Founded
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks was founded in 1976 to support the interpretive programs of coastal state parks in Santa Cruz County.
Mission
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is dedicated to promoting appreciation and stewardship of the natural and cultural heritage of our local state parks by facilitating and supporting educational programs and exhibits.
Background
Friends'--a non-profit park partner--strives to ensure that the history, traditions and natural beauty of Santa Cruz County State Parks are enjoyed today and by future generations. Each year more than 327,601 visitors--including thousands of school children--participate in over 4,328 free educational programs funded by Friends.
As state park budgets continue to be slashed and more people are enjoying the parks, Friends work becomes increasingly urgent as we are relied upon to fund the essential educational programs and stewardship initiates within our local state parks.
Through effective leadership by the Friends board of directors and the hard work of staff, Friends has grown to be the second largest of 84 similar non-profit partners in California. The educational programs in Santa Cruz County State Parks, funded by Friends, serve as a model for other park districts throughout the state, have won numerous state and national awards and are vital to the future of our parks.
Programs & Projects
That's My Park
In spring 2006, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks launches That's My Park, the first-ever public awareness and visitor participation campaign designed specifically for Santa Cruz-area State Parks. The goal of That's My Park is to ignite the spark that brings visitors to each park and encourage active participation in three steps...Enjoy, Learn & Give Back.
Friends Member-Supported ongoing State Park Programs
Volunteer and educational programs are the heart and soul of Friends mission. Each year state park volunteers put in hundreds of hours; restoring native habitat, leading school and public tours, maintaining trails, hosting visitor centers and much more. Our free school programs serve over 150,000 children each year. A few of the experiences that students discover in our parks include; monarch butterflies, tidepools, local history and cultures, geology of the region, redwood forest ecology, the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.
You will find Friends programs in the following parks:
* Natural Bridges State Beach
* New Brighton State Beach
* Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
* Seacliff State Beach
* Sunset State Beach
* Manresa & Manresa Uplands State Beach
* The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
* Wilder Ranch State Park
Major Projects of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
These are projects that require one-time funding, and often take months or even years to complete. A project may include the construction of a new visitor center or the restoration of a historical landmark. These are funded by member donations, local business sponsorships and corporate as well as foundation grants.
Current projects include:
* The Castro Adobe restoration in Watsonville - one of our newest state parks and only two story adobe in Santa Cruz County remaining from when Mexico governed the region.
* The Meder House restoration and furnishing at Wilder Ranch - a "living History" museum where school and families will be able to reenact life on a Santa Cruz farm and dairy at the turn of the last century.
* Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach - a museum and school program that immerses students in the many faces and cultures that make up the history of Santa Cruz County and experience how they influenced and were influenced by the natural habitats.
Accomplishments
* Provide over $10 million for educational programs, visitor centers and exhibits over the past 30 years
* Fund over 4,300 free educational programs last year serving nearly 328,000 schol children & visitors
* Provide 400 volunteers & docents, giving thousands of hours of time to enhance the experience of visitors at the parks
* Completed Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach (grand opening April 7th 2006), Friends' fifth visitor center/museum project
* Initiated a major campaign to restore the Meder Home at Wilder Ranch State Park
* Act as a bridge between the local community and the California department of Parks and Recreation, ensuring the ongoing stewardship and quality of our local state park for the past 30 years
Media Contact:
Bonny Hawley
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
831/429-1840
bonny at thatsmypark.org
