Beach Play Day

August 17, 2009 – Huntington State Beach

California State Parks, in partnership with the California Police Activities League (CAL PAL), held the 12th annual Beach Play Day on Wednesday, July 22nd. This unique event provides CAL PAL youth an opportunity to go to the beach to enjoy a fun-filled day of new experiences in a safe and supervised environment.

Four-hundred forty-two youth arrived between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to participate in the activities.  A welcoming ceremony and lifeguard rescue demonstration kicked off the day. Activities included footraces, rock wall climbing, body boarding, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, and camping which brought smiles to everyone who participated.

The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) hosted the Off-Road Adventure activity. Throughout the day, staff and volunteers assisted youth as they learned to operate ATVs and used them to navigate courses lined out in the sand and edged with protective straw.

The ATV Course

The ATV Course

Due to budget limitations, providing paid staff for this year’s program was difficult. Thankfully, many volunteers were instrumental in making this event a success. Thirty-four volunteers contributed their time and energy to enhance the lives of young people. It is reassuring that despite these hard economic times, the off-highway vehicle community rallied to support this important cause. Overall funding for the program was made possible with additional support from the OHMVR Division and corporate sponsors.

The OHMVR Division was proud to be a part of this year’s Beach Play Day. By teaching responsible OHV recreation, the OHMVR Division is working towards preserving the State’s natural resources and recreational opportunities for future generations.

The Volunteers

The Volunteers