Despite the difficult events, the year was also filled with positive changes, improvements and plans to help keep moving our department—and California—forward.

Here are some of the top stories in the Weekly Digest reported on in 2021 along with the issue date:

• January 29: State Parks Reopens Campground Sites: After a challenging year of temporary closures in 2020, California State Parks announced on Jan. 28, 2021, that it would be reopening campground sites for existing reservation holders. The department used a phased approach to reopen campground sites and urged the public to recreate responsibly by visiting parks.ca.gov/COVID19.
• March 26: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Unveils New Cesar Chavez Interpretive Panels: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park hosted a virtual unveiling of four bilingual interpretive panels on March 31, 2021. These panels describe the events that took place in 1966 when prominent civil rights leader César Chávez came to Borrego Springs to support local farmworkers in their effort to elect a union of their choice and the role of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and park staff. To learn more, visit the César Chávez Interpretive Panels Virtual Dedication State Parks Facebook page. 
• April 30: Reimagining Big Basin Redwoods State Park Will Require Teamwork, Patience and Financial Help on All Fronts: More than eight months after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire swept through California State Parks' oldest park—Big Basin Redwoods State Park—signs of renewal were seen. In the initial months after the fire, the California Environmental Protection Agency had to assess all toxics in the park, including asbestos and propane tanks. The department has been working closely with Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and CalOES to assess the repair needs for all park units impacted by the 2020 wildfires. The recovery at Big Basin estimated to be around $186 million.
• May 14: Extremely Rare Find on Shores of Crystal Cove State Park: Intact, Deep-sea Anglerfish: On May 7, an incredible deep-sea fish washed up on shore in Crystal Cove State Park’s Marine Protected Area (MPA). It was first discovered by a park visitor who reported this rare and seldom seen anglerfish to the park's staff. Staff removed the fully intact fish from the beach into a secure location. The Pacific footballfish was given to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. This was covered on social media and new stories worldwide.
• May 21: California State Parks Releases Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategy: On May 20, the department released a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategy (Strategy) to guide its approach to coastal management in an era of sea level rise and extreme weather events amid climate change. In addition to serving as the basis for future site-specific planning, these holistic assessments will provide a sea level rise vulnerability assessment template that can be used at all coastal districts in the State Park System.
• May 21: California State Parks Graduates 44 Cadets to 'Live the Parks Life'—Largest Academy Class Yet: On May 19, 44 State Park Peace Officers (Rangers and Lifeguards) graduated from Basic Visitor Services Training (BVST) 45 in the largest graduating class in the department’s history, chosen from a field of approximately 800 applicants. In mid-June, BVST46 graduated an additional 19 cadets.
• June 11: Exhibit at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Explores Rich, Long Histories of African Americans in Rural California: From June 19 – to August 1, 2021, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park hosted the "We Are Not Strangers Here: African American Histories in Rural California” travelling exhibit. The exhibit highlighted unknown and untold stories of Black farmers, ranchers and rural residents. These stories challenge myths about early California and create new narratives about freedom, self-governance, and civic culture.
• June 25: Armando Quintero Confirmed as Director of California State Parks: On June 10, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero was confirmed by the Senate Floor with a unanimous 38-0 vote, which finalized the confirmation process. He was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom as the director of State Parks on Aug. 18, 2020.
• July 9: State Parks Working to Improve Western Monarch Habitat, and How You Too Can Help: Recent counts of Western monarch butterflies at Pismo State Beach have exceeded last year’s total population count, a sign of hope for the dwindling population, which in 2020 were at a 99.9% decline from the population totals during the 1980s. State Parks has been working to help restore the species awinter homes at sites on the Pacific coast, by planting native nectar and milkweed species in the appropriate zones. Learn more about the promising counts in the October 29 Weekly Digest and how you too can help bring back this majestic species.
• July 16: Lifeguards on Mugu Coast Saved Lives During Busy Fourth of July Holiday: It was a busy Fourth of July holiday weekend at Point Mugu State Park, with hundreds visiting the beaches, lifeguards had to keep on their toes.
• August 6: Tamarack Fire Recovery Begins at Grover Hot Springs State Park: State Parks sprang into action during the 2021 wildfire season, crews doing what they could to assist in evacuation and suppression of the Tamarack, Caldor and Dixie Fires. Read more about how the recovery began at Grover Hot Springs State Park, which had the Tamarack Fire burn into its boundary.
• October 1: California State Park and Recreation Commission Renames Patrick’s Point State Park to Sue-meg State Park: The California State Park and Recreation Commission voted unanimously on September 30 to rename Patrick’s Point State Park to Sue-meg State Park to honor the place name used by the Yurok people since time immemorial. The renaming of Patrick’s Point to Sue-meg State Park is one example of how California State Parks is reviewing contested place names, monuments and interpretation across the State Park System as part of the Reexamining Our Past Initiative.
• October 1: State Park Adventure Pass Invites Fourth Graders and Their Families to Explore 19 State Parks for Free: Championed by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the newly launched California State Park Adventure Pass Program expands the opportunity for fourth graders and their families to enjoy the benefits of connecting with nature, with each other and with their communities. California State Parks, the First Partner and the California Natural Resources Agency announced September 29 the fourth-grade pass program—providing access to explore 19 select state parks free for a full year.
• October 8: Orange County Oil Spill Partially Closes Three State Park Units: Due to the coastal oil spill in Orange County, the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and pretrained and affiliated volunteers worked tirelessly to remove oil from the ocean and impacted beaches and helping affected wildlife. Crystal Cove State Park and Huntington and Bolsa Chica state beaches were partially closed, and on October 11, there was a full reopening of beaches in Orange County.
• October 22: Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Celebrates 50^th Anniversary: The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division celebration brought together people from all over the off-highway vehicle recreation spectrum to Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area’s on October 9. This event was part of the yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 1971 legislation that created the funding for managed OHV recreation.
• October 22: Governor’s Office and Natural Resources Agency Asking for Input on 2021 California Climate Adaptation Strategy: On the heels of Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature’s historic $15 billion climate investment, the Newsom Administration announced the release of the 2021 California Climate Adaptation Strategy draft for public input, which was due November 17. The draft strategy is designed to accelerate climate adaptation action across regions and sectors in California, identify how key state agency actions fit together to achieve these priorities and build on the successes and lessons learned since the first climate adaptation strategy in 2009.
• November 12: Parks California Hosts Celebration of Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students: Parks California hosted a virtual event November 18 to celebrate an important State Parks milestone: Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) reached more than 1 million K-12 students, connecting them to state parks via free virtual field trips since 2004. Program staff engages students by creating equitable digital access to state parks at no cost to schools, teachers and students.
• November 19: Governor Newsom Issues Proclamation Declaring November 2021 as Native American Heritage Month: Governor Gavin Newsom issued November 19 a proclamation declaring November 2021 as Native American Heritage Month in the State of California. 
• December 10: State Parks Awards $548.3 Million in Grants to Create Local New Parks Across California as Part of Newsom Administration’s “Outdoors for All” Initiative: California State Parks announced $548.3 million in grant funding to deliver new parks to more than 100 communities and advance the Newsom Administration’s “Outdoors for All” initiative to enable all Californians, regardless of zip code or income, to access parks and open space. Awarded through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program, the grants represent the single-largest investment in state history in expanding access to parks in underserved communities, with new or enhanced parks funded in every region of California.

Top 2021 Photos 

Story from: Communications and Marketing Division

We received countless gorgeous, amusing and unique photos for the Weekly Digest this year. Thank you for your submissions and for helping share the beauty and heart of our California state parks, as well as the teamwork and spirit of Living the Parks Life. Here is just a small sampling of the amazing photos received in 2021.

Top: Low water levels at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area created a large bloom of lupines in areas normally covered by water. Photo from Oscar Vasquez, Office of Information Technology. Bottom left: Gorgeous sunset over Saddleback Butte State Park. Photo from Matthew Williams, Great Basin District. Bottom right: Ocotillo Wells is known for off-road recreation, but it also has fantastic night skies. Here's a spectacular view of the Andromeda Galaxy, the closet galaxy to ours at about 2.5 million light years away! Photo from Edward Aurea, Ocotillo Wells District.

Top left: Snow-covered u’macha (Miwok bark houses) and oak trees lead the way to the South Trail at Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park. Photo from Pepper Youngs, Central Valley District. Top right: On Monday, October 11, we had subfreezing temperatures, 25-30 mph winds and about 4 inches of snow. The aftermath on Tuesday was spectacular. The James Stuart Cain House in Bodie, painted with snow and dripping with icicles. It was about 14 degrees in the morning, minus-2 degrees with windchill. Photo from Hillary Colyer, Sierra District. Bottom left: On Usal Road, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, looking north at Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. Photo from Terri Gaines, Natural Resources Division. Bottom right: Pride Month celebrated with photos from throughout Colorado Desert District. On June 2, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring June 2021 as “LGBTQ Pride Month” in the State of California. Click here to read the proclamation. Photo from Lydia Stinson, Colorado Desert District.

Left: What in the world? Check out this amazing find at Crystal Cove State Park. Photo from Crystal Cove State Park staff, Orange Coast District. Top right: This plump ball of feathers is a male California quail. The quail’s head plume looks like a single feather but it’s really six feathers clustered together. Photo from Brooke Sullivan, Bay Area District. Bottom right: A grumpy gopher snake at Antelope Valley California poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve. Photo from Matthew Williams, Great Basin District

Kick-Start 2022 by Enjoying the Outdoors With First Day Hikes at California’s State Parks

Story from: Jorge Moreno, Communications and Marketing Division

First Day Hikes from previous years at Auburn State Recreation Area (top left) and Saddleback Butte (bottom left) and The Forest of Nisene Marks state parks (right).

What a better way kick-start the new year than by getting some fresh air and enjoying the outdoors with the annual First Day Hikes! California State Parks will be participating with more than 40 state parks and over 50 guided hikes across the state in this national-led effort that encourages individuals and families to experience the beautiful natural and cultural resources found in the outdoors so they may be inspired to take advantage of these treasures throughout the year.

Dedicated docents, volunteers and staff will show visitors some of the wonders of California’s state parks with hikes along the giant sequoias, magnificent redwoods or even through a paddle along the iconic coast. Distance and rigor will vary per hike/activity, so visitors are encouraged to check out details of start times and description of hikes. Participants can find the updated list of state parks by visiting www.parks.ca.gov/FirstDayHikes2022. If your park is participating and would like to be included on the list, please email both Jorge.Moreno@parks.ca.gov and Adeline.Yee@parks.ca.gov. The webpage will be updated regularly.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate digitally by downloading the California State Parks mobile app, which allows users to participate in a check-in challenge, post their progress and share photos along their way. Powered by OuterSpatial, the app will have hike information, route details and more. Visitors can download the app here.

State Parks looks forward to seeing visitors—whether an experienced outdoor enthusiast or a new one—in California’s park trails, beaches, mountains and the deserts, but asks that they recreate responsibly. “Know Before You Go” by reviewing the latest COVID-19 guidelines and additional safety tips.

Visitors are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags: #HikeInto2022, #FirstDayHikes and #CAStateParks.

Show Your ‘Park Pride’ for Winter State Parks Photo Contest

Story from: Jorge Moreno, Communications and Marketing Division

Is your park the best for butterfly or bird watching? A young butterfly enthusiast looks at the monarchs at Pismo State Beach's Monarch Butterfly Grove. Photo from Brian Baer, Communications and Marketing Division. 

Fall brings beautiful, changing colors along California’s diverse and expansive landscape and provides unique opportunities to experience the colder and darker climate. With fall ending, we are excited to showcase the “Spooky Fall in California State Parks” top five photos (see photos at the beginning). From a spooky hallway to harsh and chaotic branches, these photos captured a “spookier” side of California’s 280 state parks.

The top-five photos will be shared next week (December 20-24) on California State Parks' social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter). Make sure to share them and give them a thumb’s up!

For this upcoming “Park Pride” photo contest, we want staff to showcase why their state parks are the best parks in the world to visit and recreate. Whether it’s for its beautiful natural and cultural resources or its various scenic viewpoints, share why your park is the best. Think of it as “park wars,” but showing why your park(s) are the best parks to get some fresh air and connect with nature. Get creative with your photos and showcase the best of your park with your finest “Park Pride” photo(s). If you don’t work at a park, participate by sharing your favorite state park to visit.

This is another great opportunity to show your photography talents and park pride. Remember, if a photo has a recognizable face and the subjects are non-state park employee or park volunteer, you must submit a Visual Media Consent form (DPR 993).

To be eligible to participate, you must be a State Parks employee or park volunteer and submit your photos to the Weekly Digest. Provide a brief description of your “Park Pride” photo and the name of the state park where the photo was taken. The Communications and Marketing team will announce the top five photos in March 2022. The photos will be showcased in the Weekly Digest as well as State Parks’ social media channels with their photo credit.

The rules and criteria to submit photos are:

• Submit photos to the Weekly Digest email address with the subject line “Park Pride.”
• Photos must be taken between December 21, 2021 – March 7, 2022.
• Photos with images of non-park staff must include a photo Visual Media Consent form (DPR 993).
• Photos can be taken at one of California’s 280 state parks.
• Only park employees and volunteers can submit photos.
• Photos will be judged on photo quality, uniqueness, moment captured and content.
• The top-five photos chosen will be shared on California State Parks’ social media channels and in the Weekly Digest.
• Photos will be judged by the Communications and Marketing team (who is not eligible to participate in the contest).
• Photo images should be a minimum of 1920×2400 ppi.

If you have any questions on the contest, please send an email to the Weekly Digest. 

Or is your park the best for some leisure walking along the beach as seen here at Morro Bay State Park? Photo from Brian Baer, Communications and Marketing Division. 

Email photos to the WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.

FIELD REPORT

State Parks Interpreters Honored at National Association for Interpretation Conference

Story and photos from: Sara Skinner, Training Section

Left: Robin Joy Wellman, retired state park interpreter from Fort Ross was recognized for Meritorious Service to the profession of interpretation. Appearing here in period costume at the Fort. Top right: Interpreter II for Monterey State Historic Park Daniel Williford was honored as Master Front-Line Interpreter at the recent conference of the National Association for Interpretation. Bottom right: Roger Riolo, a volunteer interpreter at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, was also cited for Meritorious Service. He is shown here conducting an interpretive certification training course.

Several State Parks interpreters received prestigious national honors at the recent National Association for Interpretation (NAI) conference.

Daniel Williford was honored as Master Front-Line Interpreter. The Master Front-Line Interpreter recognition is presented to an NAI member who has worked for five or more years in the profession and does not supervise the work of others. Recipients demonstrate a mastery of interpretive techniques, program development and design of creative projects. Daniel’s infectious enthusiasm has shined from his first day interpreting redwoods and continued as he presented from a kayak at Point Lobos to a remote Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) audience. He currently works as a State Park Interpreter II for Monterey District.

The Meritorious Service award is presented to NAI members who have performed extensive and invaluable service. Robin Joy Wellman, retired state park interpreter from Fort Ross State Historic Park, was cited for Meritorious Service to the profession of interpretation. Among Robin’s supporters for this honor was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Russian Embassy Oleg Stpepanov, who noted, “I deeply admire your dedication and your personal connection with the interpretive work at Fort Ross. And the amount of effort you have undertaken to enhance people-to-people contacts between our countries and to establish better cultural and historical understanding in the context of Russia-U.S. relations is priceless.”

Roger Riolo, volunteer interpreter and trainer at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, also received the Meritorious Service award. Roger is not only a gifted interpreter, he is also a talented trainer who for many years has trained hundreds of new interpreters through NAI’s training certification program.

The awards were presented at the NAI National Conference held in Palm Springs, California. NAI is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation, with over 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and over 30 other nations.

State Parks Recruitment Team Visits Humboldt County

Story from: Carly Whitney, Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office

Recruitment Manager Xochi Prock (left) and Recruitment Analysts Carly Whitney (middle) and David Garcia (right) visit Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Photo from the Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office.

Last week, the Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office (WPRO) hosted two in-person career workshops at the Jefferson Community Center in Humboldt County. This workshop series was one of the first few workshops hosted by WPRO since March 2020. The team shared information and resources regarding the state’s hiring process, Parks’ career classifications and more. A special thank you to Park Maintenance Chief III John Miller and State Parks North Coast Redwoods District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac who joined WPRO in sharing career insights and knowledge with attendees.

On this trip, WPRO also had the opportunity to participate in a ride along with State Park Peace Officer (Ranger) Andrea Mapes. The team enjoyed a scenic drive through Avenue of the Giants and a walk through Rockefeller Loop located in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The next day, WPRO connected with State Park Interpreter III Marnin Robbins and State Park Interpreter I Skip Lowry, who gave the team an excellent tour and interpretation of Suemeg Village. Skip spent time explaining the unique history and cultural significance of the Yurok Tribe.

WPRO is committed to its efforts of attracting a more diverse candidate pool and extends a warm thank you to each staff member from the North Coast Redwoods District who shared their career journey with the team. It is through your shared insight, knowledge and experiences that we are able to better understand the importance of representation of California’s diverse people and communities in our state parks.

Top left: State Park Interpreter I Skip Lowry shares the history of Suemeg Village with the Parks Recruitment Team. Photo from David Garcia, Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office. Top right (left to right): State Park Maintenance Chief III John Miller, Recruitment Analyst David Garcia, State Park Interpreter III Marnin Robbins, State Park Interpreter I Skip Lowry, State Parks North Coast Redwoods District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac, Recruitment Manager Xochi Prock and Recruitment Analyst Carly Whitney pose for a picture at Suemeg Village. Photo from the Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office. Bottom left: Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office staff educates members of the Humboldt County community on how to get a job with California State Parks. Photo from David Garcia, Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office. Bottom middle: A new, innovative app called the North Coast Redwoods App will soon be available through the Apple App and Google Play stores in early 2022. The app will feature interpretive videos, 360 images, holograms and more. Photo from Xochi Prock, Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office. Bottom right: State Park Peace Officer (Ranger) Andrea Mapes at Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area. Photo from Andrea Mapes, North Coast Redwoods District.

State Parks Receives California Department of Technology’s 2021 Partnership Award

Story from: Doug Johnson, Communications and Marketing Division

Chief Information Officer/Deputy Director for State Parks Patrick Dennis and his team won the California Department of Technology 2021 Partnership Award.

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is being honored as the recipient of the California Department of Technology’s (CDT) 2021 Partnership Award, for DPR’s collaborative partnership with CDT in the co-development of a statewide rural connectivity procurement to resolve broadband connectivity issues throughout the 280 state parks. Winning the External Partner Award Category is Patrick Dennis, chief information officer/deputy director for DPR.

Patrick and his team have been working on this project since fall 2020. Patrick approached CDT’s Statewide Technology Procurement Office (STP) to share DPR’s connectivity challenges and opportunities, discussing the possibilities of working together on codeveloping a statewide rural connectivity procurement that would help solve business and technical challenges in hard-to-reach areas throughout the state. “Every state park location is unique and has different bandwidth challenges” Patrick said.

After co-collaborating on a strategy for state parks, the team immediately determined that if state parks were having these rural connectivity issues, there must be other state agencies/departments that were experiencing the same business and technical challenges.  Dennis reached out to his agency peers at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Correctional Healthcare Services, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Office of Emergency Services, CA Courts and others, who all showed major interest for a rural broadband connectivity service supporting their rural locations throughout the State.

“As it ended up, many other state departments were also struggling to find a way to procure connectivity to their rural locations throughout our state” Dennis said. Patrick took this information back to the STP team at CDT to suggest broadening the scope of developing a statewide rural broadband connectivity service Invitation for Bid (IFB) that all agencies could utilize. Patrick agreed to take on the role of the “sponsoring agency” that included hosting agency stakeholder meetings, creating agenda items and other responsibilities.

Patrick and the STP team worked countless hours in a very short amount of time to deliver a statewide contract that government stakeholders will benefit for years to come. 

Patrick and the STP team’s underlying goal for the contract was to look at helping solve a much-needed reliable broadband service for state agencies in rural areas and how they could leverage this contract vehicle to provide affordable, reliable broadband service to underserved communities.

“I am honored to receive the 2021 Partnership Award from the Department of Technology, and I’m very excited to see how this new contract is used to expand government services to rural locations and potentially aid in connecting underserved communities,” Patrick said.

Patrick and his team were nominated by Deputy Director of Statewide Technology Procurement for the CDT Tiffany Angulo. 

There will be a virtual ceremony, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, where Dennis and his team will be honored. The CDT’s virtual 2021 Ovation Awards Ceremony will be available to be viewed by DPR staff via Zoom.

Park Promotorx Xochi Manzanilla Receives Certificate of Recognition for Work at Los Angeles State Historic Park

Story from: Stephanie Campbell, Angeles District

Senator Maria Elena Durazo (left) presenting Certificate of Recognition to Xochitl Manzanilla. Photo from Lily Nia, Angeles District.

At Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP), we’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional community partners offering free programming at the park. Many programs focus on health and wellness, such as “Therapeutic Thursdays,” bilingual yoga classes, tai chi and monthly food distributions.

One of our favorites is a slightly different take on wellness, encouraging creativity and community. On Wednesday afternoons, Art in the Park is hosted by Xochitl Manzanilla. On Wednesday, December 1, Xochi, park staff and community members were thrilled to welcome Senator Maria Elena Durazo who not only attended the class as a participant, but also honored Xochi with a Certificate of Recognition for her dedication and advocacy.   

Xochi is one of our original Park Promotorx. The Promotorx Program at LASHP originated in 2016 through the Community Liaison Pilot Project and the State Parks Transformation Team. This highly anticipated and closely watched demonstration project sought to apply the promotor, or community health worker model, to deepen and sustain engagement with adjacent communities at Los Angeles State Historic Park.  

The Promotorx Program began with focus on outreach for our grand opening in April 2017 and included community listening sessions to help develop relevant and accessible programming. The program continues with dedicated volunteers, such as Xochi, facilitating free programming, advocating for park access and sharing the State Parks mission in urban Los Angeles. The Promotorx Program demonstrates the potential of community created programming and showcases the type of culturally relevant and equity-focused transformation fundamental to the institutional evolution of California State Parks.

We congratulate Xochi on her recognition from Senator Durazo, her dedication to the Park Promotorx Program, Art in the Park and Los Angeles State Historic Park!

Left: Holiday Art in the Park class at Los Angeles State Historic Park Welcome Pavilion. Photo from Stephanie Campbell, Angeles District. Right: Art in the Park gallery wall. Photo from Stephanie Campbell, Angeles District.

Inland Empire District Staff Celebrate Together and Hold Chili Cook-Off Contest

Story and photos from: Jacqueline Borboa, Inland Empire District

Photo from Ken Gordon, Inland Empire District. 

Inland Empire District staff gathered on Wednesday, December 8, for the first time in two years! After catching up on park news, celebrating promotions and new employees, and learning tips for interview success, district staff got down to the important business of the get together: the chili cook-off contest.

Eleven chili recipes—all were delicious—were entered, and after rigorous testing, we had our winners:

• Laurence Chaffold (Inland Empire District Materials and Stores specialist, pictured left) won the People’s Choice award for his awesome “Supreme” Chili.
• Annie Wichmann (park maintenance aide) and Ricky Gardenias (groundskeeper), both from California Citrus State Historic Park, won Best Presentation for their delicious venison chili.
• Ian Bernstein (Chino Hills State Park interpreter I) took home the Most Unique award with his inventive Citrus Thai Vegan Chili.

With light hearts and heavy bellies, our event closed with a hilarious gift exchange that included a Nerf toy, a baby Yoda blanket and a book on scat.

On that note, the Inland Empire District would like to wish you happy holidays and a happy new year!

Left: Laurence Chaffold (Inland Empire District Materials and Stores Specialist) the big winner of the day taking home “People’s Choice” award for his “Supreme” Chili. Photos on right: The Inland Empire District chili cook-off winners. Photos from Kelly Elliot, Inland Empire District. 

Old Pickled Relish Discovered at Shasta State Historic Park

Story from: June Morris, Northern Buttes District

Pickled Chow Chow artifact found in Litsch General Store at Shasta State Historic Park.

At Shasta State Historic Park we have been inventorying our Litsch General Store, which was evacuated during the Zogg Fire in September 2020.

We have found many unique artifacts that have not been noticed by me in the past. One of these being a glass bottle of Chow Chow, a pickled relish, by the brand Crosse & Blackwell. Over time, our Chow Chow has changed in many ways, one of these being the discoloration of the label on the bottle and the color of the relish inside of it.

The brand Crosse & Blackwell still makes its famous pickled Chow Chow today, for anyone interested in trying it. Chow Chow is a common Southern food, served on barbequed meats, hot dogs and with various types of beans. Chow Chow is sometimes mistaken as Piccalilli, which looks very similar. Chow Chow commonly contains a variety of vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, green tomato base, peas and asparagus, combined into a pickle brine. One can find Chow Chow recipes online or can buy it in stores, if interested in trying it for themselves.

Left: Interpreter I Jonathan Sutliff inventorying pickled goods in the Litsch General Store. Photo from June Morris, Northern Buttes District. Right: Park Aide June Morris inventorying an artifact in the Litsch General Store. Photo from Jonathan Sutliff, Northern Buttes District. 

Monterey State Historic Park Celebrates 37 years of Historic Holiday Traditions

Story from: Daniel Williford, Monterey District

Casa Soberanes Luminaria with a lit path for Christmas in the Adobes.

Monterey State Historic Park celebrated the 37th Annual Christmas in the Adobes on December 10 and 11. The return of this remarkable nighttime event featured luminaria-lined paths throughout the city, leading to 19 historic adobes. Staff and volunteers dressed in period attire provided interpretive moments of historical holiday traditions while welcoming visitors inside.

Featured during the event were eight California State Park buildings, including the First Theater, Casa Soberanes, and the Larkin House, as well as 11 partner buildings opening their doors to share the stories of their adobes. With COVID-19 pandemic guidelines followed (masks inside, limited number of people in a room, etc.), the event sold over 2,100 tickets for both nights. Attendees appeared happy to be exploring these fascinating buildings and the connections they hold to the stories of Monterey. 

One visitor said about the event: “You know how to celebrate your history! I am from Cincinnati, and I wish our people could trade places so they could learn how to celebrate history like the people of Monterey. Well done!"

Working with our cooperating association, Monterey State Historic Park Association, this fundraiser supports educational history programs at Monterey State Historic Park and restoration efforts for California’s First Theatre. While the final tally is still being counted, the enthusiastic visitors roaming in and out of these historic structures served as a welcome acknowledgement of the return of this very special California State Parks event!

Left: At the Larkin House, Supervising State Park Ranger Jo Ellen McMenamy, docents in period attire and State Park Ranger Ashley Zimmerman. Right: Christmas in the Adobes 2021 Volunteer Docents Jan Houser, Fred Wurster and Allen Houser stand next to Kevin Hanstick as Jack Swan (second from left) at the First Theater.

Holiday Magic at San Juan Bautista State Historic Park

Story and photos from: Marcos Vizcaíno, Diablo Range District

Maintenance Aide Arturo Acosta decorates the buckboard wagon.

It was a cold and magical night for the city of San Juan Bautista as the volunteers of the Plaza History Association (PHA) and the staff of San Juan Bautista State Historic Park returned to the annual holiday parade. This was the first parade that staff and volunteers have participated in since 2017.

This year we wanted to make a big return, so with permission, we placed our old buckboard wagon onto a flatbed, along with the volunteers and some holiday decorations, and off we went. Residents of San Juan Bautista were amazed by this historic wagon being paraded through town once more.

The cold weather could not dampen the holiday magic our staff and volunteers felt. Our wonderful volunteers from the PHA wish you a magical holiday season. This group is known for looking into the past and is also looking into the future with the goal of preserving our state's historic park buildings.

Have a safe and magical holiday season!

San Juan Bautista State Historic Park staff and volunteers from the Plaza History Association ready to join in the parade. Back row (left to right): Volunteers Olga Hernandez, Suzanne Novotny, Greg Smestad, Melinda Cable, John Grafton and Bob Cable. Front row (left to right) Park Maintenance Worker I Josh Lacy; Park Aides Angelica Lomeli, Cynia Sapp and Carlos Ramos; and State Park Interpreter I Marcos Vizcaíno.

10^th Annual Holidays on the Homestead at the Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park

Story from: Jean Rhyne, Great Basin District

Sunset over the campfire. Photo from California State Parks. 

The Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park (SHP) hosted its 10^th annual Holidays on the Homestead event on the evening of Saturday, December 4, showcasing the state historic park’s colorful and eccentric history with live, acoustic cowboy poetry around a campfire, real cowboy coffee brewed over the fire, a country craft boutique, tours of the grounds and the ethereal ambiance of the museum, which is rarely open to the public at night.

Just as in the 1950s when the museum was operated as the Golden Mesa Dude Ranch, visitors sat around the blazing campfire under the stars while a cowboy poetry singer crooned romantic stories about life on the range, which cattlemen composed by day during their journeys across the Old West and then shared around the campfire when the sun went down.

Handmade iron kettle tippers were used to pour coffee from enamel kettles dangled over the campfire. Traditional cowboy coffee is made by dumping coffee grounds into a kettle of boiling water over a fire, then pouring cool water over it to drop the grounds out—and drink! Fort Tejon SHP staff has supported the event for many years by supplying historically accurate equipment for an authentic vintage campfire experience.

Originally a 1930s homestead, the unique museum and historic grounds were decorated in vintage holiday style with garland, wreaths and other fresh greenery made by volunteers. In the week before the event, trimmings are collected from local Christmas tree lots to provide the raw material for making decorations. The holiday decor stays true to that of the original owners in the 1930s-50s, as described by their grandchildren.

As creator and organizer of the event, I gave tours of the grounds and charming 1940s guest cottages. Visitors had the exclusive opportunity to go inside Lizard Cottage, which retains its original whimsical pastel color scheme and was temporarily furnished for the evening with the original Monterey furniture pictured in the Dude Ranch brochure.

The craft boutique featured unique handmade items, in the spirit of artist H.A. Edwards who hand-built the museum to display his collection of American Indian artifacts. Crafters often return each year because they enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere.

Holidays on the Homestead has grown into a treasured holiday event with many return visitors. We are very grateful for the many volunteers and community supporters that make it a very special experience for everyone!

“Left: Saddle Serenader” Michael Tcherkassky croons cowboy poetry around the campfire. Right: Country craft boutique in Joshua Cottage. 

North Coast Redwoods District’s Interpretation Program Wins National Award

Story and photo from Ryan Spencer, North Coast Redwoods District

The North Coast Redwoods District Interpretive Team in early 2021 (clockwise from the left): Princess Colegrove, Ryan Spencer, Skip Lowry, Kyle Achziger, John “Griff” Griffith, Erika Granadino, Angela Edmunds, Erin Gates, Marnin Robbins and Maiya Rainer.

The North Coast Redwoods District (NCRD) interpretation program received the “Pandemic Pivot” award during the National Association of Interpretation (NAI) Media Award ceremony on Tuesday, December 14. This new category for the NAI award ceremony, Pandemic Pivot, recognizes interpreters who made a real-world difference at a time when many parks, museums and other cultural institutions were closed. The NCRD interpretation program won the gold medal in this category because of their ability to “pivot” from in-person programming to daily virtual interpretive programs in 2020. With state parks closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCRD interpretive team brought “parks to the people,” offering virtual interpretive programs over Facebook Live, seven days a week for eight months. Programs included stories about redwood forest ecology, underwater livestreams about marine conservation, the history of women’s groups who saved the redwoods 100 years ago and bilingual programs in both Spanish and English. Interpreters also presented stories of local Indigenous culture, including the history of genocide and violence against Native People and their enduring resilience and cultures of the North Coast. “The idea was brilliant and quickly executed so that all these people stuck at home around the world could get a little relief through nature,” said Jessica Carter, director of parks and public engagement for the Save the Redwoods League. “In doing that, they have redefined how people engage with parks.” NCRD’s Facebook Lives received over 2.5 million views. Many thousands of people visited NCRD parks in 2021 because of watching these virtual programs. Now that parks are open again, the district is pursuing a hybrid approach to interpretation: both in-person and virtually through Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS), Facebook and other platforms.  “Although we love in-person communication,” said Marnin Robbins, NCRD Interpretive Program Manager, “we realize that digital communication is a matter of equity, bringing the incredible resources of the North Coast to audiences across the world, many of whom will never be able to visit in-person.” The district continues to present regular Facebook livestreams and maintains an active presence across many social media platforms.   Winning the Pandemic Pivot award shows that interpretation can meet people’s most basic needs for a feeling of safety, sense of place and comradery. “It’s an honor to be recognized for helping people find enjoyment and comfort at a time when they needed it most,” said Marnin. “It shows how important parks are for people’s sense of well-being, and the role interpretation can play in connecting people to parks.” You can watch previous Facebook Live interpretive programs on the North Coast Redwood District’s YouTube channel: North Coast Redwoods District - YouTube.

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Hosts Volunteer Holiday Celebration

Story and photo from: Michael Hubbartt, Northern Buttes District

Surrounding Frosty the snow tree, Northern Buttes District volunteers and staff gathered for a photo. Left to right: Ken Danielsen, Helen Danielsen, Allison Caulkins, Amanda Sellers, Michele Dulleck, State Park Interpreter I Michael Hubbartt, Park Aide Lisa Sannar, Mike Zink, and Park Aide Carol Zink, and in front is State Park Interpreter I Jennifer Pooley. Photo from Terri Lopez, Northern Buttes District. NOTE: The gathering took place on December 8, prior to the California Department of Public Health's indoors-face covering mandate issued on December 15. 

Lake Oroville Interpretive staff and volunteers gathered at the Discovery Hall for a holiday celebration Wednesday, December 8.

This special occasion was like a reunion for some of the volunteers whom we hadn’t seen in a couple of seasons. They shared their travel experiences, and parks’ staff revealed the new directions of our interpretive programming that has evolved to meet local schools’ concerns about the pandemic.

Our staff engaged everyone with a several activities to solicit their input for our upcoming public Winter Celebration event. We sought our volunteers’ reactions to a Christmas cookie-decorating activity that culminated with a tasty treat.

Social gatherings like this that are interpretive in nature create opportunities to bond and to learn from each other. We all benefit from California State Parks’ volunteer program.

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area Celebrates Winter Holiday With Visitors

Story from: Michael Hubbartt, Northern Buttes District

Park Aide Loveta Manley demonstrates how to create a personal Christmas ornament to the Allison family. Photo from Amanda Sellers, Northern Buttes District.

Christmas parties are always fun for families and work colleagues, but when you open your party and invite the public, you make lots of new friends. The interpretive team at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area hosted a Winter Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 11, at the Discovery Hall. Numerous families came by, and we also met several of the neighbors who live nearby.

A log in the fireplace flickered a warm feeling in the room and attendees were greeted by the delicious smells of hot popcorn, steamy hot chocolate and spiced cider beverages.

A touching highlight of our holiday event was a story display of the children’s book entitled “The Snowflake.” This is an illustrated Christmas tale that begins with a nervous sense of uncertainty, then captures the anticipation and the wonderment of Christmas, ending with the happiness of a dream come true.

The Interpretive staff created winter-themed activity stations to engage with the community. Participants made snowflake chains and ornaments, decorated Christmas cookies, handcrafted personal family holiday cards and participated in a holiday themed “treasure hunt” using their cellphones to document their finds.

New friends and old, all promised to come back to our next special event.

Top left: Park Aide Loveta Manley demonstrates how to create a personal Christmas ornament to the Allison family. Photo from Amanda Sellers, Northern Buttes District. Right: This unidentified youngster carefully read each word in the “The Snowflake” on display outside the Discovery Hall. Photo from Terri Lopez, Northern Buttes District. Bottom left: State Park Interpreter I Michael Hubbartt has almost everyone’s attention as he engages the Randy Black family in crafting a paper snowflake chain out of a folded sheet of paper. Photo from Amanda Sellers, Northern Buttes District.

Birds of Doheny State Beach

Story and photos from: Tom Baker, Doheny State Beach volunteer

Great blue heron having breakfast.

Doheny State Beach is not only known for having one of the most beautiful campgrounds and ideal surfing conditions for beginners and long boarders, but also has a wonderful bird population that live there year-round, as well as a constant migration of birds throughout all seasons of the year.

One bird that can be seen almost daily is the elegant great blue heron. I often carry my camera with me on my daily walks and enjoy taking photographs of the many birds of Doheny. On this particular day I was able to catch the heron staking its prey, grabbing and eating the fish without even leaving the water! 

Besides blue herons, you can often see snowy egrets, brown pelicans and a variety of geese, hawks, osprey, turkey vultures and many species of ducks. The best part is that they can often be spotted as you walk along the boardwalk at the north day-use area of Doheny. They have grown to be accustomed to being around people so, they makes it even easier to see them.

NOW HIRING

To view current job openings within California State Parks, please visit our jobs webpage at www.LiveTheParksLife.com.

State Parks Job Spotlights 

California State Parks has many exciting and rewarding job opportunities for you to explore!

Staff Services Manager I: Apply-by dates vary: Make an impact at California State Parks in a leadership role by helping to plan, develop and implement new programs and policies to enhance the state park experience. There are currently two Staff Services Manager I opportunities available in Sacramento. Work at headquarters in the new Resources Building! Click here for more information.

Associate Civil Engineer: Apply by Jan. 7, 2022: Do you have a certificate as a civil engineer or know someone who does? Do you want to Live the Parks Life using engineering skills in beautiful San Diego? Apply today and help prepare technical designs for roads, parking areas, bridges, piers, dams, levees, retaining walls, utility connections, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, water and sewage treatment facilities, and storm water collection and treatment systems at state parks. Click here for more information.

Guide I, Historical Monument: Apply by Dec. 21, 2021: Guide tours at the Hearst Castle! Yes, please! As a Guide I, you will assist in related interpretive activities for the tour program at Hearst Castle. This is a perfect step toward a career as a State Park Interpreter. Click here for more information. (Don’t worry if you aren’t on the list, we have an opportunity as a Guide Trainee—no exam required!)

Office Technician: Apply by Dec. 24, 2021: Are you energetic and positive with strong organization and communication skills? Apply for the Office Technician position in the Lake Oroville Sector Office and help provide administrative support with timekeeping, hiring paperwork, lump sum calculations and records management. Click here for more information.

Seasonal Maintenance Aide: Apply-by dates vary: We need your help keeping the nation’s largest state park system clean, safe and operational. Seasonal positions are part-time jobs that offer flexibility. You can negotiate your own hours, gain hands-on experience toward your chosen career path, learn directly from the experts in the field and build your resume. What are you waiting for? Apply today! Click here for more information.

Interested in learning more about job opportunities and exams? Join the Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office mailing list here! Questions? Email us at recruiting@parks.ca.gov.

LIVE THE PARKS LIFE IN STYLE

Style time! Here are this week's tips to help spread the word about our departmentwide style guidelines:

• New Year's, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, Happy New Year: Uppercase for the specific days of December 31 and January 1, and in exclamations. Examples: Happy New Year! We will be getting together on New Year’s Day. However, lowercase general references to the coming year. Example: What will the new year bring for you and your family?
• Snowstorm: One word.
• Classifications/job titles: Use Roman numerals and not Arabic numbers for level of job classification; for example, use State Park Interpreter II and not State Park Interpreter 2; use Park Maintenance Chief III and not Park Maintenance Chief 3.

Keeping a consistent writing style ensures the Weekly Digest looks and sounds its best. Each week, the Communications and Marketing Division reviews submitted articles for proper grammar and punctuation and style consistency––from capitalization and hyphenation to proper acronyms and active/passive voice­­ usage. In general, we follow the Associated Press style and Merriam-Webster, but at times we use our own department-specific style.

We always welcome your feedback on how to “Live the Parks Life” in (writing) style. Connect with us via email at weeklydigest@parks.ca.gov. 

POSTCARDS

Leo Carrillo State Park

Celebrating the season with some cheer and throwing sticks. Happy holidays from K-9 Argo and his handler, State Park Peace Officer David Gunn.

Photos from Hannah Eaton, Angeles District

Old Sacramento State Historic Park

All aboard for the Polar Express! Our California State Railroad Foundation partners are making believers of everyone this holiday season! 

Photos from Debbie Hollingsworth, Capital District

Old Sacramento State Historic Park

More sights of the holiday decor at the popular Polar Express.

Photos from Debbie Hollingsworth, Capital District

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

The North Coast Redwoods District Administrative Team took a guided tour last week through one of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park's visitor trails. Left to right: Christine Odson, Ashley Disney and Jackie Engelsma. 

Photo from Christine Odson, North Coast Redwoods District 

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

More sights from the North Coast Redwoods District Administrative Team's guided tour last week. Top (left to right): Sharon LaDelle, Racheal Marte-Taylor, Jackie Engelsma, Jason Norris, Christine Odson, Mitch Hinman and Ashley Disney.   

Photos from Christine Odson, North Coast Redwoods District 

Sonoma State Historic Park

December 11 brought back Holidays on the Northern Frontier to Sonoma State Historic Park. Handmade swags and wreaths, luminarias, lights and a campfire gave a festive flare to the park. Docents volunteered to greet guests and shared the park's history with visitors as they strolled the buildings at night. With the park closed last year, many marveled at the opportunity to restart their holiday tradition by attending the event.

Top left: Lots of greenery and lights were added to the Barracks courtyard. Top right: The Mission San Francisco Solano decorated with holiday swags. Bottom right: Guide I Emily Walski and Park Interpretive Specialist Kathy Wolcott added some holiday embellishments to their uniforms. Bottom left: Docent Jerry Pozo dressed as Padre Fortuni to greet visitors at the Mission.

​Photos from Emily N. Walski, Bay Area District

Auburn State Recreation Area

Water flowing over the Clementine Dam. 

Photo from Brian Baer, Communications and Marketing Division

Mount Diablo State Park

Sunrise from the summit looking out towards the Central Valley.

Photo from Jonathan Blair, Diablo Range District

Asilomar State Beach

Sunset at Asilomar State Beach after the "Interpretation to Children" training.

Photo from Megan Stanley, Capital District

Mount Diablo State Park

With a lot of fog hanging around in the valleys, the sunset view just above the clouds was pretty spectacular last week.

Photo from Jordan Fenwick, Diablo Range District

Leo Carrillo State Park

Sunset of the marine fog layer coming in during squid fishing season.

Photo from Hannah Eaton, Angeles District

Topanga State Park

A foggy day in Los Angeles as seen in this view above the clouds.

Photo from Tim Overbeck, Angeles District

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Rainbow arch over Indianhead.

Photo from Priscilla Aguila Victorino, Colorado Desert District

Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area

State Park Peace Officers (Rangers) Samuel Toscano's and Rocio Martinez's patrol trucks in Kelso Valley. 

Photo from Samuel Toscano, Great Basin District 

Wilder Ranch State Park

Just before sunset during low tide at 4 Mile Beach on Sunday, December 5.

Photo from Jenny Daly, Santa Cruz District

Fort Humboldt State Historic Park

Beautiful rainbow over Fort Humboldt on Wednesday, December 15. 

Photo from Andrea Mapes, North Coast Redwoods District

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

Views of the park after the recent snowstorms. We received about 10 inches of snow over 48 hours. The park receives several inches of snow throughout the winter; however, it tends to melt very rapidly. Because of this, only those who are in the park during the snowstorm have the opportunity to see the falls and the park covered in snow. 

Photos from Ryan Rzab, Northern Buttes District

Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area

Recent rain at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area brought this tiger salamander out of its burrow. More than likely the wet weather prompted this tiger salamander to leave its burrow and return to the vernal pool or seasonal pond it was born of to bread. Central California tiger salamanders were listed as threatened species in 2004. Best of luck in your march, little salamander!

Photo from Keith Griggs, Diablo Range District

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Roosevelt elk pause for a moment before sparring with their antlers on Friday, December 10.

Photos from Steve Moore, Retired State Park Peace Officer

South Yuba River State Park

Inky cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria) mushrooms spotted while working in the park.

Photo from Michelle Peruzzi, Sierra District

Email photos to the WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.

THANK YOU NOTES

University Researchers Thank Bay Area District Museum Curator I Ronnie Cline 

NEWS RELEASES

Dec. 14, 2021

• Secure That Crawl Space - Keep Tahoe Bears Wild! 

Dec. 16, 2021

• State Parks Employees Honored with Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Award for Heroic Acts

Dec. 17, 2021

• Kick-Start 2022 by Enjoying the Outdoors With First Day Hikes at More Than 40 California State Parks

NEWS CLIPS

The Weekly Digest includes a collection of news articles related to the
California Department of Parks and Recreation. The views expressed and opinions do not always reflect that of the department.

To view this week's News Clips, please click here.

Weekly Digest Article and Photo Submissions

If you have an article or photo you would like to submit for the Weekly Digest, please send your entries via email to WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.

For an article submission, please include:

• Author’s name and division/district.
• All relevant information (e.g., headline, park name, dates, name of event, individuals’ full names and titles, etc.).

Articles should be no longer than 300 words. 

For photos, please include:

• Photo credit info and captions.
• Photo release forms should be kept on file for non-employees or volunteers.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos included in the Weekly Digest are courtesy of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The deadline for Weekly Digest submissions is close of business Thursday. For more information, email WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.