For Schools

Ask people who grew up in California to name the most memorable event of their school years and you’re likely to hear “Seeing the elephant seals at Año Nuevo” or “Touring the State Capitol and the Railroad Museum” or “Living 1860s-style at Fort Tejon for a weekend.” So much of what students learn in school fades with the passing years that what usually stand the test of time are the exceptions--the grand events.

From day trips to environmental living overnights to in-school programs, California's state parks offer opportunities for students to learn about our natural and cultural history through hands-on experiences and interaction with trained staff and volunteers. Encompassing a mind-boggling array of natural and cultural resources, California State Parks are the places where lasting school memories are made.

School Group Reservations
For your convenience, most California State Parks allow school groups to make advance reservations. Unless directed to do otherwise by the information below, contact the individual park unit in which you're interested to learn about making reservations.

Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park and Sonoma State Historic Park
ReserveAmerica will be accepting reservations for the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park and the three locations within Sonoma State Historic Park: General Vallejo's Home, the Mission, and the Sonoma Barracks. Reservations can be made by calling ReserveAmerica at the toll free number (866) 240-4655.

Capital District
For parks in the Sacramento area, which are visited by hundreds of school groups each year, reservation information is available on our Capital District webpages.

Año Nuevo and Hearst Castle-San Simeon
For reservations at either Año Nuevo State Reserve or Hearst Castle-San Simeon Historic Monument, call (800) 444-4445 or (916) 414-8400, ext. 4100.

Distance Learning
California State Parks is using technology to bring parks and schools closer together. Please visit our Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) website for more information.

Guide to Environmental Education Programs in California State Parks
This convenient and useful guide provides basic information about educational programs in our parks. The parks are sorted by county and each has a contact phone number listed. The guide details which parks provide the following types of programs: Natural History field trips, Cultural Heritage field trips, Environmental Studies (day events), Environmental Living (overnight events), Junior Rangers, Litter-Getters, and Junior Lifeguards.

We do our best to keep this guide as up-to-date as possible, but please be sure to contact the park in which you're interested to verify program availability and any other logistical arrangements that may need to be made prior to your visit.

Teacher's Guides
Many California State Parks have Teacher's Guides available for educators interested in helping their students get more out of their park experience. Unfortunately, most guides are not available on-line, but be sure to inquire with park staff if you will be visiting a park and would like to know if there is a teacher's guide available. As guides become available in electronic format, we will be providing them as links from this portion of the State Parks website as well as from the individual park webpages. For now, you may want to peruse the following:

Selection of state park historic sites teacher's guides available on-line.

NEW - Redwood Ed: A Guide to the Coast Redwoods for Teachers and Learners

NEW - Governor's Mansion State Historic Park Teacher's Guide

NEW - Allensworth: A Piece of the World, A Teacher's Guide with Student Lessons and Resources

A Guide to the Side of the Sea: A Teacher's Guide for Field Trips to Rocky Intertidal Areas

California State Capitol Museum School Packet (Teacher Version) (Student Version)

Tijuana Estuary High School Teacher's Guide

Transcripts of videos shown in parks

Service Learning Opportunities in California State Parks
For more information about opportunities for conducting service learning projects in California State Parks, visit our Service Learning page.

Other Environmental Education Programs
You might be surprised at the numerous and varied environmental education programs available--and at how many have information available on-line. Please visit our Links for Schools page for more information on programs outside of State Parks.


ADVENTURES IN LEARNING California State Parks' Teaching American History Webpage PORTS Children in Nature Campaign For Kids	For Schools Ask people who grew up in California to name the most memorable event of their school years and you’re likely to hear “Seeing the elephant seals at Año Nuevo” or “Touring the State Capitol and the Railroad Museum” or “Living 1860s-style at Fort Tejon for a weekend.” So much of what students learn in school fades with the passing years that what usually stand the test of time are the exceptions--the grand events. From day trips to environmental living overnights to in-school programs, California's state parks offer opportunities for students to learn about our natural and cultural history through hands-on experiences and interaction with trained staff and volunteers. Encompassing a mind-boggling array of natural and cultural resources, California State Parks are the places where lasting school memories are made. School Group Reservations For your convenience, most California State Parks allow school groups to make advance reservations. Unless directed to do otherwise by the information below, contact the individual park unit in which you're interested to learn about making reservations. Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park and Sonoma State Historic Park ReserveAmerica will be accepting reservations for the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park and the three locations within Sonoma State Historic Park: General Vallejo's Home, the Mission, and the Sonoma Barracks. Reservations can be made by calling ReserveAmerica at the toll free number (866) 240-4655. Capital District For parks in the Sacramento area, which are visited by hundreds of school groups each year, reservation information is available on our Capital District webpages. Año Nuevo and Hearst Castle-San Simeon For reservations at either Año Nuevo State Reserve or Hearst Castle-San Simeon Historic Monument, call (800) 444-4445 or (916) 414-8400, ext. 4100. Distance Learning California State Parks is using technology to bring parks and schools closer together. Please visit our Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) website for more information. Guide to Environmental Education Programs in California State Parks This convenient and useful guide provides basic information about educational programs in our parks. The parks are sorted by county and each has a contact phone number listed. The guide details which parks provide the following types of programs: Natural History field trips, Cultural Heritage field trips, Environmental Studies (day events), Environmental Living (overnight events), Junior Rangers, Litter-Getters, and Junior Lifeguards. We do our best to keep this guide as up-to-date as possible, but please be sure to contact the park in which you're interested to verify program availability and any other logistical arrangements that may need to be made prior to your visit. Teacher's Guides Many California State Parks have Teacher's Guides available for educators interested in helping their students get more out of their park experience. Unfortunately, most guides are not available on-line, but be sure to inquire with park staff if you will be visiting a park and would like to know if there is a teacher's guide available. As guides become available in electronic format, we will be providing them as links from this portion of the State Parks website as well as from the individual park webpages. For now, you may want to peruse the following: Selection of state park historic sites teacher's guides available on-line. NEW - Redwood Ed: A Guide to the Coast Redwoods for Teachers and Learners NEW - Governor's Mansion State Historic Park Teacher's Guide NEW - Allensworth: A Piece of the World, A Teacher's Guide with Student Lessons and Resources A Guide to the Side of the Sea: A Teacher's Guide for Field Trips to Rocky Intertidal Areas California State Capitol Museum School Packet (Teacher Version) (Student Version) Tijuana Estuary High School Teacher's Guide Transcripts of videos shown in parks Service Learning Opportunities in California State Parks For more information about opportunities for conducting service learning projects in California State Parks, visit our Service Learning page. Other Environmental Education Programs You might be surprised at the numerous and varied environmental education programs available--and at how many have information available on-line. Please visit our Links for Schools page for more information on programs outside of State Parks.	Eureka! Series Have you heard about the Eureka! Series? This exciting new project offers teachers all the tools needed to explore the world-class resources of California State Parks, capturing students' interest and encouraging achievement in science, math and language arts. Designed for grades 5-10, this innovative program is being developed by the California Institute for Biodiversity (in partnership with California State Parks and the California State Parks Foundation). Core content standards are embedded in compelling regional storylines that will engage your students! Participants receive digital classroom resources, solid subject matter content, innovative field experiences, and a 200-page guide. Upon completion, apply for transportation mini-grants to bring students out to the parks. Teacher Institutes are being offered in several locations this year. To learn more about this project or to register, visit Eureka! Series (www.eurekaseries.org). Disney's Environmentality Challenge Disney's Environmentality Challenge is a free, fun, and exciting journey that can turn class work into an adventure! By leading your students toward environmental education in a fresh new way, you can motivate them while teaching concepts from your regions' education Content Standards or Guidelines. Students are encouraged to blend the idea of Environmentality—thinking and acting environmentally at school, at home, and in the community—into their daily lives. Entry applications are due in mid-November! Take the Train to State Parks Did you know it's easy and cheap for school groups to take the train to many of California's State Parks? How about being dropped off just a block from Carpinteria State Beach with its marvelous natural resource programs for schools? Or having a special stop planned for a visit to the inspirational Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park? Taking the train makes the trip itself part of the experience, and your students will love it. For more information, visit Amtrak's Kids 'n Trains program website. School Group Program Evaluation As many teachers in California are already aware, California State Parks has an active teacher survey program. In addition to surveys conducted by individual park units, a statewide survey, known as the School Group Program Evaluation, has been conducted in the first half of each year since 1998. The 2002 report on the survey program is entitled Making the Grade: An Analysis of California State Parks' School Group Program Evaluation, 1998-2002. A short update on the 2003 program is also available. Mission Statements California State Parks has adopted mission statements for its interpretive and educational efforts. To view the statements, visit our Interpretation and Education Mission Statements page.