In this edition we hear from creative people all across our 280 units who are trying something different.

Need inspiration for a new Junior Ranger program? There’s a new Sharepoint library for sharing (and stealing!) program outlines and supporting materials.

Planning for the next three months of interpretation in your park? Here are some dates to know for Fall 2025.

Your questions answered: Getting crafty hunting down crafting supplies. Happy dogs and unhappy owners.

And the award for the park with the most recorded species for 2025 goes to…

Celebrating 130 years of the modern American electrical grid where it all first began, in Folsom, California.

A new exhibit at the State Indian Museum reimagines empty cases as an opportunity to celebrate NAGPRA.

VANNIE offers a powerful new way to engage audiences across the state. Learn how to request a visit!

How do you tell the social media story of California’s largest State Park? With an “all-team” approach!

Daniel Williford on momentarily unanswerable questions and question crowd sourcing.

Over the past two years, San Diego Coast District staff have reached 1,200 participants across every San Diego Public Library branch.

Explore the busy calendar of webinars that are FREE and open to all State Parks staff, volunteers, and partners. Eligible for FOCUS training credits.

Read the Fall 2025 edition of The Catalyst

Browse a selection of the interpretation related jobs currently open across California State Parks.

Explore the busy calendar of webinars that are FREE and open to all State Parks staff, volunteers, and partners. Eligible for FOCUS training credits.

Summer is in full swing and everywhere we turn we see State Parks staff and volunteers in their element.

Read the Summer 2025 edition of The Catalyst

The Interpretation and Education Division recently launched our new website, “Adventures in Learning”

New statewide Junior Rangers materials have been making their debut at parks across the system this summer, and there’s more to come.

Planning for the next three months of interpretation in your park? Here are some dates to know for Summer 2025:

Capital District Staff host a conference roundtable on bringing LGBTQ+ history into all museums

“How High Can We Go?” “What’s the Name of that Mountain?” There’s an app to answer these questions.

Meet Rebecca Crowther, California State Parks’ Photo Archivist

Want to Start Podcasting? Vivian Matuk and Blythe Wilson share what they’ve learned from their respective DPR podcasts.

A new State Parks partnership broadens your internship applicant pool and simplifies the hiring process.

Your questions answered: My program attendance numbers are all over the place. Help! Book recs for new Interpreters.

Deborah Lee shares insights from the Sonoma SHP event she previewed in the previous Catalyst edition

Read the Winter/Spring 2025 edition of The Catalyst

Here are some events, theme weeks/months, trainings, holidays, and other dates to know for Winter / Spring 2025

Explore the busy calendar of webinars that are FREE and open to all State Parks staff, volunteers, and partners. Eligible for FOCUS training credits.

San Diego Coast District and the Southern Service Center rolled out new interpretive “table runners” at Torrey Pines SNR/SB.

Monica Rutherford shares how Hearst San Simeon State Park’s 77 docents logged 8,328 volunteer hours and engaged over 127,500 visitors, all in just one year!

Learn about the most recent offerings from the interpreters in the Division of Boating and Waterways.

Alec Knapp shares how he is exploring new online tools for building high-quality, interactive, 360° tours in Northern Buttes District.

Meet your biggest ally in sustaining your parks’ volunteers in this month’s edition of Beyond Interpretation.

Couldn’t make this year’s BIGI? Here were 4 lessons from the attendees.

Deborah Lee shares what it takes to organize a community event with 18 partner organizations.

Learn how Kaylie Williams reconnected with her “Why” for the field of interpretation at this year’s BIGI Training.

A note from our chief, Heather Holm, about spring, climate, and our mission at California State Parks.

Read the Fall 2024 / Winter 2025 edition of The Catalyst

Kicking off a new Catalyst Column for upping your interpretive game. In this issue: coming full circle with your beginnings and endings.

From new visitor centers, to planning, exhibits, and kiosks, the Service Centers can help.

Since 2020, State Parks staff and classroom educators have connected 1 million students with the wonders of our state’s nature and history.