The California State Parks agency, a branch of California’s Resources Agency, oversees many sites sure to stir local library users’ imaginations. John Arnold in the State Parks Communications Office says that many dramatic “living history” programs at historic sites engage young people, particularly as the young people experience things they are studying in the library and in the classroom.

Back to school season is an ideal time to explore historic state parks, many boasting these “living history” or Park Interpretive Programs that include volunteers in period dress illustrating “a day in the life” of the California people who lived and worked at the site. Among the many scattered throughout California are: Fort Ross on the Mendocino coast; Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento; Hearst Castle (evening tours include docents dressed as movie stars!) on the central coast; old town San Diego; Fort Tehone in Grapevine Canyon; and the San Pasqual battlefield east of Escondido.