“Read With a Ranger” Program Inspires San Diego Families

John McCaull, Senior Park Aide, San Diego Coast District

During the summer of 2025, the San Diego Coast District continued its strong partnership with the San Diego Public Library through the second year of the California State Parks “Read with a Ranger” program. As part of the district’s increased outreach efforts, San Diego Coast District interpreters have visited nearly every library branch in the county over the past two summers, reaching more than 1,200 participants across 33 library visits to connect families with California State Parks.

This year’s program engaged 500 guests at 13 library branches. Each program featured a reading of “If I Were a Park Ranger” by Catherine Stier, followed by an interactive sing-along and hands-on activities including an exploration of the “gear” used by parks personnel and rangers. The popular “Build Your Own Ranger” activity invited youth to design their own paper doll rangers that reflected their identities and career interests.

San Diego Coast District staff read “If I were a Park Ranger” to happy participants at the Mission Valley Branch of the San Diego Public Library.

Dr. Suess’s The Lorax came to life for participants, highlighting a new partnership with the Dr. Seuss Foundation at one notable library visit’s “free summer lunch” site. At this library, 65 participants interacted with park interpreters and The Lorax himself to learn about the role parks and park staff play in conservation.

New this summer, each library visit included a live broadcast from a park unit to the library, connecting participants directly with staff in the field across the San Diego Coast District and beyond. These sessions allowed participants to virtually explore park landscapes and hear real-time stories and information from park staff. The virtual connections were facilitated by staff who deliver PORTS programs, so it was very much in the PORTS spirit. On several occasions, colleagues Hannah Eaton (Angeles District) and Brianna Pinto (Colorado Desert District) joined in, bringing fresh perspectives from outside San Diego.

San Diego Coast District Staff engage audiences at the La Jolla branch of the San Diego Public Library.

The program owes its success to the dedication of the district’s interpretive team, including John McCaull, Nichole Wilkinson, Aaron Navarro, Claire Nauman, Victoria Bok, Chloe Grant, Claire Andrews, Lila Scott, Max Ignatyev, Jessie Looney, and Anita Balcar. Together, they promoted the California State Library Parks Pass and 4th Grade Adventure Pass while inspiring the next generation of park stewards.

The creativity sparked by “Read with a Ranger” has inspired interpretive staff to imagine developing a California State Parks–focused version of “If I Were a Park Ranger,” tailored specifically to the careers, landscapes, and resources found across California’s state parks. The team’s excitement will sustain them through the months between now and the program’s third summer in 2026, when they hope to expand the program, partnerships, and build on the strong community connections that have made the first two years such a success!