Kids2Parks is a partnership between Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks that strives to ensure state parks are accessible to all children. For eligible schools, the Kids2Parks program pays for the field trip transportation costs, including bus rental, driver time and fuel. The program seeks to increase the number of students who have visited a state park or beach, eliminate a significant barrier to access and invite students to come back with their families to use the parks’ many amenities throughout the year.

All Title 1 public schools in Santa Cruz County, as well as select San Mateo County and Santa Clara County Title 1 schools. 

Title 1 is a designation by the U.S. Department of Education that indicates a high percentage of students from low-income families. These schools are less likely to be able to afford field trips. Limited budgets impact the ability of school districts to maintain a fleet of school buses, making field trip transportation dependent on parents to drive students. But parent work schedules and vehicle access can limit their availability to provide field trip transportation. 

The field trip application window will be open at the Kids2Parks webpage from 9 a.m. Monday, July 28, to 5 p.m. Friday, August 22. 

The total number of Kids2Parks field trips each year varies and is based on State Parks’ staff and volunteer/docent capacity, and Friends’ available funding for transportation. Teachers may participate in no more than one Kids2Parks field trip per academic year.  

Title 1 schools from Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are offered a selection of parks to choose from, based on proximity to the school. The program currently includes Castle Rock State Park, Castro Adobe State Historic Park, The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Half Moon Bay State Beach, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Seacliff State Beach and Wilder Ranch State Park.  

Currently field trips are open to 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students. 

Field trip educational content and activities are dependent on the subject being studied. Please refer to the Kids2Parks webpage for specific information about each tour.

Yes. All field trips are designed to be accessible to students regardless of their mobility needs.  

Kids2Parks covers all transportation expenses to the parks and State Parks’ staff time to host the field trips, coordinate volunteers, and administer the program. The transportation costs range from $400-$1,100 per trip. 

Funding comes from Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, which is supported through grants and generous business and individual donors. It costs an average of $15 to send a student on a Kids2Parks field trip. To donate please visit the Kids2Parks donate page.

Kids2Parks was created to increase access to state parks for school children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks launched the program during the 2015/16 academic year as an innovative equity program that pays the cost of bus transportation for school children who would not otherwise be able to visit state parks due to lack of funding, parent participation or transportation. Both Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks are committed to ensuring that all people are aware of and get to enjoy their local state parks. 

California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks studied the deficit of school field trips before launching Kids2Parks and the cost of transportation was the most often noted and hardest-to-overcome barrier. 

Kids2Parks has served more than 16,000 students since it began as a pilot program during the 2015/16 academic year: 

• 2015/16 (Pilot Year 1): 20 students on 1 field trip to Wilder Ranch. 
• 2016/17 (Pilot Year 2): Approximately 180 students from 6 classes. 
• 2017/18: Approximately 1,200 students from 40 classes. 
• 2018/19: 2,820 students from 83 classes attended 51 field trips. 
• 2019/20: 1,606 students from 59 classes attended 35 in-person field trips before field trips were postponed due to school and state park closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• 2020/21: 2,238 students attended 91 virtual field trips through interactive video conferencing. 
• 2021/22: 2,146 students attended 34 in-person and 10 virtual field trips. 2022/23: 2,711 students attended 57 blended access (virtual + in-person) trips. 
• 2023/24: 3,280 students attended 67 blended access programs. 

Teachers are encouraged to reserve buses as soon as they are notified that they have been selected to participate in K2P. School district buses or outside transportation are permitted.  

Teachers/schools are responsible for arranging transportation to the park. Please have the school district or bus company invoice Friends by mailing the bill directly to the address below or emailing the bill to K2P@ThatsMyPark.org: 

Remember to include your verification number with your invoice. If you have any questions regarding invoicing transportation costs or reimbursement, please email K2P@ThatsMyPark.Org 

To ensure students have a rewarding and high-quality educational experience during their field trip, each class is required to participate in a virtual program prior to their in-person experience. During the virtual program, students will meet the park staff, get an introduction to the park, get information about what to expect during their visit, and get the opportunity to ask questions about the field trip. 

Following a field trip, the park interpreter will send a short online survey to the teacher. Completing this 5-minute survey will help improve participants’ experience and secure funds to expand the program in the future. Thank you. 

Teachers can always apply for field trips outside of Kids2Parks on the standard field trips webpage or by contacting the state park where a field trip is desired.

A limited number of field trips are available. If a park receives more applications than available trips, transportation funding for that park will be decided by lottery.

Congratulations! Here are some important next steps.  

Remember:  

For questions about the transportation scholarship, contact Lauren Kitayama at lauren@thatsmypark.org or (831) 429-1840 ext. 301. For questions regarding field trips or field trip scheduling, please contact Rhiannon.sims@parks.ca.gov.