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Castro Adobe State Historic Park welcomes new Interpretive Park Aide
Yovania Paniagua recently started as an Interpretive Park Aide at the Castro Adobe. Yovania got connected with the Castro Adobe when she visited the park with her daughter's school field trip.
"I fell in love with the place," Yovania said, whose dad (pictured with her above, on her first day) played a big role in her love of the woods, the environment and educating people.
She started volunteering at the park in June of 2016 and officially started as a Park Aide in February 2017. Working for California State Parks has always been a dream for her. Yovania said she loves talking to visitors about the history of the park, meeting new people who share her interests and being outdoors all day. She also is bilingual and helps with translation for visitors.
"I wanted to work at the Castro Adobe because I love the history behind it and it's right in my back yard," Yovania said.
Castro Adobe State Historic Park is at 184 Old Adobe Road in Watsonville. The park which is undergoing a multi-year restoration effort led by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, is currently only open for prescheduled tours, monthly open house events and special celebrations, such as Vaqueros on the Rancho on May 6 (note date correction).
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You Otter Be a Member!
Membership is one of the best ways to help Friends support Santa Cruz State Parks.
At Friends, members’ support enables us to work tirelessly to preserve our precious state park lands, protect our visitor-serving economy and provide essential funds in support of dynamic programs which inspire and build connections between people and nature.
Annual membership starts at just $50 and can be given as a gift. Membership can be purchased online. Purchase one of our $50 "Ollie the Otter" membership packages at any of our ParkStores — Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Seacliff State Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach or Wilder Ranch State Park — and head home with Ollie and a warm, fuzzy feeling.
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New Castro Adobe curriculum for 3rd and 4th graders available
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has developed bilingual curriculum detailing the California Rancho Period at the Castro Adobe State Historic Park in Watsonville, and the materials are available free to educators and the public.
The curriculum was created with the assistance of Pajaro Valley teachers and State Parks Interpreters. Funded by a $3,000 grant from the California State Parks Foundation, the three-lesson English-Spanish curriculum utilizes Common Core standards to meet educational requirements for third and fourth graders. The materials can be easily integrated with a field trip to the Castro Adobe. Download the curriculum from the Friends website.
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Join the Wilderness Patrol
Wilderness Patrol volunteers hike and/or mountain bike into scenic backcountry within state parks in the Santa Cruz County District. With a minimum commitment of six hours/month, you will join an active team whose goal is to contribute to the inspiration, education and enjoyment of parks visitors.
Trainings will take place six Saturdays this spring at various state parks. Training will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Review the requirements and apply.
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Get a Redwoods license plate
Show everyone your support for California’s state parks and order a ParksPLATE. Proceeds from the sales of the Plate will go towards preservation and restoration throughout California State Parks.
California State Parks needs a total of 7,500 orders by May 2017 in order to get these plates produced. In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the “ParksPlate” will cost $50 the first year and $40 a year thereafter for a sequential plate or $98 for the first year of a personalized plate and $78 yearly thereafter.
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State Parks hires seasonal Park Interpreters
California State Parks is hiring Seasonal Park Interpreters to promote high quality educational experiences for the public. Interpreters lead nature walks, campfire programs, AV presentations, Junior Ranger programs, living history presentations, roving interpretation and outreach presentations.
Flexible part-time and full-time schedules are available. Positions are open in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Butano State Park, New Brighton State Beach and Sunset State Beach. Apply today!
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