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 A Word From Our President
We are the verge of Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of summer. It feels a little like we are also sitting a vigil for the inevitable closure of approximately 100 state parks. We thought the list would be out by now, but not yet. We know some parameters at least. The list will contain parks that will be closed completely, as well as some that will be partially or seasonally closed. We also know that the closures will be phased in over the next few months. More than that, there is nothing but speculation.
I was at a hearing organized by Senator Fran Pavley on the state park closures last week in Santa Monica. It was an interesting hearing with more than 100 people in attendance. But, what a bummer! Every day, in some new way, the reality of these park closures comes home to me.
With the Friends of Santa Cruz we co-hosted a wonderful event to celebrate the publication of Douglas Brinkley's new book entitled The Wilderness Warrior a couple of weeks ago. It was interesting to be reminded by someone hearing about our crisis for the first time, how shocking it is. We are all moving on to the next stage: how to cope with the closures. But it is good to be reminded that this is truly an outrage.
Our "I ♥ State Parks" Campaign is taking off with many of you participating all over the state. See the article later in this e-newsletter. If you haven't put your heart on the map of California yet, go to calparks.org and do it! That's an order! There are still events coming up over the Labor Day weekend, including one organized at Baldwin Hills by our FABULOUS Advisory Trustee Carolyn DeVinny. By all means, attend if you are within striking distance.
We at CSPF are taking advantage of this moment to refine what we may be able to do to help in this unusual and catastrophic moment for state parks. You will be hearing more about that but for now, you must know that we have heard you loud and clear that you want to help! We are working on fundraising, partnerships and volunteer opportunities.
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for everyone at California State Parks for hanging in through all the uncertainty, working harder than ever and making the most of all the opportunities big and small that folks are bringing their way.
Lastly, hats off to all of you for all your support. Have a good Labor Day weekend, hopefully in a great state park!
 FYF Fest Presents: Save Our State Parks
FYF Fest Presents: Save Our State Parks is coming up this Saturday, September 5th down at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in Chinatown. The address is 1245 N. Spring St. Los Angeles, Ca 90012 and doors open at 1pm. For more information please visit www.fyffest.com. Come down and spend a day listening to live music and comedy and enjoying one of our beautiful California State Parks!
 I ♥ State Parks
The message is loud and clear—Californians ♥ state parks! Park supporters are coming out in force throughout the state to show their support for state parks and opposition to park closures by participating in "I ♥ State Parks" weekends of action.
During "I ♥ State Parks" weekends of action events, you can come out to a state park (or even some non-park locations) and show your support by signing messages on green hearts (we've distributed over 20,000 of them!) that we'll collect and share with policy leaders after Labor Day.
"I ♥ State Parks" weekends of action events began on August 22 and will continue through September 7th. So far over 20 "I ♥ State Parks" events have already taken place including events at Annadel State Park, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Point Lobos State Reserve, San Onofre State Beach, Sugar Pine Point State Park and Torrey Pines State Reserve. Thank you to all of the volunteers who are helping to make these events possible! Want to participate in an event this weekend? Events are happening across CA. For all the details, and to view a list of events, visit I ♥ State Parks.
 Stater Bros. Markets and Coca-Cola team up with CSPF and State Parks
On May 21, 2009, Ruth Coleman, Director of California State Parks, and Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Natural Resources in California, joined shovels with Jack Brown, CEO of Stater Bros. Markets, and Terry Fitch, Vice President of Coca-Cola to plant the first of one million trees that will be donated to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park outside of San Diego.
The program was deemed "Reforest California: Join the Million Tree Challenge" and funds for the million trees were donated by Stater Bros. and Coke, at the culmination of a 6 week retail promotion that invited shoppers at Stater Bros. grocery markets to contribute $1 to reforestation in parks that were damaged by wildfires. Over $373,000 was raised in merely 3 weeks from shoppers, and Coke chipped in an additional $188,000 raised when a shopper purchased more than $10 worth of Coca-Cola products. In total, the funds will be used for the purchase of trees for the massive reforestation efforts underway at Cuyamaca Rancho SP, and fire prevention programming and messaging at four other Southern California parks.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Southern California has become a Proud Partner of CSPF, and will be working on programs in the years to come to benefit the parks.
 Get to Know California Contest
CSPF is pleased to share an exciting new program: Robert Bateman's Get to Know California, an art and writing contest, set to launch in California on September 26, for youths up to 18 years old. The contest encourages youth to explore their local state parks, and express themselves in drawing, writing and photography. Winners will receive wild prizes from sponsors and inclusion in the Robert Bateman Get to Know calendar. For contest details and an entry form, please visit their website.
For over ten years, internationally-renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman has spearheaded a Canadian program that encourages youth to "get to know their wild neighbors." Bateman's flagship initiative is the Get to Know Contest which has been wildly successful in inspiring youth to discover nature, express themselves creatively, and learn to care for the environment.
The Get to Know California Contest is made possible with support from the US Forest Service, the Children & Nature Network, California State Parks, and other California-based partners who are all committed to reconnecting youth with nature. There will be several launch events, including events at the Los Angeles Zoo, the San Diego Natural History Museum, and at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's "Going Green Days" in Vallejo. CSPF hopes that youth who enter the contest will be inspired to continue exploring and conserving nature. The contest will run from National Public Lands Day (September 26) to November 30.
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