These cozy 😌 zip-up hoodies were printed in Santa Cruz to celebrate the 175th anniversary 🎂of the Castro Adobe! Supplies are limited, so show your south county pride & support the important work at Castro Adobe State Historic Park by snagging one at an Open House event or at the ParkStore Online.

Join a guided, 2.5-mi hike 🥾 🌲at Burleigh Murray Ranch at 10am this Sun, Sept 27. Along the way you will learn about the lives of early pioneers & farming families. The hike is free, just bring your curiosity & sturdy shoes! Register: arcg.is/18nq0T0

Need a reason to get outside? 🏖️ Head to your favorite state beach & enjoy some fresh coastal air, sandy toes & a little time by the water. New Brighton is a great place to start. Pack a towel, bring a friend & make a day of it. ❤️ What’s your favorite thing about visiting the state beach?

50 Ways to Love Your Parks: #7 Discover the Castro Adobe. Explore this remarkable historic site and learn about California’s ranchero era at an upcoming Castro Adobe Open House. This is one of 50 ways to celebrate 50 years of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. See all 50 ways at bit.ly/45DZnDL

🗓️Save the date for 46th annual Welcome Back Monarchs Festival!🦋 The Welcome Back Monarchs Festival will be Sun, Oct 11, from 11am-4pm at Natural Bridges State Beach.

Discover how archaeology helps uncover the stories of the Castro Adobe through live demonstrations, hands-on activities, & a special presentation by Michael Grone at the Castro Adobe Open House this Sat, Sept 26, 10am-3pm.

We love Michael Bencze’s series of prints commemorating beloved Wilder Ranch spots, including Four Mile Beach, the Long Meadow, and the aloe caves in the historic complex. Find these beautiful and unique prints at the Wilder Ranch ParkStore or the ParkStore Online.

Come to Friends Birthday Bash TODAY (Sept. 19) from 12-3 p.m. at Wilder Ranch! Everyone is invited to celebrate 50 years of Friends supporting state parks! 🎂🎉

Did you know that redwood trees have a high concentration of tannic acid? Which helps make them fire resistant when exposed to wildfire. 😮 💡 See these redwood trees first-hand by visiting The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. Parking is $8 and helps Friends support local state parks and beaches.

50 Ways to Love Your Parks: #6 Two wheels, one beautiful destination. Hop on your bike and explore Lighthouse Field State Beach. This is one of 50 ways to celebrate 50 years of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. See all 50 ways at bit.ly/45DZnDL

🥳🎂🎁 Join Friends of Santa Cruz State Park on Sat from 12-3 pm at Wilder Ranch for the Birthday Bash event! Everyone is invited to join the afternoon's celebration, featuring live music ♫, a silent auction 🗣️ & more! Ride your bike 🚲 to the event where everyone can take advantage of the bike valet.

Pitch in & help restore native coastal scrub habitat at Año Nuevo SP from 9:30am-12 on Fri 9/18. Volunteers will get hands-on by: 💪 Sheet mulching 💪 Removing invasive plants 💪 Collecting native seeds All ages are welcome to volunteer, but children must have permission from a parent & be supervised.

The Friends Birthday Bash is just a few days away & everyone is invited! The day's events include food, a silent auction, drinks & more! As a bonus, the celebration includes live music with a lineup featuring: ♪ Mark Van Haren ♪ Russel Kreitman ♪ Etieene Franc ♪ Zack Olsen ♪ Anne Stafford

New Brighton State Beach is the site of many happy summer memories. Commemorate your camping & beach days with a classic New Brighton T-shirt! Locally designed & printed, & available in sizes S-XXL on the ParkStore Online: bit.ly/4gLkusF

Come celebrate at our Birthday Bash 🎂🥳 and browse the Michael Schwab PopUp ParkStore! For one day only, shop the entire Michael Schwab merch line featuring the Castro Adobe, Santa Cruz Mission, Seacliff, Natural Bridges, Nisene Marks & Wilder! Find your favorite!

🚌 Help get more kids to the parks. Through Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks’ Kids2Parks program, donations cover transportation costs for field trips for select Title I schools in Santa Cruz, San Mateo & Santa Clara counties.

Love birds, nature or beautifully made things? 🐦✏️ Blackwing’s latest pencil release celebrates 4 North American birds: the Clark’s grebe, mallard, green jay & black rail. Each box includes 12 high-quality graphite pencils. Pick up a pack at the Natural Bridges ParkStore or Online: bit.ly/4yqH8hs

50 Ways to Love Your Parks: #5 Plan a beach bonfire at Rio del Mar State Beach with friends & family. Parking is $10 & helps Friends support local state parks and beaches. This is one of 50 ways to celebrate 50 years of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. See all 50 ways at bit.ly/45DZnDL

You're invited to join us on Sat, Sept 19, for the Friends Birthday Bash! This FREE event is a celebration of Friends’ 50 yrs of impact supporting local state parks & beaches.

Bring out the binoculars 👀 & hiking shoes 🥾 for a beginner-friendly, 2.5 mi, guided birding hike at Wilder Ranch. From 9-1 on Fri (9/11), visitors will go on a walk to spot the birds that call the state park home. The tour is free. Parking is $10 & helps Friends support the park.

Love monarch butterflies? 🦋Become a volunteer at Natural Bridges this fall & help visitors experience one of nature’s most incredible migrations. Volunteer training takes place Sun afternoons from 9/13 - 10/11 + 2 Wed sessions. To apply, email Naturalbridges@ports-ca.us or go to: bit.ly/4i0gqar

The fall is nearly here and it is a great time to reserve a campsite. 🍂 Known as the shoulder season, the time after the peak summer season is perfect to avoid the crowds. So pack your gear, grab a cooler & bring your sense of adventure. ❤️🏕️

👂🏻Listen to tales from the trees with Forest Story Time at Big Basin Redwoods on Sun! From 1-1:45pm, visitors can listen to story time & explore the state park. 🥾 The program is designed for children ages 3-7 but is open to family members of all ages.

🗓️Save the date! Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will host its public meeting on Thurs, Sept 17, from 6-7pm on Zoom. 💻 The meeting will share accomplishments & ongoing initiatives, including projects, community outreach, & equity programs. Learn more: thatsmypark.org/about-2/publ...

📢Calling all former Friends Board members, staff, & former State Parks staff! Join Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks for a team reunion during Friends Birthday Bash on Sat., Sept. 19 from 12-3 pm at Wilder Ranch State Park. This free event features: ♫ Live music 🍻 Drinks 🍔 Food 🗣 Silent auction

Place a piece of your heart ❤️ in a park with a personalized Tribute Table at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park! This state park is located steps away from downtown Santa Cruz, is free to visit and gets plenty of sun throughout the year.

Plan a trip to Big Basin Redwoods. This state park is an iconic destination teeming with redwood trees 🌲 & miles of trails 🥾 to explore.

Nothing beats the feeling of the right tent at the right campsite. 🏕️🤩🌅 Find out everything you need to know for your next camp trip by visiting: thatsmypark.org/visit/camping/

50 Ways to Love Your Parks: #3 Start your day with the sound of waves. Roll out your mat and enjoy a morning yoga session on the beach. 🧘‍♂️ This is one of 50 ways to celebrate 50 years of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. See all 50 ways at bit.ly/45DZnDL

Discover the wild beauty of Año Nuevo State Park. 🌊 Explore a landscape where coastal dunes, wetlands & ocean views come together — & keep an eye out for the park’s most famous residents: Northern elephant seals.