Educator Fact Sheet
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California's 278 state parks are priceless public assets, important economic engines, much-needed recreational outlets and a vital legacy for our children and grandchildren. Chronic underfunding is starving state parks, causing them to fall severely behind in needed maintenance and repairs. Twice in the past two years, state parks were on the brink of being shut down. Last year, nearly 150 state parks were shut down part‐time or suffered deep service reductions because of budget cuts, and more park closure proposals and budget cuts are expected this year.
A statewide ballot measure, slated for November, has been prepared that will establish a dedicated and reliable funding stream for state parks and natural resources to ensure they can be enjoyed for generations to come. In exchange for free year-round day-use admission to California state parks and beaches, Californians will pay an $18 fee as part of the annual vehicle license fee (except for larger commercial vehicles, mobile homes and permanent trailers) to support state parks.
State Parks Play a Big Role in Educating California's Kids
| State parks are second only to the public education system in the educational opportunities they provide California’s students. According to a study published by the California Department of Education, “students in schools using an environment-based learning model earn higher scores on standardized tests than their counterparts in more traditional school settings.” More than 500,000 schoolchildren participate in interpretive programs in state parks each year. State parks regularly serve as outdoor classrooms that help bring to life concepts from science, history, math and environmental education. In fact, many districts, including Los Angeles Unified, have designated state parks as pre-approved field trip locations because they offer rich learning opportunities. Without a reliable source of funding, these important educational resources could be lost forever. |
| State parks offer California’s youth the opportunity to learn life skills and ways to be stewards of natural resources through state parks programs like Junior Rangers and Junior Lifeguards. These programs have a positive impact on the lives of youth in California. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, students involved in programs like those offered by the state parks, are 49% less likely to use drugs and 37% less likely to become teen parents than those who didn’t participate. |
| State parks are responsible for the preservation and protection of much of California’s history and culture. Of the state’s 278 parks, 235 contain significant cultural features, representing the wide diversity of California’s population in traditional tribal buildings, historic structures and communities, prehistoric archaeological sites and cultural landscapes. In addition, more than one million museum artifacts, three million archival documents and two million archaeological specimens are protected in state parks. |
More General Fund Dollars Available For Education with New Funding Plan for State Parks
| With a new dedicated revenue stream in place, more than $130 million of General Fund dollars – that provide a portion of overall state park funding – will now be available for other vital needs, like education, health care, social services and public safety. |
Broad Coalition Supporting 2010 State Parks Measure
| Supporters of this initiative include the California Teachers Association, California School Employees Association, California Federation of Teachers, League of California Afterschool Providers, California Faculty Association, California Actions for Healthy Kids, California School Health Centers Association, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club California, Audubon California, Save the Redwoods League, and the California State Parks Foundation. Join the effort to save California’s state parks today! |
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