Celebrating Our Volunteer Core Leaders This Volunteer Appreciation Month

Every year during California State Parks Foundation’s Volunteer Appreciation Month, we recognize the heart of our volunteer program: Volunteer Core Leaders. These incredible people lead our volunteer workdays across the state, and they are essential to the success of our statewide volunteer workdays. 

In Humboldt County, Volunteer Core Leaders like Perry and Larisa King have been indispensably part of building a community of park stewards through volunteer workdays. With their guidance, volunteers have helped remove invasive plants, restore native habitats, and protect sensitive ecosystems at parks like Trinidad State Beach and Sue-meg State Park.
 

Why I Volunteer: A Conversation with Perry King

Perry helps lead volunteer events at parks like Trinidad State Beach — one of the newest sites in our statewide volunteer program. As passionate stewards of the land, Perry and Larisa bring a deep sense of care and community to every workday they lead.

We asked Perry to share his perspective on what it’s like to be a Volunteer Core Leader in this unique corner of California and why this work continues to matter to him, to the land, and to the people who call Humboldt home.

Tell me, what do you do as a Volunteer Core Leader for California State Parks Foundation?

Perry: In partnership with the park staff who choose the work sites, my wife, Larisa, and I help co-lead the volunteer workdays on behalf of California State Parks Foundation. Our duties include bringing treats and water provided by the Foundation, greeting volunteers as they arrive and having them sign waivers, circling folks up for introductions, explaining the day’s work and safety concerns, helping lead them to the work site, being there to address any questions, and taking photos.

What inspired you and Larisa to become Core Leaders and support volunteer workdays at state parks in Humboldt?

Perry: First off, we love the Trinidad coast and want to do everything we can to help care for it. We were already volunteering enough to satisfy our desire to do good for this place but discovered that there were no Core Leaders in the area — so California State Parks Foundation was having Core Leaders drive up from Auburn to help with volunteer days, while we lived right around the corner. It made sense that we could help the organization by becoming Core Leaders.

What’s one moment during a workday that really stuck with you — something that made you proud or reminded you why this work matters?

Perry: I was pulling English ivy when an elderly man passing by got so excited to see me that he rushed over, tripped, and nearly fell right on me. Luckily, he was unhurt. He told me he had been pulling English ivy for 25 years in the park and gestured to an adjacent area that had no ivy. He said that was because of him and his fellow volunteers. The entire area used to be overrun. His visit confirmed that our work does have long-term benefits for the natural environment.

How has volunteering with California State Parks Foundation shaped your connection to the land or the local community?

Perry: As a father who loved raising his boys — both now grown — volunteering enables me to continue serving in a fatherly role for this land I love so much. Through volunteering, not only have I deepened my connection with the gorgeous beauty of this natural place, but surprisingly, it has become the main way I connect to the charming community of people who live here.

That is beautiful! To finish off this interview, what would you say to someone who’s never volunteered in a state park before? Why should they give it a try?

Perry: If you love nature, help it out. It needs you as much as you need it.

Answers lightly edited for clarity and grammar.
 

Humboldt Volunteer Workdays

Volunteer workdays in the Humboldt region are as tangible as they are rewarding. Whether it’s hauling debris, pulling invasive species, or planting natives, every task helps preserve iconic coastal ecosystems. In 2024 alone, Humboldt volunteers removed over 16,790 square feet of invasive plants and logged over 116 volunteer hours.

We first launched Humboldt workdays in 2018 at Humboldt Lagoons State Park, and over the years, our presence has grown to include Sue-meg State Park, Trinidad State Beach, and, most recently, Little River State Beach in 2024.

Thanks to leaders like Perry, Larisa, and Hanna, this remote region now hosts regular volunteer events that support fire risk reduction, scenic views, public access, and fragile ecosystems, including the Sitka spruce forest and western azalea preserve.
 

Join Us in Humboldt and Beyond

As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re reminded that the strength of our parks comes from the people who care for them. Volunteers are at the heart of our program, and in places like Humboldt County, their impact is especially powerful. Leaders like Perry King embody what this month is all about — dedication, community connection, and a deep love for the land. His story is just one of many, but it reflects something we see across the state: volunteers making a real difference, one workday at a time. 

Thanks to Core Leaders, we’re able to host over 100 volunteer workdays each year, connecting thousands of Californians to the parks they love and the people who care for them.

These dedicated individuals are more than just volunteers; they are community leaders, team builders, event organizers, and passionate advocates for state parks. They help plan, coordinate, and lead impactful restoration and maintenance projects that keep our parks thriving. Their local knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment help create welcoming spaces where new and returning volunteers feel supported and inspired. 

If Perry’s story has inspired you, or if you’ve ever wanted to lend a hand in your local state park, now is the perfect time to join us! We’re hosting volunteer workdays throughout Humboldt and across California. No experience needed, just a willingness to help. 

👉 Sign up today at volunteer.calparks.org and be part of the movement to protect and restore California’s state parks.

P.S. Want to take your involvement even further? Consider donating to help support this work! You can also learn more about becoming a Volunteer Core Leader by watching this short video or visiting calparks.org/volunteercoreleader.