Celebrate the Third Annual California State Parks Week June 12-16, 2024 | Cal Parks

This year's theme: "This is Where You Live."

More than 200 special community events at parks across the state.

To access hi-res images and b-roll video, please visit the California State Parks Week newsroom.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 10, 2024
 

SACRAMENTO, CA – With more than 200 events, the public is invited to celebrate the third annual California State Parks Week, June 12-16, presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California, and California State Parks Foundation.

Through special in-person community events and virtual programming, this week-long event celebrates California’s 280 state parks and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places. 

A complete list of the week’s events and how to participate is available at CAStateParksWeek.org.
 

This year’s themed days:

Wednesday, June 12: Explore New Experiences

From epic beach days to the magic of ancient redwood forests, there is so much to see, do, and experience in California’s incredible state parks. California State Parks Week is your invitation to explore an activity that you just might fall in love with. View all events.

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Thursday, June 13: Nourish Your Health and Well-Being

There’s a reason why playing outside, having a barbecue or picnic, or taking a walk in the open air feels so good. Studies have shown that time in nature can boost people’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Everyone should have access to these benefits. California’s state parks give us all places where we can find refuge, inspiration, and joy. When we connect with nature, we are connecting with ourselves and boosting our overall health. View all events.

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Friday, June 14: Support Climate Resilience

Forests, oceans, grasslands, and other ecosystems throughout California’s public lands store huge amounts of carbon, making them powerful tools in adapting to climate change. That’s one of the reasons why it’s critical that all of us protect lands and waters. Learn about and support efforts by California State Parks and partner organizations to ensure climate resilience—from expanding protected lands in state parks and restoring forests to engaging in educational dialogue about climate threats and solutions. View all events.

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Saturday, June 15: Celebrate Community and Culture

California’s state parks are for all people. We reaffirm this truth by elevating the perspectives and experiences of communities that have been historically underrepresented in public lands. On this day and every day, we honor Black, Indigenous, and communities of color and the many ways these communities care for, relate with, and enjoy our shared parks. Join us for celebrations and cultural events statewide. View all events.

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Sunday, June 16: Care for Our Shared Lands 

It takes our full community to care for public lands. Partners and volunteers are vital to keeping California’s state park system healthy, beautiful, and rich in biodiversity. Discover how you can get involved in efforts to protect and steward California’s state parks as a volunteer, a partner, or one of many other roles. View all events.

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Launched in 2022, California State Parks Week advances the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative. These initiatives expand outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure, outdoor programming, and improvements to permit applications, with a priority to support underserved communities.
 

Why California State Parks Week?

California’s state parks preserve and protect the state’s natural and cultural history. In recent years, it has become abundantly clear that public lands play a critical role in making communities stronger, happier, and healthier. Our shared parks are places where everyone can connect with nature and find inspiration and joy. California State Parks Week is a fun way to celebrate the wonder and sense of community that the outdoors provide to Californians and visitors from all over the world.

  • Armando Quintero, director of California State Parks: “The third annual State Parks Week celebrates the diverse natural and cultural heritage preserved within California's 280 state parks. This week also reminds Californians that ‘This is where you live.’ All Californians deserve to enjoy these public outdoor spaces. There are many ways to explore them including with free park passes for select state parks. Welcome – Bienvenidos – 欢迎 – Maligayang pagdating.”

  • Rachel Norton, executive director of California State Parks Foundation: “For the third annual California State Parks Week, we are once again celebrating wellness, stewardship, community, and adventure. This week presents a special opportunity for both residents and visitors to California to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and significance of the state's protected spaces, including its state parks. By engaging with these natural and cultural treasures, individuals have the chance to develop a deeper connection to the land and its history. It's a time to embrace the wonder of these protected spaces and to reflect on the role each of us plays in their conservation and stewardship.” 

  • Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League: “Research consistently demonstrates the numerous health benefits associated with spending time outdoors and experiencing nature. California's state parks serve as invaluable access points to these experiences for people of all backgrounds and ages. By providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, connection with nature, and encounters with awe-inspiring landscapes and cultural treasures, California's state parks play a vital role in promoting overall health and fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world and human history.”

  • Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO of Parks California: “California State Parks Week highlights some of the many ways people can explore parks and create personal connections with nature. Whether it's experiencing the awe-inspiring natural beauty of these spaces or learning more about California’s historic places and unique cultural resources, California's state parks offer something for everyone.”  

California State Parks protect the best of the state’s natural and cultural history; more than 340 miles of coastline; the tallest, largest and among the oldest trees in the world; and deserts, lakes, rivers and beaches. There are more than 5,200 miles of trails, and 15,000 campsites, prehistoric and historic archeological sites, ghost towns, historic homes and monuments — all waiting to be explored.
 

California State Parks Week Presenting Partners:

California State Parks

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. 

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 X (@calparks).

Parks California

Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure state, regional, and local parks thrive. As the statutory partner to California State Parks, Parks California has a simple mission—to help strengthen parks and inspire all to experience these extraordinary places. From redwood groves and desert springs to urban parks and lighthouses, the organization works with partners to steward these natural wonders and make California’s parks more welcoming, accessible and relevant to all visitors. For more information, please visit parkscalifornia.org.

Save the Redwoods League

One of the nation’s longest-running conservation organizations, Save the Redwoods League has been protecting and restoring redwood forests since 1918. The League has connected generations of visitors with the beauty and serenity of the redwood forests. Our 400,000 supporters have enabled the League to protect more than 220,000 acres of irreplaceable forests in 66 state, national, and local parks and reserves. For information, please visit SaveTheRedwoods.org.