California State Parks & Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS)® Program
California State Parks partners with CALIE to expand how educators access high-quality, California-based learning experiences that are innovative, equitable, and ready to use.
At the center of this work is the PORTS Program (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students)—a statewide K–12 education initiative delivering free, live, interactive virtual field trips that connect classrooms directly with California’s natural and cultural resources.
For more than 20 years, PORTS has helped educators bring science, history, and culture to life through real-time engagement with park staff. Today, the program reaches more than 250,000 students annually, removing geographic, financial, and logistical barriers to outdoor learning.
As part of CALIE’s network of partners, PORTS represents a leading example of how virtual and place-based learning can work together to expand access and deepen student engagement.
Featured Initiative: passPORTS
passPORTS builds on the PORTS Program to create a blended access field trip model that connects virtual and in-person learning.
Through passPORTS, students:
- Prepare for their visit through live virtual engagement
- Participate in a fully funded, in-person field trip to a California State Park
- Extend learning beyond the visit through continued connection and resources
This multiple-touchpoint approach increases student readiness, strengthens relevance, and supports lasting connections to California’s parks—especially for students who have had limited access to outdoor learning opportunities.
In partnership with CALIE, passPORTS is expanding opportunities for educators, schools, and districts to participate in this model statewide.