Park Advocacy Day: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Park Advocacy Day?
Park Advocacy Day provides park supporters and volunteers from all over California the opportunity to advocate for state parks by meeting with legislators, legislative staff and members of the Governor's Administration. Participants urge elected officials to take action to protect and support our 278 state parks.

Who can participate?
Park Advocacy Day is open to everyone who wants to protect, enhance and support state parks.

How much does it cost to participate?
There is no cost to participate in Park Advocacy Day events.

Is financial assistance available to offset travel expenses to and from Park Advocacy Day 2007?
The California State Parks Foundation offers travel grants to help participants pay for travel to and from Park Advocacy Day 2007. For more information on applying for one of these grants, please contact Linsey at Linsey@calparks.org.

What happens during Park Advocacy Day?
Park Advocacy Day 2007 begins on at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 26th with a kick-off meeting where you will meet your team and obtain your schedule for the day. You and your team will spend most of the day meeting with legislators, staff and members of the Governor's Administration. In addition to appointments, participants have the opportunity to participate in an afternoon press conference on the steps of the State Capitol.

Following Park Advocacy Day, participants are invited to attend our annual Legacy Awards Reception, honoring leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to protecting state parks.

Click here for a summary of Park Advocacy Day 2006.

Who will I meet with?
As a participant, you and your teammates will have appointments with legislative offices where you will meet with members of the California State Assembly and Senate, as well as members of their staff. In addition, some participants will have appointments with committee consultants and members of the Governor's Administration.

Will I go on lobby visits by myself?
No, all participants attend lobby visits with teams of approximately 4-6 people.

How do I learn about the issues before participating in Park Advocacy Day?
To help you prepare for your meetings, we suggest that you attend at least one park advocacy briefing. Briefings help participants understand the many issues affecting state parks and provide an opportunity to ask questions about these issues prior to Park Advocacy Day.

There will be several briefings held throughout California in preparation for Park Advocacy Day, including one on March 25th in Sacramento. Additional briefing dates will be announced in January, 2007.

If you are interested in hosting a briefing in your area, please contact Linsey Fredenburg at Linsey@calparks.org.

What kind of preparation will I receive before Park Advocacy Day 2007?
Once you have registered for Park Advocacy Day 2007, you will receive material by mail and by email to help you prepare for the event. In addition, you will receive a password to our Park Advocacy Day 2007 website where you will be able to download additional information.

When can I register for Park Advocacy Day?
Registration for Park Advocacy Day will begin in December.

I have more questions about Park Advocacy Day. Who should I contact?
Please contact Linsey Fredenburg at 916-442-2119 or by email at Linsey@calparks.org.