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Story by: Office of First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Cal Partners Project
We have all seen it. Too much screen time leaves kids overstimulated, irritable, and disconnected from the world around them. Research confirms what families feel — kids need more movement, nature, and real-world connection.
That is why the California Partners Project and California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom created a new guide to help families find better tech/life balance — without stress, shame, or unrealistic expectations.
Inside, you will find:
✔ Conversation starters to help you connect
✔ Actionable tips to promote movement and time in nature
✔ Creative ways to work with tech — not against it
This is about progress over perfection. And the guide is designed for real families doing their best in a tech-saturated world.
✨ Get the guide here: https://bit.ly/4lPY7Eq
Story by: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy
 Courtesy San Joaquin Community Foundation
On May 29, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy approved a $2.17 million grant to the San Joaquin Community Foundation to acquire and transform 22 acres in Stockton into a new publicly accessible green space along the Delta waterway.
Once acquired, the land will be preserved as public green space, unlocking new opportunities for public access with new walking and biking trails, tree canopy, and facilities for rowing, paddleboarding, and other human-powered water activities. The initiative also seeks to establish the property as a place for regenerative farming of fruits and vegetables and for youth to experience environmental education and outdoor activities.
The project emerged from the vision of Dr. Patricia Tirone and Dr. Robert Oprandy, who co-founded the nonprofit organization Delta Sculling Center in Stockton. Their vision has been to bring an aquatic center to Stockton to provide greater public access to rowing and paddling sports. The Delta Conservancy previously awarded $2.5 million in grant funding for the planning and design phase of the aquatic center building.
During the May 29 Delta Conservancy board meeting, Dr. Patricia Tirone publicly shared the following:
My name is Pat Tirone, and this is Bob Oprandy. Together, we co-founded Delta Sculling Center. On behalf of our entire team, thank you for making this moment possible. Your belief in the power of nature and the importance of access to it has made something extraordinary happen. Because of this grant, we’ll be able to welcome so many more people to a place of quiet beauty that has remained hidden to much of our community. This dream is now becoming real — a lasting place on the Delta where healing and connection can flourish.
People describe the peace they find here in powerful ways.
One participant has shared: "Because I have ADHD, my mind feels like a radio — constantly changing channels. But on the water, the volume comes down. It creates space for the sound of birds and the gentle lap of water. Finally, here, I am at peace."
This grant is about more than land — it’s about healing, freedom, and the moment someone with a disability leaves their wheelchair behind and glides across the water under their own power. Thank you for believing in this vision.
 Top left: Scenic view of the pond at Dos Rios; Top right: View of the Tuolumne River from the new Tuolumne River Trail at Dos Rios; Bottom right: Visitors learning from the trail guide along the Confluence Trail. Photos from California State Parks.
Nearly a year after its official opening and just in time for the peak summer season, California State Parks is opening new hiking trails at Dos Rios. Located just 8 miles west of Modesto, California’s newest state park will also host a number of events for the fourth annual California State Parks Week in June. Nearly 10,000 people have visited Dos Rios since its official opening in June 2024, and the park has steadily increased public access to the approximately 1,600-acre property.
What’s New? Starting Friday, June 6, five new trails at Dos Rios will be open regularly from Friday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Combined with the previously opened trails, there are more than 16 miles of trails to explore at Dos Rios.
Story by: Steve Messer, President of Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association and California Mountain Biking Coalition
 Pictured above: Korean Hiking Club at Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days. Photo from Steve Messer.
Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days is an annual event that brings together hundreds of local community members to help steward trails at Point Mugu State Park. On the first weekend in April this year, the 42nd annual event brought together an incredible 240 volunteers on Saturday and 114 on Sunday. It was organized by the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council, the Sierra Club Santa Monica Mountains Task Force, and the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association in partnership with California State Parks and the National Park Service. Volunteers split into 15 different crews and worked on eight trails in the park, clearing brush, widening tread, and hardening trails against extreme weather over the three-day event. Student groups, families, local clubs, community organizations, businesses, and individuals — including many first-timers – came together to maintain trails, meet new friends, and experience the rewards of volunteering.
Many participants camped at Danielson Ranch in the heart of Point Mugu State Park, where the atmosphere after trail work was lively with kids playing, adults connecting, and folks of different backgrounds coming together to share their love of trails and a well-earned meal. Saturday night featured an informative campfire presentation by a SAMOFund wildlife researcher, sharing what they have learned from post-fire wildlife monitoring. The event exemplified how volunteer trail work connects people to public lands and supports both community and personal well-being. Volunteers learned new skills, built camaraderie, and left a visible mark on the trails — ensuring they remain safe and accessible for all. Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days is a clear demonstration of how volunteerism, stewardship, and community can benefit both our public lands and those who care for them.
Story by: California Tahoe Conservancy
 Courtesy of Nevada State Parks
Gates and facilities at Van Sickle Bi-State Park reopened for the season on May 1, announced the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Parks. Park roads, parking areas, restrooms, and drinking fountains are now available for visitors. The Conservancy and Nevada State Parks co-manage the 725-acre Van Sickle Bi-State Park, which offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and the historic Van Sickle ranch barn and cabins.
Created by California’s Coastal Commission and California Natural Resources Agency
There’s a new law that simplifies access to parks and beaches owned, operated, or managed by local governments (not state or federal) for eligible entities that offer interpretive services to groups of 30 or fewer participants.
Assembly Bill 2939 (Rendon, Chapter 422, Statutes of 2024) ensures eligible entities are treated the same as the public by reducing barriers — such as excessive permitting or fees— so they can enjoy public spaces and environmental education.
To better serve our partners and public, the California Coastal Commission and California Natural Resources Agency created FAQs on the new law. You can view them online at resources.ca.gov/OutdoorsForAll.
As California State Parks' statutory non-profit partner, Parks California is dedicated to expanding programs, amenities, and resources so that all people have the opportunity to build lifelong, meaningful connections to nature. One of the programs is the California State Park Adventure Pass, a pass that gives fourth graders and their families who live in the state a free pass to access 54 selected state parks for a full year.
Here's a video from Parks California promoting the program:
Grant Opportunity:
Division of Boating and Waterways Offers Boating Infrastructure Grants for Marina Operators
California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways is now accepting letters of intent (LOIs) from public and private marina owners interested in renovating or constructing visitor docks, restrooms, gangways, and dockside utility hook-ups to serve recreational boaters with vessels 26 feet or greater in length, with stays of fewer than 15 days.
Grants from the Boating Infrastructure Grant federal program can fund up to 75% of total project costs, with a maximum grant award of $1.5 million.
LOIs will be accepted through Friday, June 13, 2025.
Upcoming Meetings
The Trailblazer newsletter is issued each month to deliver up-to-date information on the Outdoors for All Initiative. This initiative (movement) is expanding parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the most, supporting programs to connect people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more. For questions or comments, please contact: outdoors@resources.ca.gov.
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