Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association Celebrates 40 Years Supporting Red Rock Canyon State Park
Story and photos from: Damion Laughlin, Great Basin District
 Park visitors set off on the Red Cliffs Nature Trail at Red Rock Canyon State Park on one of two guided hikes to Scenic Cliffs, a filming location for Jurassic Park, learning about the park along the way.
The Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association (RRCIA) partnered with California State Parks to celebrate 40 years of supporting Red Rock Canyon State Park (SP) with an event themed FOSSILMANIA. The event primarily took place on October 22 with RRCIA setting up several interpretive booths in Red Cliffs Natural Preserve within the park to educate and interpret for the steady stream of visitors that participated. The booths, staffed by RRCIA members and volunteers, covered everything from the park’s fossils and wildlife to the rich filming history.
Speaking of filming history, Red Rock Canyon has a long history in film from old westerns to modern music videos, largely due to being only a couple hours’ drive from Hollywood. One of the highlights of the event was a guided hike to the filming location for Jurassic Park (1993). An early scene in the film claiming to be in Montana’s Badlands was filmed near Scenic Cliffs in Red Rock Canyon SP. Visitors hiked about two miles round trip, learning about film history, geology, paleontology, and more along the way.
The celebration started early with an evening lecture on October 21 from special guest speaker Jack Tseng, PhD, a professor in vertebrate paleontology at the University of California, Berkeley. The celebration was capped off by another evening lecture on October 22 by three of Dr. Tseng’s students speaking about their individual studies.
The event drew well over 100 visitors as well as over 30 attendees to each of the evening talks. A special thanks is due for all the members and volunteers who put in many hours planning and staffing the celebration. RRCIA and Red Rock Canyon SP look forward to many more years of collaboration and support.
 Top: Scenic Cliffs, the setting for the velociraptor dig scene in Jurassic Park, portrayed as Badlands, Montana in the film. Bottom: Park visitors enjoys talks from PhD students from University of California, Berkeley.
Successful Prescribed Burn at Jack London State Historic Park
Story from: Naftali Moed and Cyndy Shafer, Bay Area District
 Prescribed burn along the Mountain Fire Trail at Jack London SHP on Oct. 20, 2022. Photo from Joe Plaugher, Sonoma Land Trust.
California State Parks and CAL FIRE successfully completed a 15-acre prescribed burn in Jack London State Historic Park (SHP) on Thursday, October 20. The effort was carried out in cooperation with the Sonoma Valley, Schell-Vista and Kenwood Fire Departments, staff from Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative partner organizations and Jack London Park Partners.
The burn successfully met objectives, including protecting naturally and culturally significant grasslands from the encroachment of trees and shrubs, as well as reducing concentrations of dead wood in mixed-hardwood and conifer forests adjacent to these grasslands. Meeting these objectives will enhance biodiversity in the burned area going forward and is intended reduce the intensity of future fires and minimize adverse fire impacts to larger trees, including second growth redwood groves.
Jack London SHP has very little recorded fire history and subsequent burns are planned in the coming years to reintroduce fire as a component of the park’s forests, oak woodlands and grasslands on a rotational basis. The burn was a great training opportunity for CAL FIRE, State Parks and local fire agency staff to build familiarity with the park and reduce fuel loading. Burning was coordinated with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in order to minimize the smoke impacts on surrounding communities.
A huge thank you to Central Valley District Burn Boss Ben Jacobs for developing the burn plan and to all the staff from CAL FIRE’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and the Bay Area District Natural Resource, Cultural Resource, Facility and Trail programs who worked hard to make this burn a success. We also extend our gratitude to the staff from Sonoma-Mendocino Coast, Monterey and Diablo Range Districts who were able to join us.
 Top: Briefing with the various agencies involved before the prescribed burn. Photo from Rosa Schneider, Bay Area District. Bottom left: Prescribed burn smoke over the vineyard. Photo from Joe Plaugher, Sonoma Land Trust. Bottom middle: Prescribed burn in action. Photo from Kate Green, Bay Area District. Bottom right: Post-burn area. Photo from Rosa Schneider, Bay Area District.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park's First Distance Learning Program
Story and photo from: Scott Shepherd and Molly Shea, Santa Cruz District
 Interpreter I Molly Shea, from the Santa Cruz District, dressed up as a raven and ready for her PORTScast in the green screen studio at Seacliff State Beach!
On a foggy Halloween afternoon at Seacliff State Beach, Molly Shea, Interpreter I for the Santa Cruz District, facilitated the first ever distance learning program about Big Basin Redwoods State Park (SP). Following the CZU Fire in the summer of 2020, Big Basin Redwoods SP has undergone a plethora of changes to provide public access to the natural, cultural, and historic resources of our state’s oldest California State Park.
On October 31 afternoon, 350 teachers from across the California and greater United States connected with Molly to learn about Big Basin’s spooky, feathered friend, the common raven. These birds are everyday visitors to the park and therefore provided the perfect topic for a Halloween-themed program.
Molly and the rest of the interpretive team plan to create a distance learning program for Big Basin Redwoods SP that can be offered regularly to teachers and students across the state. Stay tuned!
25th Annual Tarantula Festival at Henry W. Coe State Park
Story from: John Verhoeven, Diablo Range District
 Top: Close up of a California ebony tarantula. Botton left: CAL FIRE also participated in the festival. Bottom middle: View of the park's hiking trails. Bottom right: Visitors Eleanor, Sadie, and Monica dressed well for the occasion while showing off their creations. Participants had the opportunity to make planters, tarantula puppets, and other spooky creations. Photos from John Verhoeven, Diablo Range District and Katie Stoy, park volunteer.
The Pine Ridge Association held its 25th annual Tarantula Festival at Henry W. Coe State Park on Oct. 1, 2022 which drew crowds to celebrate our fuzzy fall friends. The event started as an interpretive tarantula hike created by park volunteers in 1982 and became a festival in 1998. Sponsored by the Pine Ridge Association, the fundraising/interpretive event now draws an estimated 500 or more participants each year.
The type of tarantula that can be found at Henry Coe is the California ebony tarantula (Aphonopelma etylenum) which ranges throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon. Both male and female spiders reach adulthood after eight to 12 years. Adult females have a larger abdomen than males. During the fall each year, mature males leave their burrows in search of a mate. The males will seek a mate and continuously weaken until they die about six months after emerging. Female tarantulas can reach up to an age of 25 years.
This festival happens every year on the first Saturday of October. We hope to see you back next year!
 Top: Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center (WERC) shared many avian natives in recovery including Turkey Vultures, Red-Tailed Hawks and falcons. Amy Sechrist with WERC is holding the turkey vulture. Bottom left: Greg Scott, William Hole and Mark Grey of the Tarantula Jug Band performed original jug band style songs for visitors. Bottom right: Visitors got to lasso a metal cow. Photos from John Verhoeven, Diablo Range District and Katie Stoy, park volunteer.
HistoriCorps Provides Needed Attention to Historic Ranch Complex at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park
Story and photos from: Brian Walsh, Northern Buttes District
 Top: West exposure of the west wing parlor, Anderson Ranch House. Bottom: HistoriCorps crew leader Remy Buxton assisting volunteer HistoriCorps members Jan and Pat Bales with window restoration.
HistoriCorps, the nonprofit that provides volunteers with hands-on experience preserving historic structures on public lands across America, was at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park (SHP) in Lake County during the weeks of October 10 and 17. Volunteers worked with HistoriCorps field personnel to learn preservation skills and to put those skills to work.
The ranch complex at Anderson Marsh SHP includes a grain shed, horse and dairy barns, two outhouses and a smokehouse. The grounds include grape vines, remnants of a walnut orchard and an open grazing field, but the most striking feature is the house with a large wraparound porch and a white picket fence.
The house was built in three “wings” from the 1860s to the 1920s, the center wing being the oldest. The west wing or parlor was built in the 1880s and the east wing with the kitchen and indoor restroom in the 1920s. Except for the kitchen and restroom, interior walls and ceiling are made from unpainted heart redwood.
Volunteers proceeded to work on the west wing gable siding. Damaged by fire gel retardant and environmental exposure, this work included scrapping, sanding, and repainting the old tongue and groove redwood siding, still original to the period of construction. Also needed was the removal and repair of two double sachet upstairs windows.
The tedious work didn’t stop there, however, as the volunteer crew’s attention was quickly turned to the three outbuildings: the two outhouses and the smoke house. In historic contexts, outbuildings are the first to go. Jason Benson of HistoriCorps says “these structures are the first to be neglected and the first to perish." Often times they are largely made from reused distressed lumber and are not the most solid structures to begin with.
In the case of the outbuildings, Jason was amazed at the racking that caused two of them to lean between 20-30 degrees yet still be upright. While 90% of the existing wood was used to stabilize all three of these structures, HistoriCorps was able to locate a local source for the remaining wood used.
The experience with the volunteers was extraordinary. The knowledge, enthusiasm, skill, and workmanship that the whole team brought was unsurpassed. Equally impressive was the park staff with their attentiveness to details while hosting the crew.
 Top: Volunteer HistoriCorps member Paul Spencer west wing parlor siding. Bottom: Volunteer HistoriCorps B. Douglas Jenson, Roy Tennant, and Paul Spencer putting the finishing touches on an outbuilding.
Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area Celebrates 10 Years Protected
Story from: Kayla Jones, San Diego Coast District
 Top: Dive team members just before surveying underwater structures within Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area. Left to right: State Park Peace Officer (SPPO) James Bray, Sgt. Killian Rose, Sgt. John Regan, Superintendent II Bryan Etnyre, and Lt. Jeffrey Kennedy. Bottom: Interpreter Anita Balcar interviews Sgt. Erik Burgan on scuba skills safety and resources management procedures. Photos from Training Section and San Diego Coast Interpretation Team.
Throughout San Diego Coast District, there are several marine protected areas (MPA) you can visit including Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA). Celebrating 10 years as an SMCA, Swami’s was established to protect and restore marine wildlife, diverse habitats, and an abundance of recreational opportunities like spearfishing. This underwater oasis, located along San Elijo State Beach Campground, brings thousands of visitors each year both in-person and virtually, which necessitates a collaboration of natural and cultural resource management across the district.
With so many visitors enjoying this everchanging ecosystem, maintaining current underwater surveys and data is crucial for future conservation efforts. Collection of such data helps to inspire conservation stewardship, provides educational resources, and helps to develop future policy decision making. For example, Swami’s SMCA serves as a Park Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) park location for MPA interpreters, who are seeking to provide more opportunities for virtual learning. Additionally, Swami’s SMCA is a low-lying area affected by climate change and is actively experiencing sea level rise consequences. These unique circumstances are an example of how interdisciplinary specialists can come together. Under the direction of Senior Environmental Scientist Darren Smith, Supervising Ranger John Anderson, and Diving Safety Officer Kenny Kramer, the dive team recently surveyed underwater features of Swami’s SMCA, completed public safety field work, and collected content of local flora and fauna. A big thanks to all who participated!
 Top: Lifeguard Supervisor I Tim Fellars and Supervising Ranger John Anderson begin their dive at San Elijo State Beach (SB) for marine habitat surveying. Bottom left: Senior Environmental Scientist Darren Smith and Supervising Ranger John Anderson brief the dive team on a sewage outfall pipe at Cardiff SB. Bottom right: Sargo fish schooling and foraging along a submerged structure along the marine protected area. Photos from Training Section and San Diego Coast Interpretation Team.
Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area Celebrates Visitor Appreciation Day and OHV Safety Week
Story from: Joleen Ossello and Nicholas Fox, Gold Fields District
 Top (left to right): Sean Soria, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division; Devin Swartwood, interpreter II; Steve Gorman, associate park and recreation specialist; Glenn Lockner, maintenance aide. Bottom left (left to right): Jory, Jeremiah, and Jessica Bernal. Bottom right: Crowd awaiting the raffle. Photos from Nicholas Fox, Gold Fields District.
The perfect weather graced park staff and over 200 visitors in late October for Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area's annual Visitor Appreciation Day. Prairie City fans were granted free day use and the rare opportunity for overnight camping, which maximized their warm and sunny trail experience. Riders began streaming into the main staging event area by 11 a.m., coming in waves just after noon and again for the raffle at 1 p.m. In all, one-third of the park’s daily attendance participated.
Coinciding with the statewide Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Safety Week, the event encouraged visitors to "Train for the Trail", the theme for OHV Safety Week, by completing an OHV Safety Scavenger Hunt Card at 16 different booths where they were introduced to off-road riding with safe and responsible practices. Some booths provided demonstrations, such as Bun Trail Welder who allowed the visitor to “set some beads”, a set up that can perform emergency vehicle frame repairs in remote areas. Along with Prairie City’s own environmental scientists, who provided a hands-on Watershed Wonders activity that compared water and soil runoff through different vegetation types.
Over 20 donations were received from non-profit OHV organizations and local OHV businesses for a free to enter raffle. Prizes included, two OHMVR Park Passes from NorCal Rally Cross, two 1:24 remote control trucks from R/C Country Hobbies and a portable air compressor donated by local custom fabricator, Stellar Built. Event visitors received a free raffle ticket upon “check in” at the centralized park booth and a second for completing the OHV Safety Scavenger Hunt.
The event was a success due to the number of State Parks staff who united to assist from Prairie City SVRA, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, headquarters and Gold Fields District. Positive, appreciative feedback from event visitors also made the day. We regularly witness our visitors and social media followers supporting this state park. With their ultimate dedication to the sport of riding off-highway vehicles, we are honored to be their choice for high-quality outdoor recreation.
 Top: Interpreter I Joleen Ossello also acted as the raffle MC. Bottom left: Children participated in painting pumpkins. Left to right: Leelynd, Ximena, Forrest, and Ivin. Bottom right: Peter Jones, Prairie City sector manager at welding demonstration. Photos from Nicholas Fox, Gold Fields District.
North Coast Redwoods District Completes Installation of Land Acknowledgement Signs
Story and photos from: Marnin Robbins, North Coast Redwoods District
 Top: Land Acknowledgement sign installation ceremony at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park with State Parks staff, volunteers, and Wiyot Tribal members, staff, council. Bottom left: North Coast Redwoods District (NCRD) Interpretive Program Manager Marnin Robbins along with interpreters Maiya Rainer, Princess Colegrove and Keseloh McQuillen, next to a recently installed Land Acknowledgement sign. Bottom middle: Newly installed sign. Bottom right: Superintendents Victor Bjelajac (NCRD) and Steve Mietz (Redwood National and State Parks) stand next to a recently installed Land Acknowledgement sign in Tolowa Dunes State Park.
To help kick-off National Native American Heritage Month (November), North Coast Redwoods District (NCRD) completed the installation of over 50 “Land Acknowledgement” signs in parks across the district. The signs let visitors know the name of the people whose ancestral land they’re on, as well as the Indigenous place name of the location where they’re standing (where place names are available). The signs also include basketry designs provided by Tribal partners. The project aligns with the broader Reexamining Our Past Initiative, which seeks to remove derogatory and inaccurate names and materials from the State Parks system, while restoring Native names and other significant aspects of California's cultural heritage.
The project culminated after a year of collaboration with nine Tribes to design the signs. This included properly identifying the name of the people and places associated with the parks, an effort that was more complicated than many would assume due to the fact that Indigenous languages were traditionally oral languages. In many cases, the English spelling of names and places needed to be agreed upon within and between Tribes.
The signs were placed on preexisting structures: visitor centers, administrative buildings, front entrance pay stations, interpretive kiosks, and campfire centers. The primary factor in picking the locations was that they be in highly visible areas where visitors congregate.
According to Marnie Atkins, Da gou rou louwi’ Cultural Center Manager, Wiyot Tribe, “Land acknowledgement signage demonstrates the ongoing collaborative partnership between the North Coast Redwoods District and the Wiyot Tribe. Through acknowledging the original peoples of places managed by NCRD, visitors and staff can envision a place and time when Indigenous people lived in reciprocity with the landscape, plants, water, air, and animals. Today, we call this stewardship and together we build a healthier community and landscape for people to enjoy.”
By placing Land Acknowledgement signs throughout our parks, the NCRD hopes visitors will reflect upon the fact that these landscapes have been managed by the State of California for a very short period of time within the vast sweep of history, and that they have been inhabited and stewarded by Indigenous people since the dawn of time. Additionally, by awakening people’s minds to these simple truths, we hope visitors will be inspired to learn about, make connections with, and honor the people whose land they reside on, wherever they’re from.
“NCRD has helped set the stage for Tribal land acknowledgement work across the state. We are excited to share that the department has been awarded one-time funds to develop Tribal land acknowledgements for all state parks. This work will be launching soon and will center on building positive working relationships with Tribes.”, said Sabine Talaugon, Tribal Affairs Program Manager, Cultural Resources Division.
 Left: NCRD Cultural Resources manager Greg Collins installs a Land Acknowledgement sign on the Burlington Visitor Center in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Right: Newly installed sign.
Point Mugu State Park Has Spooktacular Fun
Story from: Ilsa Buelow, Angeles District
 Halloween festivities at Point Mugu State Park. Top left (left to right): Ranger B. Maikai, K-9 Argo, Rangers David Gunn and Gina Romero. Top right: Some of the painted pumpkins. Bottom left: Park Interpretive Specialist Ilsa Buelow with two young visitors. Bottom right: Ranger Maikai with Ilsa Buelow. Photos from Gina Romero and Ilsa Buelow, Angeles District.
Point Mugu State Park got into the Halloween spirit this past week with some spooktacular fun! Ranger B. Maikai hosted Friday's "Paint a Pumpkin with a Ranger" event and helped campers big and small create fantastical masterpieces.
Rangers Gina Romero, David Gunn and K-9 Argo joined in the fun and painted creations of their very own! Our 2nd annual Trick-or-Treat through the Sycamore Canyon Nature Center was complete with caw-stumes, as Parks Interpretive Specialist Ilsa Buelow dressed up with a crow's nest on her head complete with mama and two babies nestled in. A camp-ready raffle concluded the day's events and got all of our weekend campers ready for Halloween!
Our partnering association, the Santa Monica Mountains Natural History Association (SMMNHA), helped make this event possible with funding and volunteer support. Thank you to the SMMNHA, we couldn't do it without you and all of your support for our staff! Also a huge thank you to everyone who came to join us and help the parks get into the Halloween spirit! The visitors center is open every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Come check out our pretty pumpkins and learn about the local wildlife of the Santa Monica Mountains!
 Left: Ranger David Gunn with K-9 Argo with one the of visitors at Point Mugu State Park. Top right: More painted pumpkins. Bottom right: Participants in the festivities. Photos from Gina Romero and Ilsa Buelow, Angeles District.
 PARTNER NEWS
Learn More About Parks California's Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways Projects Across State Parks
Story from: Isabel Martin, Parks California
 Members of Sierra Institute for Community and Environment's P-CREW participating in fuels reduction at Plumas-Eureka State Park.
On Thursday, November 3, Parks California launched the final segment of its #ParksForEveryone campaign, highlighting our Career Pathways grantee stories across social media. We will showcase innovative non-profits working in their communities and with state parks to build more pathways to natural resource careers.
Parks California proudly launched the “Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways” grant program in 2021. Through this program, we partner with organizations across the state and California State Parks to broaden access to natural resource job training opportunities. All programs are designed to expand access to traditionally underrepresented and marginalized communities and provide skill training, mentorship, job development, and/or career exposure in collaboration with California State Parks. The first project featured in the #ParksForEveryone campaign features a unique workforce development partnership between Plumas-Eureka State Park and The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment's P-CREW (Plumas Conservation Restoration, Education in Watersheds).
A big thank you to the countless individuals working at state parks in tandem with these organizations to support the next generation of park stewards and leaders! We invite you to join us in the #ParksForEveryone movement by visiting our website and sharing on your social channels.
 Email photos to the WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.
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