Outdoor Youth Connection - CA State Parks

Join us tomorrow!

Hi all, hope everyone is well. It’s been a while since the OCI team gets to go camping and our patience has paid off! 🎉🎉🎉

Last week, the OCI team and LEAP Institute in Huron went camping together so that we can show them how camping is done OCI style.

At the same time, we get to learn about the LEAP Institute and the impact that they make in their community who consist of mainly farm workers. Did you know that they have a green ride sharing program called Green Raiteros!? So punny! In addition to that, they have one of the highest green vehicle per capita in the state!

The camping trip was a huge success and we all learned a great deal from one another. OCI team is looking forward to work more with the LEAP Institute in the future.

Hope to have many more camping trips with organizations around the state soon!

What if we told you that the ORL and FamCamp programs are coming back? 🤯🤩🤫

That’s right y’all. The OCI Team is working hard to get these FamCamp trailers clean up after a year of not being used.

This week, we went down to check on the FamCamp trailer at El Capitan State Beach to make sure it is up to par.

Also, y’all already know we can’t stay away from the beach after we were done 🏖⛱
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We are very excited to come back and engage with y’all. Stay tune to see updates on our programming!

Put your hands together for our new OCI member! Nikki Gordon 🥳🥳 We are so excited to have her join us because it is getting busy y’all!

Here’s a quick game to get to know Nikki better. Can you guess which of these statements about her is a lie?
- she has 16 tattoos
- she’s been to Jamaica
- she’s been to the junior Olympic

Talk to her when you see her and find out what the lie is!

Good news are coming! OCI Team is re-adjusting some of our programming to meet the community needs. Wait and see! We are very excited!

Throw back to last year when the OCI team presented at the Teen Summit! Crazy how a year just flew by 😬

Good thing that the pandemic is getting reigned in and the end of the tunnel is coming. Stay strong everyone!

~~WALK California Update~~
At the beginning of this year, the California State Parks Office of Community Involvement asked Californians to stay active and explore places unknown by joining WALK California in a 7,127,050 step (3,037 mile) journey from California to Washington D.C.

In the last month, walkers have made tremendous progress in the journey across the United States. On Monday, March 29, walkers reached the finish line, completing the longest route since the program launch in November of last year. Just in time to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC.
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Photo Features
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This month walkers contributed more than just steps. As part of our monthly photo challenge, we asked walkers to upload photos that represent “Winter in California”. Thank you for all the submissions. We have featured a couple of favorites, but you can check out all the snapshots from local adventures on our WALK California Page.

This month embrace the seasonal transition through capturing a photo of flowers on your local adventure. New life is popping up everywhere – share the joy by sharing your snapshot:

-Register with World Walking and join the WALK California group
-Upload a photo of local blossoms
-In the caption include your name and a note about your submission.
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What’s Next?
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WALK California is a symbol of many collective journeys. As we celebrate the completion of our third route, I would love to highlight the stories of those who have joined us along the way. Please contact our WALK California coordinator, Katie, directly if you are interested in sharing your experience.

Keep Walking California! Happy Trails.

18 hours to go. So stokeeed!

Can’t wait!! 5 days until the ceremony! 🤩🤩