“All-Team” at Anza-Borrego

Julie McClanahan, State Park Interpreter II, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

What birds can you see on the Hellhole Canyon trail? This Yellow-rumped Warbler, of course! (Photo by Seasonal Senior Maintenance Aide Laban Wenger)

How do you like me now? How to tell the social media story of California’s largest state park.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, at over 650,000 acres (and growing), is the largest State Park in California and one of the largest in the contiguous United States (setting aside the mighty Adirondack Region in New York.) With a park nearly the size of the state of Rhode Island, featuring elevations ranging from a few hundred feet to peaks over 6000 feet above sea level, managing and interpreting such a large and diverse desert landscape can be daunting.

This job cannot be done by one person. At Anza-Borrego we have an “all-team” approach, empowering everyone to interpret – not just Interpreters! Colleagues from all roles in the district contribute to this significant effort. When there’s more park than people, it’s important to recognize the gifts that everyone can contribute to interpretation regardless of the job title they hold.

Our social media accounts have grown in popularity. Exploding with posts and videos about a generous wildflower bloom in 2024, we continue to hustle to stay current. We have taken a collaborative approach to keep up with the demand for content from our expanding audience of over 100,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram. Colleagues from Maintenance, Law Enforcement, Environmental Science, Archaeology, Paleontology, Administration, and VIPP volunteers all continuously contribute their observations to our feeds. Team members take pride in their content and enjoy being recognized and appreciated for their contributions.

What type of aquatic wildlife is in the streams of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park? Although it is unusual for water to flow down in the summer months to the lower first crossing of Coyote Creek in Coyote Canyon, these are Western toad tadpoles in the lower first crossing of Coyote Creek in Coyote Canyon. (Photo: Environmental Scientist Samantha Birdsong)

Desert Tortoise Week coming up? Our Environmental Scientists are on it! Staff share photos and videos from the field to showcase State Park’s conservation efforts of this fragile species.

Law Enforcement and Maintenance colleagues cover significant terrain daily and provide an incredible resource for current knowledge in the park. They know the status and condition of trails and the over 500 miles of dirt roads and are excited to share the surprises they find along the way with our online fans.

How does a coyote get water in the desert? By digging a well in the Borrego Badlands like this one discovered by a Law Enforcement Ranger. (Photo: Ranger Mason)

VIPP’s love Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and are incredibly active: roving trails, staffing trailheads, assisting with Archaeology and Paleontology field studies, maintaining campgrounds, and leading our Adopt-a-Wash program across 1000 square miles of desert. We couldn’t interpret and steward without their support, and we are especially grateful when they choose to share the highlights of their contributions in our Park’s posts.

Calling all herp fans! This beauty was discovered on the Borrego Palm Canyon trail by VIPP Rebecca La Bog while interpretative roving. (Baja California Collared lizard photo by Volunteer Rebecca LaBog)

What talent and expertise do all members of your Team have? How can you empower your whole Team to grow your social media? Interpreting California State Parks is everyone’s job!