March 10, 2024 - SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The California State Park and Recreation Commissionis now accepting nominations for the 2023 Golden Bear Awards. These awards honor and celebrate individuals and organizations acting in support of the California Department of Parks and Recreation and its mission to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. The nomination period is open through March 31, 2024.
Each year, up to five awards - one statewide and one per division (Central, Coastal, Northern, and Desert) - are presented. Recipients of the award in 2022 included the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship for its support of the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park following the CZU Lightning Fire Complex in 2020. Others recognized included Dr. Jarrell Jackman, for his work in helping to preserve El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, and Mark Faull, a longtime department employee who spent the last 20 years of his career as an associate resource ecologist educating visitors and conducting research at Red Rock Canyon State Park.
With 280 state park units, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, 5,200 miles of trails, 3,195 historic buildings and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, the department manages the largest and most diverse recreational, natural, and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation. More than 68 million people annually visit California’s State Park System. Caring for these resources and providing high-quality recreational opportunities to all Californians can only be accomplished with the support of dedicated individuals and organizations working together with the department. Recognizing Golden Bear awardees helps motivate Californians to work to preserve and protect these unique places for current and future generations.
Nominations can be made by anyone. To learn about the qualifications and how to nominate candidates for an award, please visit the Golden Bear Awards webpage or view a highlight video of Golden Bear awardees for 2022.
Source: CA. State Parks
