PORTS Programs

Steelhead Adaptations Challenge

Are you curious about what it takes for both a Steelhead Trout and Coastal Redwood to live long and healthy lives? Do you want to...

Once Upon a Redwood

In this interactive virtual program, student will uncover the missing chapters of the redwood forest’s story in Redwood National and State Park and explore how...

Understanding Hydroelectricity at the Folsom Powerhouse

Join us for an electrifying program about the power of the past here at Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park! During this program, we will learn...

Building the California Delta: A Story of Chinese Immigration and Agriculture

Join us as we explore the most complete example of a rural Chinese agricultural community in the United States! In this program, we will explore...

Water: California’s Most Precious Resource

Come along as we explore how agriculture in California’s Central Valley demand for water led to the creation of one of the world’s largest water...

From Coal to Clay

Join us for a trip back in time to over 125 years ago to the first coal mines in California and the long lost Brick...

Working Hands: The Labor that Built the California Dream

Explore the work and the workers that created the massive success of the California citrus industry. Follow your guide through the citrus groves and packing...

Amazing Monarchs: Milkweed, Migration and Conservation!

California State Park Interpreters will take students on a virtual journey to discover the Western monarch overwintering habitat at Pismo State Beach. The Pismo State...

Discovering The Dunes

Join us at Oceano Dunes SVRA for a 45-minute virtual field trip to learn all about how sand dunes are formed! This program is designed...

Travelers of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Join a Donner Memorial State Park Interpreter sharing stories of the diversity of people who came through the Donner Lake area in the Sierra Nevada...

Geology at Tomales Bay: Tectonic Plates, Fault Lines, and Rocks

Explore the dynamic geological forces that have shaped Tomales Bay—from Earth’s layers and rock types to the tectonic plate movements and earthquakes that continue to...

The Gray Whale Road Trip at Point Dume State Beach!

Gray whales migrate along the shores of Malibu every year in an ever-changing environment. This program gives an in depth look at what this migration...

Monterey Custom House: Trade and Government in Alta California

Explore California State Historical Landmark #1 here at Monterey State Historic Park. The Custom House was the center of trade at a time when California...

Kayak Quest: Explore Above and Below the Ocean’s Surface

Join us for an unforgettable kayaking adventure at the “crown jewel of the California State Park System”, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. We will paddle...

Tahoe’s Urban Bears

Come meet Rubi the bear at Sugar Pine Point State Park. In this program we will explore the differences between wildland bears of the Tahoe...

Salmon and Sediment: Fueling the Redwood Forest

Learn about the anadromous life cycle of Salmon living on the north coast of California. These fish, and many other systems, connect the Redwood Forest...

Lighthouse Engineer Challenge

Lighthouses do all kinds of jobs all over the world! This 45 minute program challenges students to become lighthouse engineers. Students will learn about the...

State Capitol Exploration

Take your students on a LIVE journey discussing California’s past & present through the halls of the State Capitol Museum in Sacramento. Subjects discussed may...

Mysteries of the Octopus: Adaptations and the Life Cycle of a Curious Marine Invertebrate at Crystal Cove State Park

Unlock the mysteries of one of the world’s most fascinating organisms, the octopus! Join Park Interpreter Alex on the California coast for an engaging virtual...

“The Snail and the Whale” Story Time!

Join California State Parks Interpreter Kat at MacKerricher State Park in reading the story book “The Snail and the Whale” by Julia Donaldson! Students will...

Footprints of the Forest

Join us for a high-altitude virtual field trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mount San Jacinto State PArk and Wilderness! In the first...

Jaw-some Great Whites

Join us at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for an unforgettable underwater adventure exploring the fascinating world of great white sharks! In this interactive, educational...

Stewards of the Lagoon at Chah-pekw O’-Ket’-toh “Stone Lagoon”

Humboldt Lagoons State Park is beautiful park with a unique ecosystem, culture and history. This program ties together these places with Yurok perspectives on this...

Eel River Escapade

Join us in learning about the Eel River watershed from Richardson Grove State Park! Watersheds are all around us and are made up of so...

The History of Coloma Told Through Trees

Join us at Marshall Gold Discovery SHP as we explore the history of the Coloma Valley before, during and after the Discovery of Gold. During...

Seafloor to Seashore – Finding Fossils at Seacliff

How did fossils from the seafloor end up in the cliffs at Seacliff State Beach? During this 45-minute virtual program, students (grades 2-4) will become...

A Hard Day’s Work on the Ranch

Living on a dairy ranch in the year 1900 took a lot of hard work and required working together as a team to be successful....

Cultures in Conflict at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

Virtually walk through the adobe building at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park to understand the impacts of the California mission system on the world...

Tidepool Exploration at Natural Bridges State Beach

During this program, you and your students will discover tidepool adaptations and zonation at Natural Bridges State Beach. This hour-long program will guide you and...

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration

Seacliff State Beach is located in the heart of the Monterey Bay. This bay is a very special place as it is part of the...

Shaping the Coast

Schedule your class for a virtual field trip to the San Mateo coast and visit beautiful Half Moon Bay State Beach. In this program, we’ll...

Explore the Coastal Sandhill Habitat

Explore one of the most sensitive and endangered ecosystems in the greater Santa Cruz area, the Santa Cruz Sandhills. This habitat does not support Coast...

Why Do Redwoods Live Here?

Henry Cowell RSP is home to an abundance of biodiversity and during your virtual field trip you’ll have a chance to explore a glimpse of...

Growing Up on a Mexican Rancho

Explore the Mexican Rancho period of California history while learning about the Castro family who were some of the first pioneers in Alta California. You...

Geology at Castle Rock

Students can explore the natural wonders of Castle Rock State Park from the comfort of their own classroom and can even take a virtual hike...

Harbor Seal Adaptations!

Students will virtually visit MacKerricher State Park to explore the similarities and differences between humans and marine mammals, specifically the Harbor Seal! Students will observe...

Allensworth: A California African American Town

Welcome to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, a town founded, financed and governed by African Americans. In 1908, Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other settlers...

Built to Last: Coast Redwood Adaptations

Rooted in Survival is an exciting virtual field trip that brings the wonders of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park straight to your classroom or learning...

Tule Elk: One of California’s Largest Land Mammals

The Tule Elk State Natural Reserve protects a small herd of tule elk, an endemic California subspecies of elk once hunted nearly to extinction. Tule...

Explore Our Shore

Join us as we learn about the diverse organisms that inhabit our shore and coastal environments at Carpinteria State Beach. Habitats may include tidepools, estuaries,...

Elephant Seals of Hearst San Simeon State Park

Join us for a deep dive into the fascinating lives of Northern Elephants Seals from Hearst San Simeon State Park. Together, we will observe elephant...

Step Back in Time at La Purisima Mission

Participate in a historical journey at La Purísima Mission State Historic Park to learn about the history of California missions and the hardships endured by...

Eelgrass Habitat in the San Diego Bay: An Underwater Wonder

Explore the unique eelgrass habitat at Silver Strand State Beach! In this program, students will learn about how eelgrass in the San Diego Bay provides...

Sea Otters of Morro Bay

Morro Bay State Park is located on California’s beautiful central coast and features wetlands, mudflats, coastal scrub and more! Many different animals and plants call...

Sharks: Fact or Fiction?

Through a fun and interactive program, students will identify facts from misconceptions about one of the ocean’s most interesting predators, sharks! During the program, we...

Tar, Not Just a Nuisance!

Let’s discover the active tar seeps at Carpinteria State Beach! Students will learn about why and how tar continues to seep on our coast. We...

Coyote: Song Dog of the West

Coyotes might not be the most common animal on Mount Tamalpais, but they can be an exciting animal to encounter here! Throughout their history with...

Birds of Prey at Millerton Lake

Birds of prey have adapted over generations to become the premier hunters at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area. For thousands of years, predator birds have...

Prairie City Physics Detectives

Join us as we explore off-highway vehicles and apply physics concepts at Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area! In this program we will learn about...

Tidepool Animal Incredible Adaptations in Crystal Cove State Park’s Marine Protected Area

Join us on a 45-minute virtual field trip to Crystal Cove State Park’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) to learn about tidepool habitats and the incredible...

Explore Life in 1850s California at a Frontier Army Post

This program at Fort Tejon State Historic Park provides a glimpse of life in frontier California in the 1850s through the lens of a remote...

Underwater Creatures of the Marine Protected Areas

Join us along the Gaviota Coast to discover the importance of marine protected areas (MPA’s)! Throughout our program, we will examine a number of species...

Redwood Resilience: Forged by Fire and Fog

Join a state parks interpreter from Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park for a virtual field trip to the redwoods! Nestled on California’s north coast, Prairie...

Redwoods, Earth Cycles and Climate Change

As the keepers of a complex ecosystem, the coast redwoods interact with our Earth cycles in many ways. Even as resilient as the redwoods are,...

Redwood Anatomy and Adaptations

Towering above all else that grows in nature, the coast redwood is a marvel among trees. Able to survive for over 2,000 years, these gentle...

The Yurok People Are Still Here

Jellies: Sensational Stinging Survivalists

Jellies (aka jellyfish) have amazing adaptations that allow them to thrive throughout our world’s ocean. From surface waters to the deepest depths, from the warm...

California Citrus: The Groves and Beyond

During this 45 min virtual program, students will learn how California’s second gold rush (the citrus industry) helped shape and develop California today. They will...

Immigration Stories told from Angel Island State Park

Bring your group virtually to the historic immigration station at Angel Island State Park for a free guided experience. Learn about the under-told history of...

Your Life as a Columbia Gold Miner

Students will create a gold miner character, with a name, picture, and background, before taking on the role of that character to write journal entries...