Santa Maria Rec and Parks Department prepares for new Coastal Guardians program beginning this summer
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - After two long years into the pandemic, the Santa Maria Rec and Parks Department shares in the frustration.
"It’s been very rough to be creative on our recreation programs … I think one of the things that we’ve been able to do is challenge our staff to do a really good job … at coming up with new programs," said director Alex Posada of the Santa Maria Rec and Parks Department.
One of those new programs is the Coastal Guardian program.
The new program will offer everything from family field trips to preservation projects and more.
"Science activities … arts and crafts literature … we’re invested in the ocean and then taking those family field trips and the senior field trips … out to the ocean to put into play what we’ve learned," said recreation services manager Dennis Smitherman of the Santa Maria Rec and Parks Department.
Managers say these nature based activities aren’t just for kids, but for people of all ages.
"Great opportunity … people are dying to get out and do some fun stuff and learn again … and so we anticipate large numbers signing up for this program … we have a great amount of field activities planned here in Santa Maria," said Smitherman.
Managers say their hope is participants will also learn how to preserve and protect the California coastline.
"We are so close to the coast … it’s so important that we take care of it all of … for us Californians to take care of the ocean … and being so close it’s our job and responsibility to educate … and also put into practice what we’ve learned," said Smitherman.
The new program is made possible through a $27,000 grant from the Coastal Commission's 2022 Whale Tail Competitive Grants Program to launch a new learning program.
The program will begin in June and run through April 2024.
Recruitment for participants will be conducted throughout August and September, and applications will be available at cityofsantamaria.org/recreation.
