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Hi Friends,
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Holidays On The Ranch!
 Wilder Ranch State Park
Saturday, December 13
11am to 3pm
Wilder Ranch State Park creates the perfect atmosphere for friends, family and visitors to come together to celebrate the warmth of the holiday season with crafts, games, music and merriment from the early 20th century on Saturday, December 13, from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.
Celebrate the Winter Holidays as folks did in Californio, Victorian, and early 20th Century Santa Cruz with crafts to make, games to play, cookies to decorate, wagon rides, wreath and candle making, view living history demonstrations inside historic houses. Holiday music sing-along. hot drinks and baked goods for sale. 
Activities are free and parking is $10, which goes to support the park.
The event is held on the grounds of the Wilder Ranch Cultural Preserve.
The park is located 2 miles north of Santa Cruz on the coast side of Highway 1 at 1401 Coast Road Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
PLUS, we'll be drawing the winning name for the...
Raffle @ The Ranch!
We are currently raising funds to perform critical repairs and paintwork on the Melvin Wilder Victorian House located at the heart of the farm complex. In conjunction with funding from State Parks and a matching grant from Friends, we need to raise the final $5000 of the $30,000 needed to begin the urgently needed work.
This is where you come in, but there's also something in it for you. For your donation of just $10, you will be entered to win this beautiful, original painting of the Wilder Ranch Victorian - painted in the 1970s by Marilyn Simandle shortly after the State Park was acquired.
Donated to Friends by a generous donor in Washington State, the proceeds of the painting raffle will benefit the Paint the Victorian Fund.
Tickets are $10 each; only 500 will be sold until and on the day of the drawing, December 13th, 2014. Buying more tickets increases your chance of winning!
The raffle drawing will be held during the "Holidays at the Ranch" celebration at Wilder Ranch State Park on that day. You do not need to be present to win.
Purchase your ticket today by calling our event coordinator Elizabeth at (831) 239-6012 or by emailing Elizabeth@thatsmypark.org.
If you are interested in simply making a tax deductible donation to the fund, please contact Membership Coordinator Cathryn at Cathryn@thatsmypark.org.
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Charlie Kieffer - Community Hero!
Congratulations to our very own board member Charlie Kieffer (pictured above with his wife and fellow Friends volunteer, Patty) for being awarded the United Way Community Hero Award! Charlie was honored in the Natural Environment category for his tireless work with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.
The Community Assessment Project (CAP) annually honors local community heroes- special individuals whose efforts help move Santa Cruz County toward the achievement of the community goals. These true-life heroes can be found throughout the community and are wonderful examples of making Santa Cruz County a better place to live.
Charlie has served as a volunteer educator for Santa Cruz State Parks for over 25 years, offering boundless enthusiasm and promotion of the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Wilder Ranch State Park and the newly designated Castro Adobe State Historic Park. Charles has served as Board member, docent, groundskeeper, lecturer, and special event coordinator. Predominantly, he is the backbone of the Castro Adobe State Historic Park, serving as the Chair of the Castro Committee for Friends of Santa Cruz Parks. His roles at the Castro Adobe include planning, leading tours, interpreting, gardening and much more. Charles’ commitment to enhancing the community experience of the State Parks is apparent in his passion for authentic representation and engagement.
GO CHARLIE! WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM!
Meet the Team!
 In conjunction with our friends at Hilltromper.com we are very excited to announce an ongoing project that profiles the priceless people who make our Santa Cruz State Parks tick!
First up is our incredible Maintenance Chief Augie Ceballos. Check out his profile by clicking here!
Our beautiful Santa Cruz State Parks & Beaches wouldn't be what they are today without an incredibly hard-working team of tireless folks behind them.
Click here to see how you can be a part of the action!
Celebrate the New Year with First Day Hikes!
Fulfill your fitness, family, friends and fun resolutions with these awesome New Year's Day hikes and activities at our Santa Cruz State Parks and Beaches!
Changes and Challenges: The Future of Our Parks
Año Nuevo State Park
Thursday, January 1 at 10 am
Año Nuevo means “new year;” what better way to start 2015 than with a fresh take on a new (to most people) part of this aptly-named park? Please join interpretive specialist Joseph Carr Ritchie at the Franklin Point trailhead (south of Gazos Creek road, north of Rossi Road) for this easy .6 mile/1 km exploration of the changes and challenges waiting for us over the years to come—and some of the best views on the coastside! The walk will happen, rain or shine— hopefully rain!—so dress for changing weather and walking surfaces, such as shifting sand and slick boardwalks. Approximately 90 minutes. Recommended for ages 10 and up. For more information, please call 650.879.2025.
 New Year’s Day Cathedral Redwoods Hike
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Thursday, January 1 at 12 noon
On this 4 mile, moderate hike we’ll venture to Cathedral Redwoods, a breath-taking and often unvisited location in our park. Taking Rincon Fire Road, we’ll follow along the river and make a climb through some of the park’s “back-country” on multiple scenic trails. This moderate hike is suitable for adults, and youth who are diligent hikers. Dress in layers for changeable weather and temperatures. Bring walking shoes, water, sun protection and snacks. Please leave pets at home. Meet at 12 noon in front of the Visitor Center at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Heavy rain cancels.
Fall Creek Hike
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Thursday, January 1 at 2 pm
On this 3 to 4 mile hike, we will venture through the Fall Creek unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. We will hike along the Fall Creek Trail, exploring the riparian ecosystem of our park. We will also be visiting Lime Kilns, some of the remnants of a once successful lime processing industry. This moderate hike is suitable for adults, and youth who are diligent hikers. Dress in in layers for changeable weather and temperatures. Bring walking shoes, water, sun protection and snacks. Please leave pets at home. This trail is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Meet at 2 pm at the Fall Creek Parking Lot located of Felton Empire Road. Heavy rain cancels.
Shadowbrook Stroll
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Thursday, January 1 at 10:30 am
Join Docent Hal Anjo as he guides you on a less-traveled trail that takes you by Union Creek, to the Sempervirens Falls and back through the redwoods. This is a four-mile, 3.5-hour hike. Bring water and good hiking shoes. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at Park Headquarters. This moderate hike is suitable for adults, and youth who are diligent hikers. Dress in in layers for changeable weather and temperatures.
Discover Big Basin Redwoods!
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Thursday, January 1 at 12 pm
Explore some of the park’s less travelled backcountry with docent naturalist Barry Grimm. This hike will be individually tailored to your group–so distance can vary from 2 to 8 miles, depending on your needs. The pace is always moderate–with occasional short stops to discover the park’s unique animals, plants and other natural features. Based on group size, experience level and weather conditions, we will choose from the many trails that explore the park’s most scenic areas. Dress in layers for changeable weather and temperatures. Bring sturdy walking shoes, water and trail snacks. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at Park Headquarters.
Redwood Loop Walk
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Thursday, January 1 at 1 pm
How do these grand redwoods grow to be so old? So tall? How are they important to humans? Join us for this fun and informative easy guided half-mile stroll through a magnificent old-growth redwood forest. Meet the famous Mother Tree, the Father of the Forest and the incredible Chimney Tree on this 90-minute walk. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Meet at Headquarters.
Coffee Talk and Crafts
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Thursday, January 1 from 9:30am-12:30pm 
Come to the Sempervirens Room next toPark Headquarters for free coffee or hot chocolate! This is a great way to startyour day in Big Basin. A Big Basin Docent will be happy toanswer your questions about the park and help get you going on the right trail. And there’s a fun craft activity for the kids! Dress in in layers for changeable weather and temperatures. Bring walking shoes, water and snacks.
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