PLI Camping is a California State Parks family camping program funded by the California State Parks Foundation. This program consists of the Family Camping Program and the Outdoor Recreation Leadership Training Series.

Pacific Leadership Institute partners with the California State Parks, Office of Community Involvement to offer the PLI Camping trainings and programs. PLI Camping is a community-orientated program with the aimed at introducing non-traditional families and community organizations to opportunities and benefits of outdoor recreation and camping in our state parks. PLI Camping connects non traditional users with our parks to host/facilitate family/group camping trips. PLI Camping provides camp sites and gear for groups to enjoy the thrill of camping.

The goal of PLI Camping is to strengthen personal bonds and encourage healthy, positive recreational activities emphasizing team building and group interaction among all members of community-based organizations. PLI Camping offers training and assistance along with leaders, camp sites and all of the camping gear needed for groups to organize a trip and go camping with little to no cost.

This program works through community collaborations between the California State Parks, Pacific Leadership Institute, California State Parks Foundation and partners with community-based organizations like school groups, community programs, churches, Police Activities Leagues and youth development agencies. PLI Camping has provided 14 trailers in state parks across California each equipped with all of the camping gear (i.e. tens, sleeping bags, stoves, ice chests, lanterns, etc.) for groups up to 35 to go camping with little to no fees.

PLI can assists community-based organizations from start to finish in putting together these trips and provides leaders who can help plan the trip, coordinate pre-trip needs, act as a liaison between the California State Parks with things like reservations and equipment, and accompany the group on the trips.

The cost: $1 per person for 1 to 3 days of camping.

PLI Leaders:

• Act as liaisons between community organizations and the State Parks to get urban families into the State Park system.
• Develop relationships with the organizations, assist in pre trip planning, coordinate the trips, camping gear and post trip evaluation.
• Act as a resource and friend.

Upcoming PLI Camping Programs

• May 29-31, 2007 Adult Staff Training at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, CA
  Youth-Based trainings
• March 10, 18-19, 2007 Outdoor Yourth Connection at Mt. Diablo State Park, CA
• April 21, 28-29, 2007 Outdoor Yourth Connection at Mt. Diablo State Park, CA
• May 12, 19-20, 2007 Outdoor Yourth Connection at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, CA

Outdoor Recreation Leadership Training - Adult and Staff Based Trainings

PLI and the California State Parks provide the Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Community Policing Trainings. This exciting training prepares staff and organizations to plan and lead camping trips, team building insights and offers access to the PLI Camping equipment and group camping sites across the state.

Training Dates:

• May 29 – 31, 2007 at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

This exciting training provides participants with a foundation for effectively using outdoor recreation experiences in program development for youth and family services.

Participants learn:

• how recreation activities can meet the goal of developing healthy youth and families.
• strategies for goal setting, planning and evaluation.
• hands-on leadership and team building skills.

Outdoor Youth Connection (OYC) - Youth Based Trainings

OYC is a collaborative effort between California State Parks , California State Parks Foundation and the Pacific Leadership Institute with funding provided by the Stewardship Council. This collaborative accelerates resources to get youth, 15 – 18 years of age from 4 California counties ( Oakland , Sacramento, San Francisco and Stockton) outdoors and empower them to be active and develop their lifelong leadership skills.

The Outdoor Youth Connection's goals are to: 1) Expose youth to several outdoors activities and recreational pursuits at our trainings in state parks, 2) Teach essential leadership skills for engagement in outdoor programs and their community, and 3) Offer training, support & opportunities for participants to lead their own trips and require they organize and lead one Outdoor Outing and one Community Service project/event for their community with scholarships available, outdoor equipment and connections to a network full of resource.

Training Dates:

• March 10, 18-19, 2007 at Mt. Diablo State Park
• April 21, 28-29, 2007 at Mt. Diablo State Park
• May 12, 19-20, 2007 at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area