January-February Wave Newsletter

Crystal Cove
Innovative Interpretation

by Winter Bonnin, SP Interpreter I

In impacted, urban southern California, Crystal Cove State Park, between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, offers the best of all worlds, interpretively speaking anyway.

With 3.5 miles of coastline, visitors enjoy beautiful tidepools, sandy beaches, an underwater park for snorkeling and SCUBA, walking paths, and bluff top vistas particularly scenic during gray whale migration. On the other side of Pacific Coast Highway, the park encompasses nearly 2,800 acres of backcountry wilderness area which offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.

Our interpretive programs are designed to introduce park visitors to the natural and cultural resources that make this such a sparkling jewel. In addition to traditional state park programs such as wildflower walks, astronomy nights, winter solstice hikes, and tidepool talks, we have developed a few innovative programs which are sparking attention throughout the state.

We recently acquired a sophisticated Rosetel device and high speed internet line allowing us to "teleconference." We showcased this equipment at two events; a technology education conference at the Long Beach Convention Center and the National Association of State Park Directors meeting at Asilomar. At both events, members from our state parks dive team showed viewers what lives "under the sea" at Crystal Cove State Park.

Ken Kramer with underwater video and communication system

Using a mask with a built in communication device Lifeguard Supervisor Ken Kramer spoke to audiences in the Visitor Center here at the park as well as at the off-site locations. Two-way communication is possible, as Ken can also hear and respond to questions from the audience. Although both events were scheduled on days when diving conditions were poor, the magic of the technology prevailed and observers were awed by this new, powerful interpretive/educational tool. We have great expectations that we will soon be able to "broadcast" our programs to both local and distant audiences, eventually propelling Crystal Cove State Park to a leadership position in underwater marine education.

Ranger Greg Scott and LG Joel Yamasaki after a diver/video school program

Among our many interpretive programs, none have generated as much as interest as our Historic District walks. The Historic District, listed on the National Historic Registry, is a 12 acre site which houses 46 wood-frame cottages. The character and charm of the District is summed up by the architecture which typifies a California beach community of the 1920's and 1930's. There has been virtually no structural change to the cottages which were all built from a single wall, batten and board construction in an architectural style that suited the whim of the builder.

Crystal Cove Snacks

In the 1982 General Plan it was written that the cottages would be vacated by the long-term residents in order to provide full public use and enjoyment for all. It took more than 20 years to implement this vision which was finally realized in July 2001. Consequently, park visitors have been anxious and excited to step inside the cottages and experience, first-hand, a peek into the past. Our initial tours were drawing up to 200 visitors at a time.

Guided tour

In an effort to educate the growing masses of school children who have been descending on our local tidepools, a few years back the Marine Life Refuge Coalition of Orange County paid for the production of a 15-minute video, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, to teach students about the serious impact facing this fragile resource.

On station

This video is sent to every teacher who books a field trip, guided or unguided, to the tidepools in the three locations that offer trips.  It has been a great teaching tool measurable by the responses of students. A year ago the California Coastal Commission offered me a grant to update the video essentially deleting the "Orange County" references and changing the narration so that it was California generic. 

Surf fishing on the beach at Crystal Cove SP, with the historic
district cabins in the background, Ken Kramer photo

The thought was that BRHP could now be used in other areas that have similar impact problems. Well, it is hot off the press (so to speak) and ready for duplication.  The Coastal Commission will be making dubs and will send me some which I can distribute to state parks.  I will send at least one copy to each district that requests one.

Supervising Ranger Mike Eaton and the inland backcountry
popular with hikers and mountain bikers at Crystal Cove SP

So, if anyone would like a video that describes the problems facing the tidepools of California, some natural history info on tidepools, and behavior expectations please let me know. Oh, by the way, our own Edie Carhart of Fort Humboldt SHP, formerly of Doheny State Beach, is one of the stars (now I suspect everyone will want an autographed copy!)