Angel Island
45 minutes
Historically called the “Guardian of the Western Gate” by staff, the U.S. Immigration Station, second in size only to Ellis Island in New York, was built to enforce immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act. People from over 80 countries were detained on Angel Island between 1910-1940, the largest groups were immigrants from China, Japan, Russia, and India.
Ano Nuevo State Park
45 minutes
There are over 4,000 species of mammals on planet Earth. Some live on land, others live in water. In this program young students explore the main characteristics of all mammals, but they will focus on the particular examples of the California mammals such as the black bear and the California sea otter. Students will look at California's mammal habitats. They will also compare them to reptiles, insects, and birds, learning some of the ways mammals are different from these other animals.
45 minutes
Northern Elephant seals spend most of their lives in the deep pacific ocean. They travel thousands of miles while migrating in search of food. How does this marine mammal species survive for long periods of time at such deep depths? What do Northern Elephant seals do to survive on land? Students participating in this PORTS program will briefly learn about the evolution of Northern Elephant seals as well as the many adaptations that help this marine mammal to survive in an extreme habitat.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
45 minutes
In this program we will break down adaptations. What is an adaptation? Do all plants and animals have them? Students will explore the many different plants and animals within Anza-Borrego, and their adaptations for survival. Students will have the opportunity to make observations and think critically about life in the desert, and what it takes to call this wonderful habitat home.
45 minutes
While today the desert is a harsh and dry ecosystem, it hasn’t always been that way. In this program we will observe the Borrego Badlands, and explore the different colors and layers that make up the vast area of sedimentary rock. Students will be able to identify fossils, and use them as clues to think critically about the changing habitats and ecosystems. Why are there so many ocean fossils in a desert? Could a mammoth survive here in the desert today? With these questions students will be able to disco
45 minutes
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a geologists dream! Students will explore Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary rocks and answer how these rocks are formed. We will also discover how these rocks and our shifting plate tectonics have molded and created the landforms and geography within the park today, and what forces are breaking down these features over time. Students will get a glimpse of the fossils hidden within the sedimentary rocks, and learn just how much Anza-Borrego works to protect and preserve.
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
45 minutes
Explore the results of cultural blending in a program that tells the story of Chinese immigrants in one northern California city. Over 150 years ago, some of the very first immigrants from Asia came to California looking for gold and employment. With this immigration, people from very different cultures came together, working and living side-by-side in the Golden State.
45 minutes
Take a virtual 360 degree guided tour of a Victorian mansion in Chico California. Hear the history of building an agricultural empire that created farming, as we know it today in Northern California. Get to know the dynamic couple who created a town, changed social customs, and influenced national politics.
45 minutes
Immerse yourself in the suffrage movement with this program that examines the push for the women’s right to vote, from the legal and social inequities faced by women to the figures who paved the way for the 19th Amendment. With new ideas of equality gleaned from the struggles to abolish slavery, the social and political conditions of the 19th century helped fuel the movement that continues to benefit women 100 years later.
Calaveras Big Trees
45 minutes
NEW for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade! Join Park Interpreter Jenny for a fun, storytime of "The Sequoia Lives On" written by Joanna Cooke and Illustrated by Fiona Hsieh. After the read, we'll take a nature walk through the big tree forest and your students will get to see the book come to life! Together we'll learn about the ecology of the forest, the animals that live there and the importance of conservation.
45 minutes
As one of the oldest and certainly the biggest trees on earth, there is no doubt their fascinating story of survival will delight and inspire students of all ages. Your students will learn about the history of these magnificent trees through the lens of conservation, as well as their relationship to other living things in the mixed conifer forest habitat, ultimately discovering what makes these trees such a BIG deal! On this virtual adventure you'll discover forest ecology, life cycles, and human impacts!
California State Capitol
45 minutes
At the State Capitol, the past, present and future of California interact with equal force. This program will engage students in researching information about their state representatives, the law-making process, and how they, as citizens, have a voice in government. As they complete the classroom lessons and participate in a videoconference from their classroom to the State Capitol, students will gain an understanding of basic
Carpinteria State Beach
45 minutes
Students will be introduced to the Tar Seeps at Carpinteria State Beach and learn how these small seeps were once tar pits capable of trapping large prehistoric animals. Students will learn that while tar was deadly for some animals it became a valued resource for the Chumash tribe and other communities. Program is 45 minutes long. Recommended for K-3 but can be adapted for any grade level.
45 minutes
Explore the world of the intertidal with park staff as we search for live animals who call this harsh environment home. As we find animals we will learn how they are specially adapted to live in a tide pool and what role they play in the ecosystem. The program is 45 minutes in length and can be adapted for any grade. Note: Program location depends on the tide level. Programs held during high tide will take place at the Visitor Center tide pool tank, programs during low tide will take place outside.
Central Coast Marine Protected Areas
45 minutes
Discover the underwater world where land meets the sea with a mini-ROV! Students will become community scientists as they explore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the central California coast with California State Park Interpreter Robin Hazard. Take a trip to the beautiful San Luis Obispo coast and discover how MPAs are much like underwater parks! MPAs allow for the protection of entire ecosystems and provide amazing spaces to play. We will research and monitor a variety of marine environments!
45 minutes
Did you know that one in every two breaths comes from the ocean?! No matter where you live in the world, the ocean connects us all! Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) help to protect our oceans, however, they cannot protect marine wildlife from plastic pollution. That’s where we come in! Let’s explore the small things we can all do to help protect the ocean and the wildlife that call it home. When millions of people do small actions, it makes a big difference.
Colonel Allensworth State Park
45 minutes
Colonel Allen Allensworth and the community of Allensworth represent a significant chapter in the history of African Americans in California and the United States. Learn about Allensworth, a town founded, financed, and governed by African Americans. Begin your journey in the early twentieth century in California’s Great Central Valley.
Crystal Cove State Park
45 minutes
Have you ever wondered why an octopus changes colors or where hermit crabs get their shells? Join CA State Parks Interpreter Alex on a trip to Crystal Cove State Park’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) to learn about tidepool habitats and the incredible adaptations that tidepool animals use to survive in a harsh environment where land meets the sea. Students will be introduced to tidepool organisms, covering a range of topics including habitats, tides, adaptations, food chains, and defense mechanisms.
Fort Tejon State Park
45 minutes
This program seeks to provide students with a glimpse of life on the frontier of California in the 1850s through the lens of a remote Army post called Fort Tejon. Various “living history” topics and stations are presented such as mid-19th century Army drill & weapons, blacksmithing, frontier carpentry, tack & saddlery work, open hearth cooking, adobe brick making, and period laundry practices & candle making. The program typically lasts around 45 minutes.
Gaviota State Beach
45 minutes
Dive into Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area, which borders Gaviota State Park to learn how cultures have sustained, protected and utilized coastal waters in this area for thousands of years. Discover how you can help to keep our coastal waters protected now and on into the future. Throughout the program, we will discuss modes of conservation and sustainability, the historic role of consumptive use, the science behind Marine Protected Areas, and explore the creatures who call Kashtayit SMCA home.
45 minutes
Join us at Gaviota State Park to discover how Marine Protected Areas are a great solution, but can't protect our oceans from the impacts of plastic pollution. The program will highlight the identification of marine species of the Gaviota Coast while discussing how watersheds connect both the land and sea. In addition, we will take a look at how plastic negatively impacts wildlife and what we can do to minimize our plastic footprint.
Hearst Castle
45 minutes
Newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst spent decades of his life acquiring a vast art collection for his hilltop estate in San Simeon, California. Students will go on a journey exploring the art and architecture of Hearst Castle which includes Roman artifacts, Mosaics, Renaissance paintings, and more, all with a dash of California History. During this live and interactive 45-60 minute tour your students will explore the gardens, pools, and the historic structures of Hearst Castle!
45 minutes
Through the art collection of William Randolph Hearst students will explore the mythology, art, and architecture of the ancient civilizations. Statues such as the Egyptian Goddess Sekhmet will transport students 3000 years back in history. The architecture at the Neptune Pool will provide proof that the Greeks and Romans still influence our world today. During this live and interactive 45-60 minute tour your students will explore the gardens, pools, and historic structures of Hearst Castle State Park.
45 minutes
Discover the fascinating story of this cultural resource and of Julia Morgan, California’s first licensed woman architect, who built the castle starting in 1920 for media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Incorporating STEM/STEAM disciplines, students will examine how Hearst Castle went from concept to construction over a period of 28 years yet is still not complete! During this live and interactive 45-60 minute tour your students will explore the gardens, pools, and historic structures of Hearst Castle!
45 minutes
Have your students ever wondered how a house is built? It took a team of people with various skills and trades 28 years to build a famous house called Hearst Castle. Together on the Main Terrace in front of Hearst Castle we will explore this idea of building by reading a book called “How a House is Built” by Gail Gibbons. After our story we will take a journey through the gardens to the Neptune Pool. This tour will incorporate concepts such as teamwork, planning and imagination. Suitable for K-2.
Hendy Woods State Park
45 minutes
At the forefront of challenges that our planet faces, there is no greater threat than global climate change. While the coast redwoods have a long history of resilience as a species, how will these trees survive warming temperatures, prolonged droughts and intense wildfires? Let's take a close look into the many challenges that these ancient trees must overcome by exploring fire ecology and carbon sequestration. Learn how you can stand with the redwoods in the battle to safeguard our planet. Grades 6-12.
45 minutes
Coast redwoods, throughout Northern California, can provide us with wisdom told through the history of their resilience. The secrets to the coast redwood’s survival, can be discovered by exploring this iconic tree’s adaptations and anatomy. Learn how these trees symbolize the pillars of the past as we reach for new heights of understanding in Hendy Woods State Park.
Humboldt Redwoods State Parks
45 minutes
Shrouded in fog, the Coast Redwood forests are one of the most ancient ecosystems on planet Earth. In this unit, students explore these resilient giants and the wild inhabitants that call this “lost world” home. From salmon to bats, banana slugs to mountain lions, teachers will choose a wild representative for the presenter to emphasize during the program. On this trek through the old growth forest, students will experience the interconnected habitats beneath the redwood canopy.
45 minutes
Redwood forests are one of the most ancient ecosystems on planet Earth. In this unit students explore these ancient giants, the science concepts of ecosystems, and the history of the preservation of these giants, particularly the women who defend the redwoods from commercial logging. Take an adventure via videoconference to the towering redwoods to gain a perspective into the past and future! This program can be bilingual in English and Spanish. Please request this when scheduling.
La Purisima Mission State Park
45 minutes
Dig into the Past at La Purisima Mission to discover how La Purisima Mission was engineered and constructed. An emphasis is placed on the use of natural resources for building materials during the California Mission Era. Finally, we will examine the process of making an adobe brick through an interactive demonstration.
45 minutes
New Deal Adobe: Restoring La Purisima Mission allows learners to discover how La Purisima Mission was restored by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. Join us as we discover how the restoration of La Purisima Mission became one of the largest historical restoration and reconstruction projects in the United States.
**Please note: the program is designed for upper grades but may be adapted for younger grades**
45 minutes
Explore California's most fully restored mission! Discover the stories and wonders behind La Purisima Mission while traveling through the numerous historic adobe buildings. In approximately 45 minutes, your classroom will be able to tour portions of the mission while asking questions and participating in interactive discussions to see what California Mission Life was once like.
The program is designed to share the role of the California Mission's while also highlighting daily life and work at La Purisi
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
30 minutes
Learn about these interesting creatures and the roles they play at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. You’ll see a skeleton of a real bat, see how a bat detector works, and more. We will share bat myths and misconceptions as well as the benefits of these wonderful creatures. This 30min program is geared towards K-2nd grades, but all are welcome.
45 minutes
Students learn about our national symbol in this interactive presentation. You’ll discover interesting facts, see a real nest recovered from the Spillway disaster, and see a taxidermy specimen. The program concludes with a spelling bee of eagle related vocabulary. This program is geared towards 4th grade students, but all are welcome.
45 minutes
Students are introduced to ancient ways of living and compare their modern lives to the traditional Maidu culture through a walking tour of an exhibit within the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Many of the descendants still live in Butte County doing the same thing you are: working, playing, eating, enjoying music and continuing their traditional ways. Engage with interpretive staff and learn how Earth continues to provide all the resources we still need, and the importance to be stewards of our lands.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
45 minutes
Join us as we show you where gold was discovered on January 24 1848 and how that discovery changed the culture of California! We will talk about why John Sutter and James Marshall had a partnership and why James Marshall was here in the Coloma Valley on that fateful day. We will also discuss some of the many impacts the gold discovery had on California and the world, culturally and environmentally.
Mendocino District
45 minutes
Come explore the sandy beaches, rocky reefs, sea caves, and kelp forests of Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA). The health of these marine habitats is supported by a handful of keystone species that keep the ecosystem balanced. Some keystone species have been reduced or have disappeared completely due to many factors and environmental stressors such as warming ocean temperatures, overfishing, and competition for resources.
Natural Bridges State Park
45 minutes
There are over 20,000 different species of butterflies in the world. They live on every continent. In this program students will focus on the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. They will also learn about the milkweed plant, why it is so important to the survival of Monarch butterflies, and what we can do to help protect both milkweed and Monarchs. Finally, students will have an opportunity to observe the Monarch butterfly migration by looking at virtual maps while traveling alongside Monarch butterflies.
Oceano Dunes District
45 minutes
Students are invited to join State Park Interpreters for a virtual tour of the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. This grove is the largest overwintering site for monarch butterflies on the West Coast of the United States! For our younger grades, we'll explore monarch butterfly life cycles, their incredible migration, and their habitats. For upper grades, we'll discover how CA State Park scientists monitor monarch populations and work to preserve their species! Hope to see you live at Pimso!
45 minutes
3rd grade students are invited to join State Park Interpreters for a virtual tour of the Oceano Lagoon where students will deepen their understanding of Native American culture. Students will make connections between the local geography and the importance and use of natural resources by the Northern Chumash.
When weather allows, Interpreters will be broadcasting outside, live from the Oceano Lagoon.
45 minutes
Discover the of dynamic sand dune habitat at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Your students will learn about how the rock cycle forms coastal sand dunes. There are few resilient plant and animal species that have adapted to survive in this extreme habitat. This virtual field trip will include discussions about the importance of protecting threatened and endangered species, including the Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern.
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
45 minutes
The rancho period marks the end of the mission era in Alta California and the beginning of international commerce. General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo’s Mexican land grant, Rancho Petaluma, was the headquarters of his prosperous hide and tallow trade. Travel back in time to Petaluma State Historic Park to learn more about this chapter in California history!
San Elijo State Beach
45 minutes
This program explores two Marine Protected Areas; Swami's SMCA and San Elijo Lagoon SMCA. Students will join our State Park Interpreters right on the beach where the San Elijo Lagoon flows into the Pacific Ocean. Students will learn about: the benefits of protecting our ocean, how these two MPA systems interact with each other and how your day-to-day actions can affect these environments.
45 minutes
Jellyfish (aka Jellies) have amazing adaptations that allow them to thrive throughout our world’s ocean. From surface waters to the deepest depths, from the warm tropics to the chilly poles, join us at San Elijo State Beach to unravel the mysteries as to how these creatures have survived.
San Juan Bautista
30 minutes
Bienvenidos! This program explores Mexican-California and its people in this half-hour-long journey of Alta California. Students learn about the four types of people in Alta California: A Californio property-owning man, A California Señora, Native-American Vaqueros, and a Native-American tortilla-making woman, and their unique culture, right where it happened. Students learn the difference between a Californio and a Vaquero, learn about Mexican General Jose Castro, and how flour tortillas are made!
30 minutes
Bienvenidos a este viaje de media hora, donde exploraemos a la Alta California y su gente.
Aprenderemos sobrea la jerarquía en los tiempos de la Alta California, desde el Californio, que es, el dueño del Rancho hasta el personal que prepara los alimentos, que son de una cultura única, y todo esto lo aprenderemos, en el mismo lugar donde sucedio e lnicíó esta historia.
Conoceran diversos personajes, entre los cuales estan El General Castro, diferencias entre un vaquero y un Californio.
Sonoma State Historic Park
45 minutes
As the firsts sites of colonization in California, the missions have a lasting history in the state. Using the Mission San Francisco Solano to tell the story, this tour will review the reasoning behind establishing the missions and the impact they had on the California Indians.
45 minutes
General Vallejo and his family lived when Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. governments ruled in California. Learn how they adapted to the changing times and continued to be a prominent family in Sonoma.
Sugar Pine Point State Park
45 minutes
Discover the links of a food web in an alpine environment at Sugar Pine Point State Park, and learn how each link connects to one another. Students will see how they are linked to this delicate web of life, and how the roles humans play can have significant positive and negative impacts on our environment.
Sumeg Village
45 minutes
The Yurok people have called the North Coast home since time immemorial, but colonization nearly erased that story. As a ‘descendent of this place’, Interpreter Maiya offers a glimpse into Yurok traditions, hardships, and revitalization.
45 minutes
Sumeg Village was built in collaboration between California State Parks and the Yurok tribe as a place for education, ceremony, and healing. Join Interpreters Skip Lowry and Princess Colegrove as they share lessons and lifeways drawn from their Native heritage. Students will explore traditional houses, canoes, and regalia, and see how Sumeg Village serves as testament to the sophisticated engineering and ecological knowledge of Indigenous People.
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
45 minutes
The diversity of California, today, is rooted in the events Sutter’s Fort is connected to in the 1840s. By looking at the significant events associated with the Fort, we can see how and why John Sutter and other European Americans came to California, why the Fort was built, what jobs made the Fort operational, why the Fort was abandoned in 1850, and the impact the Fort had on the Indigenous population of the Sacramento Valley. Let’s learn about the diversity and complexity of Sutter’s Fort and its his
45 minutes
Join us virtually as we dive into how Sutter’s Forts agricultural businesses in Mexican California, and the conflict and opportunities that came with them, contributed to the California we know today. We will discuss the hide and tallow trade, the process of turning wheat into flour, and how sailors contributed to the work done at the Fort. This program is geared to grades 3-5, but can be adapted to other grades with prior notice.
Tijuana Estuary
45 minutes
In this program, students will discover salt marsh plant and animal species using observational skills, movement, and nature journaling techniques. We’ll focus on the plants’ adaptations to salty ocean water in the largest coastal wetland in southern California.
45 minutes
Salt Marshes thrive in one of the most dynamic natural environments. Despite this, they have the ability to sequester (take in and store) carbon better than most other plant communities. Students will join a California State Park interpreter standing on the edge of the salt marsh along a tidal channel. Together they will learn: What exactly is a salt marsh? What are their unique adaptations? How might they fight climate change?
45 minutes
The Tijuana Estuary is one of 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country working together to monitor the health of estuarine systems. This on-going, system-wide program collects weather, water quality, and vegetation data. Students will explore some of the real-time data while the California State Park interpreter guides them from in the field. This program allows students to not only look at what is happening right now, but also consider how the data might detect climate change.
William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park
45 minutes
Travel back in time with Flat Stanley to experience life in 1850s pioneer California. Students will learn how pioneers lived without three modern technologies: electricity, indoor plumbing, and modern transportation. Pioneers at the homestead share Three Sisters gardening, rope making, and woodworking. Flat Stanley appears in funny places throughout the tour, creating humor and adventure.
