Annual Report Edition Fall 2018 | the Newsletter for Members of CSPF
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2017 –18 Annual Report Edition Fall 2018 | The Newsletter for Members of CSPF HALF MOON BAY STATE BEACH © JOHN SALCIDO 1 In this issue An impactful year 3 Our vision and theory Getting ready for an annual report is always a time of reflecting on the of change highlights of the year – like when we asked you to tell us why our parks and our 4 Grant funds youth camping future matter to you. We received more than 600 responses with all sorts of trips and transformative reasons and personal stories, ranging from meaningful memories of time spent experiences in parks, to concerns for the preservation of wildlife, to dreams of protecting parks to be enjoyed by many 5 Increasing access for the next generations to come. One response generation of park stewards poignantly stated, “parks are an 6 Community engagement key to essential part of our humanity.” We success at Yosemite Slough shared your stories at our annual Park 7 Building equity for park users Advocacy Day, along with the core across the state message of Our Parks, Our Future: 8 Mother and daughter duo lead we believe that youth, now and for and learn as volunteers generations to come, hold within them the future of our California state 9 Maintaining excellence through parks. volunteers and park partners All Californians, especially 10 Legislative advocacy wins and Californian youth, should have access priorities to the positive impacts parks have on Dave, left, and Rachel, right, at Park Advocacy 11 2017-18 by the numbers health and happiness – but not Day with award recipients Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and John Roney 12 Thank you to our members everyone does. Since our founding in and donors 1969, California State Parks Foundation has advocated for an excellent state parks system, one that provides equitable access for all Californians to Get involved 15 experience its beauty and benefits. Now, we’re expressing this commitment as a vision for improving quality of life for all Californians by ensuring positive, meaningful and healthy experiences in a flourishing state park system. Our Parks, Our Future is one of many steps towards realizing our vision of BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017-18 access, equity and excellence in state parks. Throughout this annual report FOUNDER Robert E. Patterson we’re pleased to share just some of the accomplishments CSPF has made toward William Penn Mott Jr. Patricia Perez (1909-1992) Michael J. Pinto, Ph.D. this vision this year. We’re applying this lens to deepen the ways we protect, Donald J. Robinson preserve and enhance state parks, and in growing our grantmaking, evolving BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman Emeritus our volunteer programs, working with park partners and selecting legislation Michael U. Alvarez Dan Skopec Angel Barajas Seth Teich, CFA to support. Douglas Beebe Treasurer Lee Black Robert E. Walter We’re excited about all we’ve achieved this past year, and to share it with you. Michon Coleman Peter H. Weiner See you in the parks! William G. Doolittle William H. Fain, Jr. ADVISORY TRUSTEES FAIA Michael J. Brill Catherine Fisher William T. Duff Vice Chair William Randolph Kimberly Garza Hearst, III Manuel G. Grace, Esq. Gail E. Kautz Stephen A. Johnson Patrick T. Lee Rachel Norton David Mandelkern Virginia Chang Kiraly Connie Lurie Executive Director Board Chair Elizabeth A. Lake Maidie E. Oliveau Secretary Gary Polakovic James Lau Alexander M. Power David Mandelkern Shirley Bogardus Chair Trustee Emeritus Rosalind Nieman Donald E. Cooley John O’Connor Trustee Emeritus Gina Orozco-Mejia SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE PARK COURTESY SONOMA ECOLOGY CENTER Our theory of change for parks We believe that... We know our parks are a critical, necessary benefit for all of California. If we expose youth to the outdoors through Unfortunately, we also know that not everyone has the same access to enjoy increasing access to state parks, then parks and experience the positive impacts they have on improved health, we can engage them in meaningful happiness and quality of life. experiences that have a lasting California is changing: its population, climate and attitudes. It is the most impact. populous state in the nation, and one of the most diverse in the world. Yet state park users and visitors do not If we can engage them in meaningful reflect the diversity, cultures and needs experiences that have a lasting impact, of all Californians, especially of then we can empower inspired California’s youth. youth to use their voices as park Approximately 6.2 million students were stewards. enrolled in California’s public schools in 2016-17, and not all of them had the And if we can empower inspired youth to opportunity to visit, learn and explore use their voices as park stewards, then state parks as outdoor classrooms. At a they ensure our parks offer the national level, youth spend less time same powerful experiences to outside than prison inmates, playing freely future generations through their outside for just four to seven minutes per day on average, according to a recent lifelong stewardship and advocacy. report.* Additional research shows that youth spend half as much time outside today as they did 20 years ago. Furthermore, 40% of U.S. School Districts have eliminated recess, and outdoor education programs and field trips have declined significantly over the years. This is cause for concern not only for the future state of our parks, but also for the young people who could benefit from all they have to offer. Without youth who experience and grow an appreciation for their state parks, we jeopardize a future generation of park stewards who support, protect and preserve our lands. It’s more important than ever to grow a generation of park stewards who reflect the future of California. Advocating for park policies and resources that benefit the health and happiness of our children also benefits our parks through future stewardship – which in turn benefits future generations by ensuring they too have access to all our parks have to offer. Working toward our vision of access, equity and excellence starts with increasing youth access to state parks. To foster the next generation of empowered park stewards, we’re putting our theory of change into action. • *The Path Ahead at https://www.rei.com/blog/the-path-ahead 3 n the way to Chino Hills identify as an ethnic or racial minority, else: “I was surprised by the level of State Park this past and 30% of students are refugees.* depth in many of the questions and April, more than 100 “I feel super fortunate to get to work answers shared – about family O miles away from their with a school that has so many challenges, their greatest fears, hopes homes in San Diego, nine students cultures represented and different and dreams for the future, and what from Crawford High School’s languages spoken,” said Dustin. But it’s like to come from a certain race or Adventure Club, a program run by this also presents unique cultural and cultural background. They felt like Outdoor Outreach, stopped first at the access barriers between students and everyone was able to have a voice.” • adjacent Carbon Canyon Regional state parks. “If I Park, home to the only redwood grove ask my kids, ‘what in Southern California. would you do if “I wasn’t sure how they were going to you weren’t on this respond to it,” said Dustin Punches, trip,’ they say, ‘I Youth Programs Senior Coordinator would basically just with Outdoor Outreach, a San Diego- be sitting at home based nonprofit connecting youth to because my the transformative power of the parents work and outdoors. “There’s a temperature there’s no way to change when you get close to the get out of the redwoods, they cool the air around neighborhood.’” them. It was the first time most of the Lack of public students had seen a redwood tree transportation before, they loved it.” between their A $9,897 grant from California State homes and parks, Parks Foundation made it possible for expensive parking and camping fees, Outdoor Outreach to expand their the cost of buying or renting overnight program to Chino Hills State equipment and general lack of “ Thank you so much for what Park, partially funding three overnight awareness about parks are just some you’re doing on your end to camping trips and bringing a total of of the obstacles. make our work possible! I 24 youth to the park for the first time The overnight trips to Chino Hills State love my job and getting to see this year. “To really be able to take the Park offer students an opportunity to all these things, it wouldn’t be youth out of San Diego is special,” explore their world, challenge possible without these Dustin said. “They feel the distance in themselves, discover their strengths consistent, ongoing and a really positive way, that sense of and connect with supportive peers and reliable relationships that exploring something new.” Sometimes mentors who believe in their potential. benefit everyone in the these trips are the first time a student “There’s an increase in confidence community in different has left San Diego. and overall self-perception and self- ways.” The after-school Adventure Clubs give empowerment,” said Dustin. “We DUSTIN PUNCHES, OUTDOOR OUTREACH students at three area Title I high create a framework for positive schools (schools where 75% or more relationship development between of the students receive free or reduced- peers, and a framework of respect cost lunch) opportunities to attend – we respect ourselves, each other, dozens of outdoor outings throughout the environment.” the year.