Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has sent me a thank you letter, that's actually signed by the executive director, for every donation I've ever made to them. They are always there to help the parks rebuild after each disaster, and it does seem like there have been a lot of disasters in the parks lately. I feel like they do what they say they do, and really help the parks in my area keep going.
Friends is a local non-profit that remains dedicated to keeping our state parks open. I am so grateful for all their support with park improvement projects and keeping the public aware of all these available treasures and park adventures that are here for all visitors, thank you for having this impact to our community.
This is a really great organization. They do so much for the parks, so many things that you wouldn't even guess, like fund projects and pay for interpreter salaries, not just the nice people in the kiosks that you see when you go into the parks. They're also very responsible, and use donations for whatever purpose the donor specifies, if the donor specifies, and did so much to help Seacliff's recovery.
Previous Stories
The people who work in the kiosks in the parks that I visit, that are supported by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, are friendly and helpful. I noticed the patches on their uniform sleeves and looked up this nonprofit on the internet and found that they do a lot for parks, and lthe area they support is huge and has more than 30 parks. A lot of things that I assumed were done by the parks service are really done by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, and I think the parks in my area are lucky to have this nonprofit to help them.
They have brought so many cool events to the parks in my region I really am grateful for all the work they do to promote and maintain Santa Cruz State Parks!
As an employee, I see how integral Friends is to the daily operations at State Parks in the Santa Cruz District. Friends is also able to support local projects that could get lost if they had to compete with all the needs of California State Parks. On both sides of the partnership, people are caring, hard-working and truly making a difference for our favorite places in Santa Cruz!
Previous Stories
I am proud to work for an organization that supports the State Parks in Santa Cruz! Friends is instrumental in day-to-day operations but truly shines when facilitating help when fires, storms or economic woes might be overwhelming. There are also lots of ongoing programs and projects that might struggle for continued investment if Friends wasn't there to champion for access, local history and Parks' needs.
Friends is an incredible nonprofit organization that is making a great impact within the community by caring for our local state parks and beaches.
The Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks works with California State Parks to keep our mountain and coastal parks from Watsonville to San Mateo open and accessible to all. Friends funds Kiosk operators, interpreters, “Kids to Parks”, interpretive programs, infrastructure construction, and ongoing restoration of the Castro Adobe State Historic Park.
Thank you Friends.
I am impressed with the breadth of the projects that Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks supports and funds for our local state parks. They are quick to respond to the needs of our parks in mindful and sustainable ways. We are fortunate to have them working alongside State Parks especially during this time of climate change.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is a terrific organization that keeps our State Parks working and beautiful. There are lots of projects at the parks which they fund, including the kids2parks program that pays for the transportation of school children to enjoy a field trip to the various parks. They also fix bridges, feed animals, restore historical buildings and objects and pay and provide benefits for employees at the park kiosks. They are careful with your money and make sure it goes to the use you want it to.
This nonprofit continues to do great work supporting the state parks in Santa Cruz County and along the San Mateo Coast. It seems as though there hasn't been a single year in the last five when some disaster or other hasn't happened in the parks, and any time there's a recovery effort happening in any park it's always linked to Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. They've created recovery funds for Big Basin, Wilder Ranch, and Seacliff, and have been everywhere doing everything to keep the parts going strong. Fingers crossed that nothing awful happens in the parks this winter, but if something does happen, Friends will be there to help.
Previous Stories
This organization continues to provide constant and conscientious support to the parks in the Santa Cruz District of California State Parks. Despite a years-long series of revenue setbacks from the pandemic, CZU fire, economic downturn, and winter storms, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has continued to fund education and interpretive programs, improvements to buildings and roads, ongoing work to create Castro Adobe State Historic Park in Watsonville, and the reopening of Big Basin park to visitors, to name just a few.
Wonderful non-profit organization providing employment visitor service opportunities at the park kiosks. Always informative employees welcoming visitors to enjoy our treasured parks and beaches. The non-profit organization truly gives back to the community.
In January of this year a huge winter storm came off the Pacific and destroyed the pier and much of the infrastructure at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos California. Seacliff is one of the 32 State Parks we co-manage in partnership with the California State Parks (CSP).
We all felt small and helpless in the face of the massive and extensive damage, but because of Friends’ unique co-management agreement with the State Parks, we could do something for the CSP that they couldn’t do for themselves. And it was one of the first steps down the long road of clean up, recovery, and normal park operations.
As it turned out, a homeowner in the community adjacent to Seacliff Beach wanted to donate funds to cover the cost of repairing a beach access destroyed by the storm, it was one of the main paths down the cliff for beach visitors. The State Parks had contractors that could do the job, but also had to deal with major destruction and damage in dozens of parks in our district, and funding happens slowly. So most likely this relatively small project would be put off for months or years.
But because of our co-management agreement with the CSP, Friends could take the donation from the neighbor and direct it to the contractor, all under the direction of CSP. Within a few months the access path was repaired and open to the public.
This was one of the first and meaningful steps down the long and difficult road to reopening Seacliff. And it happened because together with the community and the CSP, we found a way to get it done.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is a great organization, but I gave it 4 stars because we can always be better.
When my daughter passed away unexpectedly, her friends donated in her memory and it was a very meaningful thing for my husband and I.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is an incredible organization with some of the warmest and dedicated staff and volunteers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with. Their shared commitment to helping keep state parks up and running for the enjoyment of the thousands of users is no easy feat and just extremely admirable. The partnership between State Parks and Friends is also highly commendable in the level of trust, openness, and collaboration shared.
Friends adds so much to the programming available to kids and adults in our local state parks, from paying for state park educators/interpreters and restoring historic buildings to developing new programs expanding accessibility for all community members to enjoy these natural wonders.
I am an outdoor enthusiast and appreciate all the work Friends does to support our local state parks. They help make our local state parks better by providing funding for the interpretive programs/events that everyone can enjoy for free. Also, their Kids 2 Parks program helps get the underserved children in our communities out into the parks by paying for their transportation, which is a barrier.
Amazing non-profit that organizes community events and partners with other organizations to get more people outdoors and to state parks. I love the work they're doing to restore the Castro Adobe and to include more members of the community from Watsonville.
The people at Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks are just incredible people. Not only do they care about the welfare of the parks, but of the kids who visit and their employees. So many kids are able to have access to nature because of this organization, kids who may have never had the opportunity to come to a forest. By making nature accessible, Friends is helping ensure that we have natural spaces for years to come.
Friends of SC State Parks is an incredible organization actively taking steps to maintain the parks and involve local communities. With the beautiful beaches and forests surrounding Santa Cruz, this work is vital!
Friends has done a fantastic job keeping up with Santa Cruz's many state parks! These parks make Santa Cruz such a wonderful place to live. This organization works tirelessly to improve the parks and improve access for everyone, plus they take good care of their employees and promote a healthy workspace! Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is truly a gem.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is a vital part of the Santa Cruz community. The incredible parks and beaches are the main reasons I love this town, and this nonprofit plays a key role in preserving these spaces while also increasing their accessibility. Additionally, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks was a key player in reopening Big Basin State Park following the CZU fire, which is an especially incredible place in the region that was severely missed.
All the rangers are friendly, knowledgeable and really care about making the parks available to everyone.
Such a great organization! Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks keep our parks and beaches thriving and open to the community. We’re so appreciative of their work to help reopen the big basin state park to the public less than 2 years after the tragic fire.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks helped reopen big basin after the tragic fire. The organization really is community based, looking out for our parks and educating our citizens.
Friends partnership with State Parks means that we have access to more free park educators and programs then just about any other part of the state. AAA+++
Friends of SC State Parks supports vital parks in our community. These parks are the highlights of life in this coastal community, and without Friends they would not be functioning. I hike in the parks almost every week and am very aware of the value of their work. Their loss of revenue from the closure of Big Basin State Park has been devastating to their operations, and they need our support now more than ever!
Previous Stories
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has kept these vital nature spots available to the public. They work tirelessly to maintain and develop these areas for all of our enjoyment. The variety of parks, and the large geographical region that they cover make their work especially challenging. They are much appreciated by the community for what they do!
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is one of the best, most effective organizations in California. They are vital to the health, accessibility, and sustainability of the state parks in our area. Their efforts to help Big Basin - and it's workers - recover from the 2020 CZU Complex Fire were exemplary. And their outreach and education programs ensure inclusion and access to the incredible benefits our state parks provide. I am an almost daily user of state parks in Santa Cruz County and a proud supporter of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.
Previous Stories
I so appreciate the work of Friends to make our state parks more robust. They recruit and make great use of volunteers. Their almost 100 staff members assist State Parks. And, they fund educational programs for school groups and visitors. They make a tremendous difference in our community with the depth and breadth of what they offer. I am a 40-year Santa Cruz County resident - running on Seabright State Beach regularly and spending time at Wilder Ranch State Park are just a couple of the ways I used State Parks. The efforts of Friends to keep these parks vital are essential.
Over my years of volunteering with Friends I have been consistently impressed with their level of dedication to not only engaging with the community but uplifting it. Their myriad events are well thought out and professionally executed from small pop ups to interesting talks to big festivals. I also appreciate the “behind the scenes” work this organization does to keep parks open and flourishing for all of us, especially their Kids to Parks initiative. This organizations track record and vision makes me both a proud volunteer and a grateful community member.
On August 9, 2020 I read on the "Charity Navigator" website, that in finance and accountability; the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has an Encompass Rating of 100 out of 100. Friends has also been honored with several awards. I agree—the organization is awesome!
I love Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. I am blessed to live in an area where there are so many State Parks. I can walk along the crashing surf at Seacliff, take a hike in the redwood forest at Big Basin or Butano, and ride my bike through the varying ecosystems of Wilder Ranch, all in one day! Or go for a morning run through the Forest of Nisene Marks. And that's just a few of the beautiful parks in the Santa Cruz area. The possibilities are endless. Donating to The Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks offers me a way of giving back... of showing my support for the women and men who make it possible for me visit these places. It takes work to provide safe access to the parks... to build and clear trails... to make it so that everyone has the opportunity to relax and re-create in the natural beauty that is vitally important to our well-being. It takes work to research the history and provide fascinating educational programs about these places. It's easy to take all of this for granted, but I prefer to give back, by being a monthly donor. I encourage anyone who reads this to visit one of our beautiful parks as soon as you can, and to support the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks...we can make a difference.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is a wonderful organization that not only maintains and improves the state parks in our area, they also make forests, beaches, and historical spaces accessible. With programs to make it possible for all school kids to experience our amazing parks; support of beach wheel chairs; and nature and history interpretation, this organization has a broad reach and impact. One of the treasurers of Santa Cruz!
My husband and I live at the end of Old Adobe Road in Watsonville, and would watch the activities at the Castro Adobe with interest and curiosity. Years ago we connected with one of the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks volunteers, and have been volunteers at the Castro for events, work days and many other occasions ever since.
I volunteered to represent our Old Adobe Road neighborhood on the Castro Committee, and still do that, and I am also the current Chair of the Friends of State Parks Board.
My husband and I consider it an honor and a privilege to be associated with such an outstanding group of dedicated individuals-all the Friends staff members, State Parks workers and Friends volunteers we have worked and still work with are an inspiration to visitors, school groups and other non-profit associations. We are very proud to support Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and will continue to serve in every way we can.
This is an amazing non-profit organization with a dedicated, talented, and incredibly hard-working staff. As a regional partner and advocate for the State Parks in Santa Cruz County, it is an example of a successful model for the future of our State Parks system. Through fundraising, outreach, experiential education, and events, they are making a difference every day in preserving the natural beauty and history of the California Central Coast and making it accessible to everyone in our community. You can donate or volunteer with complete confidence that your support is appreciated and will be used with integrity.
Hi Foster,
Hope this email finds you well and that you are staying healthy in these crazy times.
Just wanted to share with you these pictures I took of my dad while I was in Costa Rica visiting.
He loves his chair and although his health is getting more challenging he’s been out a few times on the beach at this magnificent place they live.
I told them about you and Shared Adventures and how wonderful you were in helping me out to get the chair.
Well, thank you so much again for all your help.
Please, let’s keep in contact and I’m hoping I can be of help to your organization for the next event your are having.
Kindly,
Maria
They keep our parks in great shape and bring in great programs. They also maintain beautiful and unique event spaces.
Review from Guidestar
I have volunteered with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks for the past two years during the Mole & Mariachi Festival. This organization is top notch when it comes to coordinating logistics. There is always a plan for setup and take down, with someone in charge who has a map and clear directions for set up and clean up. Friends is always thoughtful when it comes to their volunteers' needs. They provide food and drinks at the end of the festival for everyone that is helping, you can tell they really appreciate everyone's efforts. It truly feels like I am part of the team when I volunteer with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.
Review from Guidestar
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks strives to maintain the natural beauty of the parks and beaches in Santa Cruz County. The staff and volunteers help to replant native trees, help to protect the tide pools and all the lovely sea life surrounding and within the ocean, and most importantly (in my opinion), work hard to protect the Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges. The folks involved with Natural Bridges spend limitless hours educating the public about how to protect the abundant beauty and tranquility. Natural Bridges is the only CA state protected preserve, and for good reason. It provides a safe haven for the Monarchs as they over-winter along the coast. This is a gem of an organization.