Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Now hiring! Youth and Seasonal East Bay Park District jobs available

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March 1st Virtual Job Fair highlights opportunities

By Jen Vanya, Public Information Specialist | Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

The East Bay Regional Park District is a major employer of students in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, staffing approximately 300 seasonal positions annually. There are many employment options available for the 2025 summer season at East Bay Regional Parks.

Virtual Youth Job Fair: Saturday, Mar. 1
The East Bay Regional Park District has a wide variety of opportunities for youth, young adults, and students. The Virtual Youth Job Fair is designed for applicants ages 15–24, although the minimum age requirement for most jobs is 16 years old. Resume and interview tips provided. Pre-registration highly recommended.
Virtual Youth Job Fair via Zoom
Saturday, Mar. 1, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
More information and a Zoom registration link can be found at www.ebparks.org/jobs/youth.

Youth and Seasonal Jobs
The East Bay Regional Park District is now accepting applications for summer and seasonal jobs. Spend summer in the great outdoors, build leadership skills in a team environment, and create lasting memories while gaining valuable work experience in the East Bay community.
Positions include:
• Camp Recreation Leaders
• Day & Overnight Recreation Leader • Biking Recreation Leader
• Canoe & Kayak Recreation Leader • Fishing Recreation Leader
• Gate Attendant/Student Laborer
• Lifeguard
• Interpretive Student Aide
• Public Safety Student Aide Visit the Park District jobs webpage for more information: www.ebparks.org/jobs

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Parks California awards $1 million in Route to Parks grants to 31 organizations

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Now in its fifth year, program expands efforts to make it easy for visitors to get to state parks

SACRAMENTO – Parks California and California State Parks announced this week grants to 31 organizations throughout California, totaling more than $1 million to improve access to state parks and create memorable nature experiences. Through Parks California’s Route to Parks grant program, these funds will help more than 7,700 people create lasting memories at state parks in 2025.

The 2025 grantees include programs from across the state, focused on providing experiences in parks through activities such as camping, backpacking by bike and recurring, single-day programs. Three projects with California Native American tribes: Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, Jamul Indian Village and the Mishewal Wappo will help increase access to their ancestral lands and cultivate collaboration and partnerships with park staff.

For the 2025 grant cycle, we sought proposals that address the following criteria:
• Primarily provide transportation to/from California State Parks and beaches;
• Offer valuable recreational, environmental, cultural or historical learning experiences;
• Reach underrepresented communities who may face challenges getting to or enjoying parks, and/or lack opportunities to create meaningful connections to nature;
• Address parts of the state with the greatest transportation needs.

“The Route to Parks program highlights the power of partnerships in complementing California State Park’s efforts, bridging gaps to ensure memorable outdoor access for all,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “Partnering with Parks California expands our efforts in creating more opportunities for Californians to make lasting connections with the wonder of their state parks.”

Parks California’s Route to Parks grants program was launched in 2020 to reduce transportation barriers and help ensure that historically marginalized communities can visit and enjoy California’s world-class state parks. The program is made possible through a joint agreement between California State Parks and Parks California, and investments from private donors, including the PG&E Corporation Foundation and BMO.

“California’s state parks belong to all of us, yet too many communities face barriers to enjoying these incredible spaces,” said Parks California President and CEO Kindley Walsh Lawlor. “Through Route to Parks, we’re working alongside our partners to break down those barriers — ensuring that transportation, cost or other obstacles don’t stand in the way of people experiencing the joy, health benefits and sense of belonging that parks provide. My sincere appreciation to this year’s grantees who are leading the way in connecting communities to nature; we are honored to support their work.”

Grant awards average $37,675 and will fund transportation, logistics and park activities. Grantee recipients represent the diversity and reach of California’s state park system.

Below are three 2025 grantee profiles:

Land Together participants enjoy fishing on their camping outing funded through the Route to Parks program. Photo from Parks California.

• Land Together (formerly Insight Garden Program)—Received $30,000 grant. “The profound appreciation I have for nature stems from being completely removed from it during my 25 years of incarceration. My journey back to nature—and ultimately to freedom—was made possible through Land Together‘s in-prison program,” said Sr. Reentry Program Manager Jamala Taylor. “I am deeply grateful for Parks California’s generous support, which has allowed us to expand this transformative work to our growing reentry community. Through our ‘Reentry Reconnect: Nature for New Beginnings’ project, we are providing healing experiences in California’s state parks for individuals reentering society after incarceration. None of this would be possible without the invaluable partnership and shared vision of Parks California.”

• San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority – Visit Allensworth by Amtrak San Joaquins – Discover Your California Heritage – Allensworth, founded in 1908, is the first town in California to be founded, financed, and governed solely by African Americans. San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority’s program will increase access and awareness of Col. Allensworth State Park for African American individuals and families in the Bay Area and Northern California and students in the Fresno and Bakersfield Unified School Districts. The program will provide free tickets and meal vouchers for the 2025 October Rededication Festival, as well as designated field trip days for Fresno Unified and Bakersfield City School District students. This program cultivates a tradition that is relevant, historical, and exciting and has the possibility of increasing the overall percentage of African Americans who go to California State Parks. and celebrate annual events such as October Rededication Festival.

• Jamul Indian Village—Received $80,000 grant. “The Jamul Indian Village of California of the Kumeyaay Nation is excited to have been awarded this grant from Parks California,” said Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and Cultural Resources Manager Lisa K. Cumper. “With this grant, we are eager to take tribal youth and their families to various state park locations along the coast of San Diego. We will be able to share and teach the rich history of our ancestors to our youth. This important cultural knowledge needs to be passed down, and this grant is allowing us to accomplish this goal. We are also grateful to continue to grow our relationship with State Parks staff members.”

A complete list of grant recipients is available online.

“The Route to Parks program embodies California’s commitment to making valuable recreational, environmental, cultural or historical learning experiences available to all Californians,” said California Natural Resources Agency Deputy Secretary for Access Gloria Sandoval. “Partners like Parks California are helping reduce barriers and form partnerships. We are especially excited to greet first-time visitors so that they can enjoy all that our beautiful state has to offer.”

State Parks’ Waterway Connections Initiative funding and private donor investments allowed Parks California to engage organizations that could connect participants to water-related outdoor experiences. Six projects feature programs designed to follow watersheds from headwater to groundwater, offering an unparalleled educational experience to understanding California’s unique watersheds.

Route to Parks has partnered with more than 85 community organizations to serve more than 16,000 people in its first four years. The program enables grantees to design activities that best meet their community’s needs and deliver experiences most suited to participants’ backgrounds, experiences and interests. The program is aligned with the Outdoor Access for All initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative for greater access to all Californians with a priority to expand access in underserved communities.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

About Parks California
Parks California is the official public-private nonprofit partner to California State Parks. Working statewide, it’s uniquely positioned to innovate and work hand-in-hand with communities and experts to bring resources together, ensuring that everyone can experience healthy and thriving parks for generations to come. Parks California launched in 2019 and since has partnered with more than 100 nonprofit and tribal groups to help more than 28,000 people experience one of California’s 280 state parks — many for the first time ever — in the hopes of starting a lifelong love of nature.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Visiting nature just got easier: Parking fees simplified, dog fees eliminated for 2025

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By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District

On Dec. 3, 2024, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve an updated fee schedule for 2025 that simplifies parking fees and eliminates dog fees, among other changes. The updated fee schedule became effective Jan. 1, 2025. Park District fees are reviewed annually and updated as needed.

The new fee schedule includes a flat $5 parking fee at East Bay Regional Parks, where kiosks are present. The flat fee makes it simpler and easier for the public to visit East Bay Regional Parks. Previously, parking fees ranged from $3 to $6 depending on the specific park. The new fee does not apply to Del Valle Regional Park on weekends and holidays April through Labor Day, which has a flat $10 entrance fee on those peak days that covers parking and other fees.

Dog fees have also been eliminated for 2025. Dogs are required to be on leash in designated areas, including trailheads, parking lots, paved trails, and picnic areas. Dogs must also be on leash around horses and in parks where cattle are present. The dog fee was $2. Visit www.ebparks.org/dogs for more information.

A dog permit is still required to walk more than three dogs at a time. Professional dog walkers are required to obtain a permit regardless of how many dogs they walk at one time. Visit www.ebparks.org/permits for details.

The updated fee schedule for 2025 also includes changes to swimming fees, day camp fees, special event fees, concessionaire fees, parking citation penalties, and vehicle release fees.

East Bay Regional Parks fees help recover, in part, the costs of providing a service. The updated fee schedule streamlines pricing and better reflects the cost of services and impacts on the Park District.

To view the fee schedule for 2025, visit www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/2025-Fee-Schedule.pdf.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

CA State Parks encourages off-highway vehicle enthusiasts to ‘Share the Trails’ during Fall OHV Safety Week

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Basic Visitor services Training, Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area. ©2018, California State Parks. Photo by Brian Baer

November 16-24

SACRAMENTO — California State Parks invites all off-roading enthusiasts to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division’s Fall OHV Safety Week from Nov. 16 to 24. This year’s theme, “Share the Trails,” focuses on fostering respect, responsibility and a sense of community for all who enjoy California’s diverse off-highway trails.

“We encourage all riders to participate in the second OHV Safety Week of the year and embrace this year’s theme,” said OHMVR Division Chief Callan McLaughlin. “By sharing the trails responsibly, we’re ensuring safer, more enjoyable off-highway experiences for everyone while also protecting the environment we all cherish.”

As riders hit the trails this season – whether on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) or 4x4s – it’s important to remember these four guiding principles:

  • Stay to the Right: When operating an off-highway vehicle (OHV) on trails, especially in shared areas, always stay to the right. This one simple action makes a big difference in helping traffic flow smoothly and preventing collisions.
  • Share Your Knowledge: Seasoned riders, here’s your chance to ensure future generations can enjoy the same thrilling experiences. Help newcomers by sharing tips on safety, trail etiquette and environmental stewardship.
  • Ride Smart: Know the terrain and what to expect, and ride at a speed that is safe for the trail and conditions. Never ride or drive while intoxicated.
  • Ride With Respect: Follow posted signs, avoid sensitive habits and follow “Leave No Trace” practices. Treating the trails, fellow riders and the environment with respect is key to preserving California’s off-highway areas for years to come.

Remember – everyone on the trail has a role in creating a safer, more informed off-highway recreation community.

Throughout Fall OHV Safety Week, the OHMVR Division will work with its partners to share safety tips, educational content, videos and activities on social media to raise awareness about trail etiquette and encourage responsible riding. Additionally, several state vehicular recreation areas (SVRAs) such as Oceano Dunes, Prairie City and Clay Pit will be offering free ATV, ROV and motorcycle safety classes — a great opportunity to build confidence and skills. Some SVRAs are also hosting additional special events during Fall Safety Week, such as Junior Ranger programs and a family ride. For information on the free safety classes and other events, visit the California Outdoor Recreation Foundation website for schedules and sign-up information, and check with the SVRA you want to visit. Local OHV parks will also be hosting special events, workshops and OHV safety training.

For more information on OHV Fall Safety Week, resources on OHV safety, or to find an SVRA near you, please visit ohv.parks.ca.gov.

A Big Thank You to Our Partners

The OHMVR Division is grateful to its partners – Tread Lightly! Initiative, California Highway Patrol, California Outdoor Recreation Foundation, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, ATV Safety Institute (ASI),  Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA), Motorcycle Industry Council and Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) – for their invaluable support in making Fall OHV Safety Week a success.

About the OHMVR Division

California’s OHMVR Program was created in 1971 out of the critical need to better manage the growing demands for OHV recreation, while fostering respect for private property rights and protecting the state’s natural and cultural resources. Today, there are nine SVRAs across California: Carnegie, Clay Pit, Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch, Heber Dunes, Hollister Hills, Hungry Valley, Oceano Dunes, Ocotillo Wells and Prairie City. The OHMVR program also supports safe and responsible OHV recreation beyond the state park system. Since 1971, more than $833 million in grants, managed by the OHMVR Division, have been awarded to federal and local partners, funding acquisition and development, resource protection, safety and education, and law enforcement for OHV recreation. For more information about the OHMVR Division, including grant opportunities, please visit ohv.parks.ca.gov.

In October 2020, the California OHMVR Commission passed a resolution dedicating two weeks of the year to promote and focus on safe and responsible OHV practices.

California State Parks Foundation celebrates passage of Proposition 4

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Sources: Yes on 4 campaign, CA Secretary of State

SACRAMENTO, CA – On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, the California State Parks Foundation released the following statement reacting to the passage of Proposition 4 –The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. The passage of Prop 4 authorizes up to $10 billion in bonds to help the state become more climate resilient. The investments in state parks will include $175 million in deferred maintenance, $50 million in sea level rise adaptation projects, and $200 million to build parks and recreational facilities in local communities.

“While there are many votes still left to count, we are optimistic that voters passed Prop 4 by a wide margin,” saidRachel Norton, Executive Director of California State Parks Foundation. “We thank California voters for choosing to supply California’s state park system with desperately needed resources to make our state parks more resilient to extreme weather, sea level rise, wildfires, and other impacts driven by climate change. These funds will also update state park infrastructure, help California acquire new parklands, and create recreation opportunities in local communities.

“As California’s economic fortunes have changed the past few years, and budget surpluses became budget deficits, state parks have faced steep cuts. The passage of Prop 4 is an important step in reversing the budget reductions that cut the deepest.”

ABOUT CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION

California State Parks Foundation, an independent, member-supported nonprofit with over 50 years of history, is dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system for the benefit of all. We work in parks and in Sacramento with partners, park staff, and policymakers to address the challenges parks face. To make real and lasting change we are working to build a movement of people who enjoy and advocate for their parks now, and for future generations. Learn more at www.calparks.org, or find California State Parks Foundation on Facebook, or Instagram and Twitter/X (@calparks).

Black Diamond Mines Open House Oct. 26 & 27

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Photo: EBRPD

Free Mine Tours on Saturday and Sunday!

During Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve Open House on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27, free mine tours will be held for both the Coal Mine Experience and the Hazel Atlas Sand Mine! We will also have Victorian Era games to play and a nature table outside the mines, plus staff at the Rose Hill Cemetery to chat with.

Tour Details:

All tours will be first come, first served.

The earliest you can sign up for tours is 10am.

First tours will begin at 10:30am.

Last tours will begin at 3:00pm.

All tours will last 30 minutes.

Tours are only available to ages 7+.

No animals allowed on tours with the exception of service animals.

How to Sign-Up for Free Tours:

Coal Mine Experience- Register at the table outside of the Greathouse Visitor Center.

Hazel Atlas Sand Mine- Register at the table outside of the Hazel Atlas Mine.

*Sign-ups are done in person, there will be no reservations over the phone.

Other Helpful Info:

It can take a good 10-15 minutes to walk to either mine from the parking lot.

It can also take 10-15 minutes to walk from mine to mine – don’t sign up for one mine tour directly after the other.

The Hazel Atlas Sand Mine has train tracks going throughout the tour making it less accessible than the Coal Mine Experience, which is flat the whole way.

The Greathouse Visitor Center will be open from 10am-4pm.

Check the weather and dress accordingly. Even if it’s hot outside, it’s still cold in the mines!

The Mines are located at the south end of Somersville Road in Antioch.

For more info about the park and mine tours, please visit: Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve | East Bay Parks (ebparks.org).

 

Volunteer at one of 50 events in California for National Public Lands Day Sept. 28

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Also, fees waived at national parks and other federal public lands that day

By Amy Skalmusky, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, National Environmental Education Foundation

On Saturday, September 28, there are nearly 50 volunteer events throughout the state for National Public Lands Day (NPLD). Parks are seeking volunteers.

It’s also a great day to get outside because entry fees will be waived at national parks and other federal public lands, including national monuments, forests, recreation areas, seashores, wildlife refuges, historical sites, battlefields, and grasslands.

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) coordinates NPLD in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and other federal agencies, state and local parks, and non-profits. This year marks the 31st annual event. People can find hundreds of already-planned volunteer events and other cool activities in most states by searching the official NPLD Map, with more added every day.

Here are a few events happening in California on NPLD:

Volunteers can participate in various projects across the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. With habitat restoration, landscaping, nursery, and gardens programs, there is something for everyone.

Volunteers will address illegal dumping at Post Mountain within the Hayfork Ranger District. Supported by the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, this cleanup effort aims to remove large dump sites and prevent further trash accumulation.

Volunteers will honor the 40th anniversary of the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area. Help with garden restoration at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, then enjoy a panel presentation about the area’s rich history.

More Events Within 100 Miles of Contra Costa County

In-Person Event

National Public Lands Day and Coastal Clean-up Day Events 2024

Join us on September 25-28, 2024, for National Public Lands Day– the nation’s largest volunteer effort for public lands! Established in 1994, this annual event celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. With habitat restoration, landscaping, nursery, and gardens programs, there is something for everyone. Bring yourself, your friends, and your family! Registration required.

When: Wednesday, September 25 – Saturday, September 28, 2024.

Where: Project locations vary throughout the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), see below for more details.

Groups of five or more require special arrangements and must be confirmed in advance. Please review the List of Available Projects and fill out the Group Project Request Form.

The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative parkwide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the Presidio Trust.

San Francisco, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 9:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

National Public Lands Day at the Cosumnes River Preserve

Your public lands are in need of your helping hands. Join thousands of other Americans across the country along with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the National Environmental Education Foundation as we celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday September 28th!

Galt, CA

Activities: Volunteer , Educational

Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 8:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

27th Annual Yuba River Cleanup

A week-long small group self-guided cleanup which starts on California Coastal Cleanup Day (9/21) culminating in a community-wide Cleanup Event and party during National Public Lands Day (9/28)

NEVADA CITY, CA

Activities: Volunteer , Recreational

Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/21/2024 – 8:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

Stanislaus River Parks – NPLD

Projects we will focus on this NPLD: picking up litter, graffiti abatement, trail maintenance, painting projects,

Oakdale, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 7:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

New Hogan Lake – NPLD

Come out and celebrate National Public Lands Day at New Hogan Lake!

Valley Springs, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 8:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

Englebright Lake – NPLD

Englebright Lake will be conducting a lake clean up to remove any litter that has accumulated throughout the recreation season. Come and join the Park Rangers for an exciting opportunity to be a good steward to the lands that we enjoy!

Smartsville, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 8:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

Lake Sonoma Cleanup Day

Lake Sonoma Cleanup Day

Geyserville, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 8:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

Fort Ord National Monument – Public Lands Day

Volunteers are needed to help with native plant landscaping, seed and straw throw, invasive weed removal, native seed collection, oak care and watering, and trail maintenance work. Volunteers will work from 9:00-11:30 and then be treated to a free lunch, t-shirts and park entry passes hosted by Monument partners at FORT Friends and NEEF.

Marina, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Family, College

Sat, 10/26/2024 – 9:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

National Public Lands Day and Coastal Clean Up Day

San Francisco Maritime NHP is hosting a National Public Lands Day and Coastal Clean-up Day event in Aquatic Park on September 28, 2024.

San Francisco, CA

Activities: Volunteer , Historical/Cultural

Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 10:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

National Public Lands Day: Seashore Cleanup – Invasive Iceplant Pull

Join Point Reyes National Seashore in improving habitat for native flora and fauna by removing invasive plants. This is a FREE voluntary event.

Rangers will be on-hand at a localized area within the seashore to host a group event removing invasive Sea Fig, (Carpobrotus edulis), which crowds out native plants and decreases habitat for native species.

Help park rangers remove this lovely but invasive plant at the North Beach parking lot.

No experience necessary. Bring your own gloves, snacks, and plenty of drinking water; instructions on how to pull iceplant will be provided.

Limited to 25 volunteers. This event ends at noon. Bring your own lunch and enjoy a lunch on the beach afterwards!

Inverness, CA

Activities: Volunteer , Educational , Recreational , Health & Wellness

Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 10:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

Campground Cleanup

Volunteer event happening at New Melones Lake in the Glory Hole and Tuttletown Recreation Areas

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College, Bilingual

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 8:00am

View event details

In-Person Event

Yuba River Cleanup: Sugarloaf

Bear Yuba Land Trust is joining South Yuba River Citizens League in uniting the community for the Annual River Cleanup! BYLT will be out with volunteers to clean up our host site, Sugarloaf Mountain & Trail, along with the general surrounding area.

Our group will be pulling trash and debris from Sugarloaf Mountain, with opportunities for all ages and abilities to get involved. Please bring gloves, a hat, comfortable shoes and water. We’ll provide snacks and a water refill station.

Nevada City, CA

Activities: Volunteer
Audiences: Adult, Youth, Family, College

Sat, 09/28/2024 – 9:00am

View event details

Please let me know if you are interested in getting details or if you would like any photos. Over 500 volunteer events are happening nationwide, with volunteering in nearly every state. In the past decade, over a million people have volunteered on National Public Lands Day, the single largest volunteering day for parks and public lands.

Mount Diablo receives $2.6 million state grant for building new Education Center

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A rendering of the Mitchell Canyon Education Center, a project of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Assocation, which recently received a grant from the state Wildlife Conservation Board. Source: MDIA

Major boost to fundraising effort for project near Clayton

The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is pleased to announce that, on August 22, the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded a grant of $2.6 million to help build the Mitchell Canyon Education Center in Mount Diablo State Park.

“On behalf of MDIA, I want to express how thrilled we are. We are immensely grateful to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for this grant and to all the donors and community organizations who believed in the value of this project and generously provided the initial funding for it,” said Steve Smith, President of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA).

MDIA is an all-volunteer association and the official support organization for Mount Diablo State Park. The organization has worked closely with California State Parks and the staff at Mount Diablo to pursue funding for a new education and visitor center.

Ryen Goering (CA State Parks), Mike Brandy (MDIA), Clint Elsholz (CSP), Linda Kwong (MDIA), Alyssa Benedetti (WCB), Steve Smith (MDIA), Julie Martin (MDIA), and Dan Sandri (MDIA) celebrate the grant award. Photo: MDIA

The grant provides critical funding that moves the project forward toward construction phases. The new facility will replace an aging trailer that is not ADA-compliant. The new facility will be fully accessible, able to accommodate school groups on the mountain, expand the natural and cultural history content, and enhance the visitor experience overall. Construction may begin as early as Fall 2025.

The project has attracted wide community support, including from California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-AD16), who secured a $1 million State allocation for the project, based in part on the new opportunity to serve all the school districts in Contra Costa. A wide variety of community leaders, foundations and organizations have also contributed to and endorsed the project.

MDIA hit the $2 million milestone at the close of 2023 including $1 million in private donations for the education center, matching the state funds.

“We are grateful for the enthusiastic support of the project and financial support from a wide range of individuals, companies, organizations, community leaders, and elected officials,” Smith said.

A total of 116 local donors contributed to the campaign including current and former MDIA Board members, Cemex Corporation, the Kerr Foundation, Clayton Business & Community Association, PG&E and numerous individuals. An anonymous donor made a major contribution that enabled the organization to achieve their goal.

Location of the planned Education Center near Clayton. Source: Mt. Diablo State Park

Learn more by taking a 3-minute video tour of the Education Center and reading the project brochure.

Mitchell Canyon is accessible via Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton. See map.

WCB is a California State Board whose primary purpose is to approve funding for wildlife habitat protection, restoration and wildlife-oriented public access projects.

Established in 1974, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that assists the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park for its 700,000 visitors each year. In 2022, MDIA initiated a campaign to build a new education center in Mitchell Canyon, on Mount Diablo’s northeast side to better serve visitors and open new opportunities for students.

For more information visit www.mdia.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

CA State Parks and Parks California announce joint effort to bolster park workforce throughout state

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Sierra Institute’s P-CREW learning how to conduct fuels reduction in Plumas-Eureka State Park. Bottom: Crystal Cove Conservancy intern sets up a trail camera to conduct wildlife monitoring. Photos from Parks California.

SACRAMENTO — California State Parks and Parks California are excited to announce the awardees for the 2024-2026 Career Pathways Grants. Fourteen local organizations will receive a total of over $1.1 million to help train people for careers in parks and public lands. The Career Pathways Program helps California State Parks work with local organizations to prepare people and overcome barriers to access for careers in parks.

“Nurturing a diverse and skilled workforce is crucial to ensuring the sustained stewardship of California’s treasured park system,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “The Career Pathways Grants Program aligns with our department’s Path Forward Strategic Plan and embodies the Newsom Administration’s Jobs First initiative. The program supports our efforts to prioritize developing a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce.”

The Career Pathways Grants Program aims to not only prepare the next generation workforce with necessary skills but also expand awareness about the diversity of careers in parks and public lands, connect participants to mentors and professional networks to support them in their career journey, and help participants navigate state hiring processes.

“Parks California is committed to cultivating career training opportunities in California State Parks for everyone,” said Parks California President and CEO Kindley Walsh Lawlor. “By coordinating partnerships between communities and parks, our Career Pathways Grants Program fosters future leaders, ambassadors, and caretakers of our shared lands.”

“I’m really excited for these grants and thankful to our partner, Parks California, for supporting them,” said California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Helping all interested Californians find careers in State Parks team builds an Outdoors for All. It will help all Californians see themselves represented among those who work on our public lands, which helps create a feeling of belonging and ignites the passion of future environmental leaders.” The grantees will work collaboratively with California State Parks to offer work experiences and training in park operations and stewardship, such as wildfire resilience projects, trail building, habitat restoration, and visitor services. Additionally, the grantees connect participants to job networks and provide career advice and additional resources, such as equipment, wages, meals, and travel reimbursement.

About the Career Pathways Program

For the 2024-2026 Career Pathways program, grant funding from State Parks’ Waterway Connections Initiative and the generous support of private donors helped Parks California engage organizations that could connect participants to water-related outdoor access and experiences. Priority was given to organizations that planned projects in parks along inland waterways, lakes, rivers, and watersheds. For example, the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s Greater Valley Conservation Corps is partnering with California State Parks to offer youth corpsmembers natural resources career training and work experience at Brannan Island State Recreation Area in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Grants were awarded in a competitive process to organizations that met eligibility criteria and submitted an application. Activities are expected to help nearly 250 people build skills. Activities will take place from July 2024 to July 2026.

Here is the complete list of the 14 awardee organizations:

  • Amah Mutsun Land Trust
  • Audubon Canyon Ranch
  • Civicorps
  • Crystal Cove Conservancy
  • Ecological Workforce Initiative
  • Hispanic Access Foundation
  • Insight Garden Program
  • LA Conservation Corps
  • San Joaquin County Office of Education
  • San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust
  • Santa Monica Mountains Fund
  • Sierra Institute for Community and Environment
  • Sierra Nevada Alliance
  • Yurok Tribe

To learn more about each grantee, visit the 2024-2026 Grant Recipients webpage.

About Parks California

Parks California was launched in 2019 as a new model of public, private, and non-profit partnership. As the official statutory non-profit partner to California State Parks, working statewide, it’s uniquely positioned to innovate and work hand-in-hand with communities and experts to bring resources together, ensuring that everyone can experience healthy and thriving parks for generations to come. This year, Parks California celebrates 5 years of partnering with over 100 non-profits and tribal groups to help more than 28,000 people experience one of California’s 280 state parks – many for the first time ever – so that they can start a lifelong love of nature.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

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California State Parks invites you to explore the magic of Hearst Castle® After Dark with new evening tour series

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Galatea on a Dolphin, a 19th century Italian marble sculpture, illuminated in the Lily Pond on the Main Terrace of Hearst Castle – one of the many works that can be viewed as part of the ‘Art Under the Moonlight’ tour. Photo from California State Parks

‘Art Under the Moonlight’ tours will allow guests to explore William Randolph Hearst’s famed art collection like never before

By California Department of Parks and Recreation, Divisions of Boating and Waterways, Historic Preservation and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation

SAN SIMEON, Calif.— California State Parks is excited to announce a new limited series of evening tours at the iconic Hearst Castle® this fall. The “Art Under the Moonlight” tours will offer guests a unique opportunity to explore William Randolph Hearst’s world-renowned art collection like never before – under the enchanting glow of the moon. These guided tours will be available on select Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 4 through Nov. 16. Due to the limited availability, reservations are highly recommended.

WHAT: ‘Art Under the Moonlight’ tours
WHEN: Select Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 4 – Nov. 16, 2024
WHERE: Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Hearst Castle®)
COST: $50 for guests over 12 years old, $25 for children ages 5-12, no cost for children under 5.
ACCESSIBILITY: The tour will involve navigating 160 stairs and will take moderate effort. An ADA-accessible version of the tour that involves no stairs and can accommodate up to four people per tour is also available.
HOW TO JOIN: Visit HearstCastle.org or ReserveCalifornia.com to make your reservation. The tour lasts 100 minutes.

The new tour offers a rare chance to view illuminated outdoor works of art while learning about their significance through time and enjoying their beauty as one of Hearst’s honored guests would have done in the 1930s. Inside the historic castle, guests will get an intimate look at the art collection that the influential media mogul amassed during his time there.

“This is an incredible opportunity to be under the moonlight on the same path that Mr. Hearst and his guests strolled while smelling the fragrant blooms and hearing the calming sound of the hilltop fountains,” said San Luis Obispo Coast District Superintendent Dan Falat. “The evenings are magical here, and this one-of-a-kind art collection is shown off in the best lighting.”

About Hearst Castle®

La Cuesta Encantada, “The Enchanted Hill” high above the ocean at San Simeon, was the creation of two extraordinary individuals, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan. Their collaboration, which began in 1919 and continued for 28 years, transformed an informal hilltop campsite into the world-famous Hearst Castle® – an estate that comprises the magnificent 115-room main house plus three sumptuous guesthouses, pools, and 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, and paths. The main house, “Casa Grande” and the three guesthouses, “Casa del Monte,” “Casa del Sol,” and “Casa del Mar” are home to Hearst’s extraordinary art collection and have hosted many influential guests, including President Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Hedda Hopper, Joan Crawford, Charlie Chaplin, and a diverse array of luminaries from the sports, show business, and publishing industries.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.