2025 Interpretation In Review
—Heather Holm, Chief, Interpretation and Education Division
As we enter into a new calendar year, I would like to take a moment to reflect back on 2025. The work you did in 2025 and continue to do in engaging the public in meaningful and engaging experiences is incredible. The interpretive program data reflects this. You delivered over 30,700 presented programs reaching over 645,500 people. This equates to over 142,700 program hours or 17,843 days of programs.
2025 Interpretive Programs and Attendance
Check out how many programs your district delivered in 2025. Way to go! Make sure to continue to enter your program data into CICADA so your hard work is reflected in your district’s numbers and statewide.
2025 DPR Presented Programs by District
Other major accomplishments for interpretation in 2025 include:
- 4th Grade Adventure Pass Program is permanently funded
- Junior Ranger Program and materials refreshed after 20 years
- PORTS programs surpassed a cumulative total of two million K-12 students reached over 21 years
- The first ever Interpretation and Education Statewide Strategic Plan kicked off
- New Adventures in Learning website launched to make park interpretive and education resources more readily available to the public
- Park brochure design is reimagined to tell a thematic story, be cost effective for printing, and be visually appealing
- One interpretation master plan finalized (Sutter’s Fort SHP); five interpretation master plans and 14 interpretive project plans in progress
- VANNIE (Video Access and Immersive Experiences) is launched providing a fully equipped mobile outreach tool to support access and bring park stories to life through live interactive video, immersive media, and engaging on-site activations
- Partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and the Lorax
I want to recognize that for many 2025 was a challenging year navigating budget and staffing cuts, recovery from wildfires and storms, and political and social unrest on the national level. There is a lot of unease and anxiety.
I would like to encourage you though to focus on the positive during the challenging times. Take a walk in a park. Keep yourself grounded. Take care of yourself. The work you are doing is meaningful. You are doing amazing work!!