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CSPRA Member Professional Training & Scholarship Program

The California State Park Rangers Association places a strong emphasis on professional training and career development. To that end, CSPRA offers its members financial assistance through scholarships under the direction of the CSPRA Education and Training Committee.

A concern of our members continues to be the issue of unstable funding of training for individual employees. Operational dollars are often aimed at the problems of specific parks, programs, or the system as a whole. Many times excellent training is not 100% supported by the state for individual employees. CSPRA attempts to bridge that gap with its scholarship program. To that end, CSPRA offers it's members financial assistance through scholarships under the direction of the CSPRA Education and Training Committee and the Whitehead Scholarship Fund. The Application process is described below.

We need you, the membership, to take the next step in developing
your skills and enhancing your perspective of the park profession.

CSPRA Scholarship Application Procedure

1. Ask for training support through normal Department channels. Training the Department does not support is where the CSPRA scholarship comes in. Copy your disapproved training request.

2. The next step is to write a brief letter with information about the training details, attach a copy of the disapproved training request from the Department, as described above. For more assistance, contact the ETMS Employee User Help Files or your ETMS Training Coordinator.

3. Fill out a Scholarship Application.

Send those 3 items to:

California State Park Rangers Association
Education and Training Committee
P.O. Box 10606, Truckee CA 96162

Are there restrictions for the scholarships?

Yes, here's our policy.

It shall be the policy of the California State Park Rangers Association to implement the following procedures concerning scholarships offered to its members:

1) Applicants must be “members in good standing” for the period of one complete year from the month they joined before any scholarship will be awarded. Members are then eligible based on the following rules:
. . . . . a. Scholarships may be awarded for those members paying a full-time employee or professional level for professional and career development courses, conference or seminar fees, or similar career enhancement endeavors that fit within the mission of CSPRA. Scholarships may be awarded for those members paying at a retiree level for courses or conference endeavors that fit within the mission of CSPRA.
. . . . . b. Members paying dues at a full-time employee or professional level may apply for one scholarship per 12 month period up to $500 following completion of (1) above;
. . . . . c. Members paying dues at a retiree level may apply for one scholarship per 12 month period up to $250 following completion of (1) above;
. . . . . d. Applications must be submitted as early as possible, but no later than four weeks in advance of the requested class start date.
. . . . . e. Applicants must show proof that funding from State Parks is not available.

2) The Education and Training Committee will review the request and notify the applicant as soon as a decision has been made.

3) The Education and Training Committee will make every effort to accommodate each request based on the limits set forth within the adopted annual budget. Multiple requests may be prioritized based on submission time, type of request, and CSPRA's Mission and Goals.

4) Applicant is asked to submit an article to the editor of “The Wave” discussing the activity and its professional relevancy to the CSPRA membership and submit the requisite paperwork for reimbursement within 30 days of completing the course.

The CSPRA board reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time.

How successful has the CSPRA Scholarship Program been?

Over the last fifteen years, almost $30,000 in scholarships have been made available to members to attend a historic preservation class given by the Sagamore Institute, training to learn how to make a wooden bow from a bowmaster in Texas, the National Association of Interpreters Conference, a course on Elementary Science and how to teach kids from K-6 at Hayward State University, a course on Basic River Canoeing, a conference by the Association for Living Historical Farmers and Agricultural Museums, a leadership training course sponsored by Leadership Santa Cruz County, the California Mission Studies Conference, and even a scholarship to attend the CSPRA conference held this year. This variety in training supported by CSPRA is reflective of our State Park professional members’ needs.

In summary, the CSPRA Scholarship Program has been an important part of the organization's member support. CSPRA's goal is to promote professionalism in the park system. Training of the employees is essential to reaching that goal. CSPRA is doing its part.