Virtual Summer Park Tour with Virtual Adventurer App
Story from: Kayla Jones, Interpretation and Education Division
 Join us for the remainder of this summer as we explore some of your favorite state parks with the Virtual Adventurer app, including the one hinted here—guess which California state park is home to this special lake:
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Ancestral Homeland: Northern Chumash
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Animals: White pelican + skinny bear + kangaroo rat
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History: Gaspar de Portola's Expedition
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Photo Spot: Boardwalk trail (across a lake, between two sand dunes)
Over the next few months, we will be traveling with interpreters across the state as they reveal other parks’ hidden gems and untold stories represented in the app. Virtual Adventurer was designed to be your interactive guide to connect with California state parks’ history, culture and natural environments through an immersive virtual and augmented reality experience—so expect to be virtually amazed with each park you visit in the app and in real-time with our virtual summer tour. Interpreters will be showcasing some of their favorite park experiences, including California's remarkably diverse heritage, extraordinary artifacts and elusive wildlife.
Throughout each park visit, you will be sure to learn something new. Virtual Adventurer was developed to support the department’s Reexamining Our Past Initiative, providing a more historically accurate telling of California’s diverse people and places. Also, the app was designed to provide the highest level of access possible to interpretive and educational content for all park visitors, with a variety of accessibility features, including audio descriptions, audio captioning and more.
With more parks continuously being added, Virtual Adventurer is your best interactive guide to connect with California’s state parks. Ready for the next adventure? We are going live on Tuesday, August 15—stay tuned for more details on California State Parks social media accounts. See you there!
Download the Virtual Adventurer app today through the App Store or Google Play store.
Did you guess the state park and lake hinted above? It is Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) and the lake is Oso Flaco Lake. This week marked the first stop of the summer with a virtual exploration of Oso Flaco Lake in the Oceano Dunes SVRA. To start things off, Interpreter Laurel Rodger gave viewers a firsthand demonstration of how to download the app, how to toggle between features and how to choose their favorite park. Next, she offered a behind-the-scenes look at the diverse ecosystem and abundant wildlife that can be found within the park, including a white pelican and one sandy kangaroo rat in augmented reality. If you’re wondering about the skinny bear, it is all in the name. You can learn more about it from the different points of interest you will discover in Oso Flaco Lake’s Virtual Adventurer experience.
 Examples of what you can see with the Virtual Adventurer app in the Oso Flaco Lake experience.
Tule Boat Festival at Clear Lake State Park Preserves Pomo Traditions
Story from: Tiana Cicco, Northern Buttes District
 Top: Children racing their tule boats at Big Valley Rancheria. Left middle: Dancers and singers offering an opening ceremony at Clear Lake State Park. Left bottom: Associate Archeologist and Tribal Liaison Brian Walsh and Environmental Scientist Caitlin Dalby running the Clear Lake State Park booth. Middle: Big Valley elder Joe Weber carrying tule reeds. Right middle and bottom: Festival participants bundling tule reeds. Photos from Tiana Cicco and Ryan Martin, Northern Buttes District.
Clear Lake State Park (CLSP) staff was honored to participate in the 20th annual Tule Boat Festival hosted by the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians on July 20‒22. The three-day festival provided an amazing opportunity for Tribal members and the public to learn the ancient art of tule boat crafting from the Big Valley Tribal members who are keeping this tradition alive.
The first day of the festival took place at CLSP, where an opening ceremony was held and tule reeds were harvested. With direction from Tribal Elder Joe Weber, participants waded into the mud of Clear Lake to harvest the biggest tule reeds we could find. Tule reeds were cut at the base to encourage new growth without harming the root, then stacked on the shore in neat piles for bundling. The second day of the festival took place at Big Valley’s beautiful lakeside rancheria, where teams of participants were shown traditional methods for building their boats out of the tule reeds harvested the day before. The festival culminated on the third day, when a team of adults and children raced their boats against each other in the cool waters of Clear Lake, as onlookers excitedly cheered them on from the shore.
Hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds came out during the 105-degree heat wave to attend the festival. Booths were set up with local artists showcasing their jewelry, basketry and other artistic creations, while local conservation groups provided demonstrations and educational displays. Groups of Native American performers dressed in colorful regalia offered songs and dances to honor the festivities, and Big Valley members organized a barbecue, where traditional foods and drinks were served for free.
The event was a shining example of how community organizations in Lake County are working together to preserve precious wisdom and traditions and bestow them to the next generation of stewards for the benefit of all.
Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District Staff Attends
First-Responder Event in Mendocino County
Story from: Brandon Burson, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District
 Top left: Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District State Park Peace Officers (Rangers) Brandon Burson (left) and Alex Weseloh at the National Night Out event in Mendocino County. Photo from Rob Bozzoli, Fort Bragg, California. Bottom left: Ranger Brandon standing next to State Parks table and side-by-side off-road vehicle (ORV). Photo from Alex Weseloh, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District. Right: Ranger Alex standing next to State Parks table and side-by-side ORV. Photo from Brandon Burson, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District.
The Fort Bragg Police Department (PD) hosted the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1. California State Parks, Fort Bragg PD, California Highway Patrol, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department and several other agencies attended the event.
The National Night Out event celebrates and builds upon relationships between the community and first responders. Community members of all ages attended the event and kids had a blast exploring first-responder equipment, taking photographs and asking questions.
State Park Peace Officers (Rangers) Brandon Burson and Alex Weseloh hosted a table and brought a side-by-side off-road vehicle. Kids had fun climbing all over the equipment and taking photographs. Community members checked out the first-responder equipment stored in the back of the side-by-side and asked several questions. It was a big hit of the event. The rangers also displayed some sea creature skeletons molds and stuffed animals, and they handed out stickers.
Volunteers Help Keep Sonoma Coast State Park Trail in Good Shape
Story from: Rich Lawton, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods and Retired State Parks Supervising Ranger
 Top left: Briefing and safety talk before clearing Watershed View Trail at Sonoma Coast State Park. Top right: Volunteer Tim Mayer starting to clear some ladder fuel from a previously fallen tree. Bottom left: Volunteer Bill Krawetz using a brush blade to clear the briar and brambles. Bottom middle: Volunteers Elisa Regalado and Cindy Lopper. Bottom right: Volunteer Paul Schwarz clears low-hanging branches. Photos from Rich Lawton and Mark Anderson, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.
Nine volunteers gathered for their weekly Wednesday "Vic Tanny" lesson and hike along the Watershed View Trail at Sonoma Coast State Park. The Watershed View Trail is an easy north-south 1-mile trail out to the viewpoint, with an outstanding view of the Willow Creek watershed. You can see all the way down the valley between Red Hill to the south and the Island in the Sky to the north. Pomo Canyon Campground is easily visible, as is the Pacific Ocean just above Jenner.
Armed with weed whips, brush blades, chainsaws, hand saws, loppers and a pole saw, the group headed out from the Hunters Camp Road trailhead off Coleman Valley Road. The trail was slightly choked with brush, grasses, leaning trees and low overhead branches. Grasses, brush and trees were cut back to make the trail a little easier for hikers, bikers and equestrians to negotiate. We cleared low overhead branches, so even an equestrian could easily sit tall in the saddle without having to duck or dismount. Trees leaning into the trail were removed, along with a lot of ladder fuel from previous crews clearing the trail. Additional trees next to the trail were removed to reduce further intrusion on the trail.
Lunch for most was at the viewpoint, 1 mile from the trailhead. Two bags of Flora's cookies gave us an extra sugar rush for the work on the way back. Yes, most of us made a second pass along the trail. After completion, Tim “The Tread Man” Mayer had bottles of cold water for us to chill out. Then it was back to the Willow Creek Shop to clean and store most of our tools.
 Top and bottom left: Beautiful views during their lunch break. Bottom middle: Volunteer Mike Skaggs with his weed whip. Bottom right: The trail after removing a fallen tree. Photos from Rich Lawton and Mark Anderson, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.
Junior Ranger Program at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Story from: Zuzana Volny, San Diego Coast District
 Senior Park Aide Zuzana Volny with her group of Junior Rangers at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (SNR). Photo from Alan Myers, docent at Torrey Pines SNR.
At Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (SNR), our Junior Ranger program goes beyond typical weekend events, offering a comprehensive five-day adventure for children ages 7‒12. Each day is themed around Kumeyaay culture, mammals, plants, reptiles or insects, and stewardship, engaging young participants in interactive activities, nature hikes and educational presentations.
We also provide “Parent Walks” for the parents, guardians and grandparents of our Junior Rangers. With a successful pilot earlier this year, we have decided to make it a regular part of our Junior Ranger program. Our knowledgeable docents provide a 90-minute guided walk based on the topic of the day. Docents tailor the “Parent Walks” to align with the kids' lesson plans, reinforcing what was learned earlier in the day and, with a more complex and adult interpretation, giving the parents a chance to learn what their kids are learning. Moreover, the “Parent Walks” facilitate a unique bonding experience between parents and their Junior Rangers. By encouraging parents to be actively engaged in the natural world alongside their children, we promote a sense of shared wonder and appreciation for the environment.
One of the parents mentioned that something as simple as asking a specific question about what the kids experienced during the day—such as "Did you taste the lemonade berry?" rather than a generic "What did you learn today?"—encourages thoughtful responses and deeper connections. This interaction between parents and children strengthens the parent-child relationship and fosters a lasting interest in nature and environmental conservation.
At Torrey Pines SNR, we believe that learning together strengthens family bonds and cultivates a future generation of environmental advocates. Together, let us inspire a love for nature and protect our precious natural heritage.
 Left: Junior Rangers about to receive their badges from Ranger Adams. Right: Junior Rangers learning about daily Kumeyaay items from Senior Park Aide Vanessa Brock. Photos from Zuzana Volny, San Diego Coast District.
Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Story from: Lillie Oravetz, Central Valley District
 Top: For the science activity, children use quadrats to survey diversity. Bottom left: Bookmarks for visitors to fill out "STEAM" as they went between stations. Bottom right: At the art activity station, a volunteer helps a child make a rubbing of a leaf. Photos from Lillie Oravetz, Central Valley District.
Here at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, we celebrate many special events in the summer, such as our park birthday, Discovery Day exploring the history of the park and, of course, all the events for State Parks Week. Our final special event of the summer was STEAM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math. We invited visitors to learn about how the park has all components of STEAM by participating in activities and in the end receiving a prize. This was our second year with this program, and we had over 250 visitors participate over the two-hour sessions on Friday and Saturday, August 4 and 5.
Our STEAM activities were the following:
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Science: Sample surveys using quadrats. Kids tossed a square onto a space and counted up the plants and animals.
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Technology: Wedges and screws have been used for years for building and cutting down trees. Kids tried their hand on a pump drill.
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Engineering: Giant sequoias require some impressive engineering to stay upright for so long. Can you build a tower like a giant sequoia?
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Art: Rubbings of plants can help you leave no trace, observe the world around you and produce some art. Take your drawing with you, identify a plant and leave the plant in the forest!
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Math: It can be hard to measure the height of a tree without climbing equipment, but you can estimate the height using geometry. Kids used themselves to create an equilateral triangle with a tree and measure its height by counting the steps it took to get to the tree.
We received many compliments from families and are excited to do this STEAM event again next year. A special thank you to the staff and volunteer docents who made the event possible.
 Top left: At the technology activity station, a volunteer high-fives a young participant while showing an old hand drill. Photo from Abby Davis, Central Valley District. Top right: For the math activity, volunteers and families estimate the height of a tree. Photo from Lillie Oravetz, Central Valley District. Bottom: An example of an engineering activity, a tower built with a wide base, like a giant sequoia. Photo from Jack Podell, Central Valley District.
Capital District Staff Movie Appreciation Night, 'Indiana Jones' Style
Story and photos from: Ileana Maestas, Capital District
 Wendy Sanchez dressed as Indiana Jones' best friend, Sallah.
Put on your hats and get out your whips! Capital District runs smoothly and efficiently because of its dynamic staff. To show appreciation for all their hard work, a Capital District Staff Movie Appreciation Night was organized for the staff and their immediate family.
In celebration of the recently released movie "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," staff and family members gathered after hours to watch "Raiders of the Lost Ark" on the big screen at the California State Railroad Museum. A costume contest was held, and a family member even brought his popcorn machine.
Attendees in character included young Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood (Ileana Maestas, District Services), Indiana Jones' best friend Sallah (Wendy Sanchez, Capital District) and Arnold Toht, the Nazi character from film whose face melted (Eric Thomsen, Capitol Museum).
A good time was had by all, particularly those folks who had never seen these movies on the big screen.
 Sallah, Marion Ravenwood (Ileana Maestas) and young Indiana Jones.
  Email photos to the WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.
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