Summer 2025
On Track and Looking Ahead
Summer is in full swing and everywhere we turn we see State Parks staff and volunteers in their element. There are talks in the campfire centers, vacationers lined up for the guided hikes, and badges pinned to the new Junior Rangers.
Yet even while the beach parking lots are packed to capacity, we know you have your eyes on the Fall. You’re planning your PORTS programs, your school tours, and your volunteer trainings.
Never a dull moment for Interpreters! Hopefully there are a few resources in this edition of the Catalyst that will keep you safely steaming ahead.
—The Catalyst Team
Your Questions Answered:
• My program attendance numbers are all over the place. Help!
• Book recs for new Interpreters.
Rainbows in Unexpected Places
Capital District Staff host a conference roundtable on bringing LGBTQ+ history into all museums
What’s in the Photo Archives?
Meet Rebecca Crowther, California State Parks’ Photo Archivist, in this issue’s “Beyond Interpretation”
Another Great State Parks Week
With your critical work, State Parks was able to host 174 events statewide in just one week!
Want to start podcasting?
Vivian Matuk and Blythe Wilson share what they’ve learned from their respective DPR podcasts.
Women’s History Crawl (part 2)
Deborah Lee shares insights from the Sonoma SHP event she previewed in the previous Catalyst edition
New Adventures in Learning Website
The Interpretation and Education Division recently launched our new website, “Adventures in Learning.” with the goal of helping visitors find information more quickly and maybe even discover something new.
Junior Rangers Program Refresh
New statewide Junior Rangers materials have been making their debut at parks across the system this summer, and there’s more to come.
Get Help Hiring an Intern
A new State Parks partnership broadens your applicant pool and simplifies the hiring process.
PeakFinder
“How High Can We Go?” “What’s the Name of that Mountain?” There’s an app to answer these questions.
July
- All Month: Disability Pride Month
August
- Mid-Month: Back-to-School
- 10: National S’mores Day
- 14: World Lizard Day
- 30: National Beach Day
September
- 1: Labor Day
- 1: Adventure Pass annual period start
- 6-14: California Biodiversity Week
- 7: California Biodiversity Day
- 9: California Admission Day
- 13-14: Girl Scouts Love State Parks
- 13-21: Latino Conservation Week
- 15-October 15: California Latino Heritage Month
- 20: California Coastal Cleanup Day
- 26: California Native American Day
-
28: World Rivers Day
Start Planning For…
- October: Archeology Month
- October: Archives Month
- November: Native American Heritage Month
- November 15-23: OHV Safety Week
Interested in writing an article? Want to share a resource? Got a success story?
Write to us at: interpretation.staff@parks.ca.gov
Summer 2025 Catalyst Team Members:
Anne Cooper and Devin McCutchen (editors) — Jonathan Camacho (website) — Kim Milruya (graphic designer)
Copyright (C) 2025 CA State Parks, Interpretation and Education Division. All rights reserved.