california state parks

Bring a Giant Sequoia into Your Classroom

by Kristen Shive on

Everyone at Save the Redwoods League is so excited about the new giant sequoia curriculum for K-12 classrooms offered by the California State Parks PORTS® program, which stands for Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students. This distance learning program features the giant sequoia of Calaveras Big Trees State Park in its new unit and uses an innovative system incorporating interactive media and virtual reality platforms to teach about the ecosystems, wildlife, and history of California State Parks.

Redwoods Rising Botany Apprentices take a break at an overlook of Redwood Creek in the Bald Hills area of the park. Photo by Len Mazur

Redwoods Rising Apprentices Help Restore Redwood National and State Parks

by Save the Redwoods League on

Redwoods take thousands of years to grow, and as we look to the future, we recognize the importance of training the next generation of conservation leaders to continue caring for these forests. That’s why we started an apprentice program this summer. Meet the Redwoods Rising apprentices who gained hands-on field experience as they helped us study and restore the historically logged lands within Redwood National and State Parks.

Photo courtesy of California State Parks

If the Santa Cruz Mountains could speak….

by Elise Fleishman on

Experience the Santa Cruz Mountains like you never have before with your own professional California State Parks backcountry naturalists. Hike through fields of wildflowers, gaze at sweeping vistas, sleep under tranquil ancient redwoods, drink teas sourced from native plants, and …

Trail along a redwood forest

The Transformation of California State Parks

by Sam Hodder on

With 280 parks across 1.6 million acres, hosting more than 74 million visitors last fiscal year alone, California is one of the largest state park systems in the United States. In a focused and comprehensive effort to keep these world-class parks open and thriving, seasoned leaders from California State Parks and outside entities helped plan for and implement 60 ambitious initiatives, from a new state-of-the-art reservation system to increased protections and improvements for the parks statewide. Here are just some of the improvements for redwood state parks.

Want Redwoods on Your License Plate?

by Sam Hodder on

With your help, our state tree – none other than California’s redwoods – could be featured on license plates statewide! What’s more, the proceeds from license plate sales and annual renewals will support the conservation and restoration of California’s state parks. However, we need you to help make the redwood license plate a reality.

Over 35,000 People Spent Black Friday Outdoors in California State Parks

by Save the Redwoods League on

Contacts: Save the Redwoods League: Jennifer Benito-Kowalski | Cell: (415) 602-1037 | Email: jbenito@SaveTheRedwoods.org California State Parks: Gloria Sandoval | Cell: (916) 956-6814 | Email: Gloria.Sandoval@parks.ca.gov California State Parks Foundation: Linsey Fredenburg-Humes | Cell: (916) 204-5210 | Email: Linsey@calparks.org   …

Join Us Outdoors on Green Friday

by Sam Hodder on

Back by popular demand and a continued craving to make Black Friday “green,” this new holiday tradition offers everyone the opportunity to experience California’s parks and enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. To celebrate and raise awareness for these incredible outdoor spaces, we’re co-sponsoring free park passes, good for day-use admission to 116 parks throughout the state on Green Friday, November 25th.

Justin Faggioli is Save the Redwoods League Board of Directors Secretary.

Justin Faggioli: Developing Strategies for a Leafy Future

by Save the Redwoods League on

After college earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Earth sciences at Stanford University, Justin Faggioli spent three years working as a geologist, primarily on projects in Alaska. His job took him to some of the most remote areas of the state, most of the time in a helicopter. In addition to the geologic work, Justin was able to enjoy the beautiful flora, amazing fauna and spectacular scenery.

Map of 49 Redwood State Parks

Free Day-Use Admission to 49 State Parks on Friday

by Save the Redwoods League on

Save the Redwoods League today announced Free Friday in the Redwoods — free admission to 49 participating California redwood state parks on Black Friday, November 27, 2015.

John Montague and his daughter.

John Montague: Finder of the Tallest Trees and a Dedicated Supporter

by Save the Redwoods League on

When redwoods enthusiast John Montague first volunteered at Save the Redwoods League, he began by assisting with chores at the office. He’s so dedicated to the forest that soon after he volunteered out in the field, mapping, taking measurements, and identifying notable trees under the League’s direction.

Debbie Woollett: Putting a Dog’s Nose to Work for the Forest

by Save the Redwoods League on

One of biologist Debbie Woollett’s star colleagues has four legs. Wicket is a Labrador mix for Working Dogs for Conservation, an organization that Woollett co-founded to apply dogs’ abilities to conservation projects. Wicket can recognize the scents of 26 species and has “alerted” on moon bears in China, elephants in Southeast Asia, invasive snails in Hawaii, and grizzly bears and black bears in North America.

Arcata High School students measure tree height using a clinometer. Your League support enabled them and others to explore forest stewardship careers. Photo by The Forest Foundation

The Forest Foundation: Motivating Future Forest Stewards

by Save the Redwoods League on

Redwoods are Humboldt County’s greatest treasure. They also happen to be an awesome teaching tool. Yet many of the area’s young people know little about redwoods and forest stewardship careers. Thanks to your support, which enabled Save the Redwoods League to provide an education grant to our partner, The Forest Foundation, the next generation of forest caretakers is taking root.

You’re Invited! Hendy Woods Celebration

by Sam Hodder on

For decades, Hendy Woods State Park has been a favorite destination among locals and visitors for camping, hiking and swimming among gigantic 1,000-year-old redwoods. With trails winding through not one but two ancient redwood groves and the Navarro River flowing by, …

Kathy Bailey co-founded Hendy Woods Community, the group that helped keep the Hendy Woods State Park open when it faced closure because of a state budget crisis. Photo by Joan Hamilton

Kathy Bailey Champions Hendy Woods

by Save the Redwoods League on

When Hendy Woods State Park faced closure in 2011 because of California State Parks budget cuts, Kathy Bailey said she knew she had to get involved. So she co-founded Hendy Woods Community, which, with Save the Redwoods League, helped keep the park open for all to enjoy.

Rick Sermon is helping to restore Mill Creek forest. Photo by Mark Bult

Rick Sermon: Forest Restoration Starts in Heart, Nursery

by Save the Redwoods League on

It had always been Rick Sermon’s dream to bring the joy of a greenhouse and nursery to his workplace. Sermon saved that task for just before his retirement. Before that, he had one last thing to take care of as …

Todd McMahon, Vice President of NCRM Inc., an environmental consulting firm. Photo by Paolo Vescia

Todd McMahon: Using Forest Expertise to Heal the Land

by Save the Redwoods League on

Todd McMahon is Vice President of NCRM Inc. (external link), an environmental consulting firm. He has helped manage League properties for many years, and has a great ability to understand each forest—what forces have impacted it, and what it needs …