Interpretive Programs
ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
Campfire Talks & Sierra Speaker Series Presentations (Saturday Evenings)
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- Amphitheater (Campfire Center) Location: Campground Map - link
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Historical Tours
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Mountain Bike Guided Tours - description, schedule, and registration
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Donner Lake Paddling Guided Tours - description, schedule, and registration
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Junior Rangers
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Guided Hike and Park Stewardship and Cleanup
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In-person Field Trips - description, schedule, and registration link
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PORTS Virtual Programs - description, schedule, and registration link
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Snowshoe Historical Tours - WINTER PROGRAM
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CAMPFIRE TALKS and SIERRA SPEAKERS SERIES PRESENTATIONS
Campfire Programs held in the campground Amphitheater (south of Ridge Campground) 8:00pm-9:00pm. Remember to bring a flashlight or headlamp and light sweater or jacket.
Sierra Speakers Series held in the Visitor Center Theater. Doors open at 5:00pm and the presentation follows at 5:30pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Light refreshments will be available. No registration required.
June 24 – CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
"Heroes and Failures - why one pioneer company succeeded and another floundered!"
Park Docent, Christina Vetter, dissects the decisions and actions of two pioneer wagon companies: the trail blazing Stephens-Townsend-Murphy company and the ill-fated Donner Party. Find out why one company was a success and the other company floundered!
July 1 –CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
“Caleb Greenwood – The Most Famous Unknown Hero”
Parks Docent, Greg Palmer, will share the stories of Caleb Greenwood. Greenwood, who at 18, shot a sheriff in Virginia, moved west and became part of the Fur Brigade of the 1820’s. Lived with the Crows, was pilot/guide to numerous wagon companies, trail blazed the California Trail over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and helped organize the 2nd relief party to rescue survivors of the ill-fated Donner Party.?
July 8 –CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
“People of the High Sierras”
Join Park Docent, Teri Boelk, as she talks about the numerous “People of the High Sierras” through stories of the infinitely diverse people that lived in the Donner Lake area throughout history. Learn about the Washoe, pioneers, railroad Chinese and others that help shape the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
July 15 -SIERRA SPEAKERS SERIES (VISITOR CENTER)
Live! “Meet Captain George Whittell, Jr., Lake Tahoe’s Millionaire and foremost Inadvertent Conservationist.”
Meet Captain George Whittell, Jr. through the interpretation of Steve Hale. Whittell, at one time was the richest man in America but never worked a day in his life. He owned 27 miles of the east shore of Lake Tahoe where he built his fabulous Thunderbird Lodge, captained his custom fifty-six-foot mahogany Thunderbird yacht, and piloted his DC-2 also named, the Thunderbird.
July 22 – CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
"Heroes and Failures - why one pioneer company succeeded and another floundered!"
Park Docent, Christina Vetter, dissects the decisions and actions of two pioneer wagon companies: the trail blazing Stephens-Townsend-Murphy company and the ill-fated Donner Party. Find out why one company was a success and the other company floundered!
July 29 – CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
"Building the Transcontinental Railroad"
Park Docent and President of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society, Jerry Blackwell, looks into the movers, shakers, decision makers, planners, builders, and “money men '' of the Trans Continental Railroad.
August 5 –CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
"Bats: Truth or Tales"
“Bat Aficionado”, Brian Buttazoni, reveals his insights to this often-misunderstood flying mammal. Learn about where bats live, what they eat, and how we benefit from them. See photos of bats found around the world and hear the sounds that they create.
August 12 – CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
"Chinese Railroad Workers"
Park Docent and President of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society, Jerry Blackwell, shares how 20,000 Chinese laborers built the Trans Continental Railroad.
August 19 -SIERRA SPEAKERS SERIES (VISITOR CENTER)
"Fire Ecology - How Climate Changes Affect Wildfire Risk and Management"
Dr. Erin Hanan, Assistant Professor of Fire Ecology at University Nevada, Reno will impart the latest information around climate change and wildfire risk and management.
August 26 - CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
"Smartphone Photography"
Professional photographer, Lisa Carney, will explain how to take amazing pictures with your smartphone! Learn about free applications that will add interesting special effects and photography tips that will make your photos incredible!
September 2 - CAMPFIRE PROGRAM (AMPHITHEATER)
“A touch of Gold – Children of the Pioneers"
Join this trio of musicians as they tell the pioneer story through the eyes of children using the medium of song and story. A wonderful family experience!
HISTORICAL TOURS
*These tours are offered Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 11:00AM and 1:00PM during the summer and fall. Meet at the Visitor Center (12593 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161).
Join a compelling guided tour (60-minute, 1/2 mile) led by a local historian expert to learn about the the arduous overland journeys of California emigrants (including The Donner Party of 1846), indigenous presence (Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California), and wildlife diversity in the area. Drop in for this no-cost and family-friendly guided hike.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS
Enjoy this 10-mile beginner-intermediate ride through beautiful and historic Coldstream Canyon. Led by a Park Guide, several stops are planned into the ride to share a variety historic stories.
Please bring your own bike and helmet.
DONNER LAKE PADDLING TOURS
Explore Donner Lake on a raft led by a California State Parks guide!
Welcome to all ages and we encourage youth participants to join with a parent/guardian. We provide paddling instruction, safety talk, and life jacket fitting before launching our two 14-foot rafts into the lagoon for a one-hour lake exploration (3/4 mi). Each raft holds 6-7 participants plus one guide who will discuss wildlife diversity and the rich cultural history of the area. You will have an opportunity to jump into the lake if you'd like!
Participants stay relatively dry throughout the tour, but clothes and shoes have the potential to get wet. This is a family friendly program with no-cost.
JUNIOR RANGERS
STEWARDSHIP GUIDED HIKE AND PARK CLEANUP
PORTS Virtual Programs
PORTS (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students) Program is a FREE distance learning program with California State Parks!
PORTS uses the power of videoconferencing to support K-12 educators in designing deep and meaningful learning experiences in virtual and in-person classrooms.
The Donner Party of 1846: Explore the region where the famous Donner Party spent the tragic winter of 1846 with a California State Park Interpreter. We will highlight the California emigrant experience and other important natural and cultural features of Donner Memorial State Park.
PORTS Home Learning Program - Join our California State Parks Interpretive Specialist to learn about the Donner Party of 1846 in this free, live public broadcast.
PORTS On Demand - Schedule an interactive virtual presentation with your class or group with a California State Parks Interpreter to learn about the Donner Party of 1846.
SNOWSHOE HISTORIC TOURS
Snowshoe Tours depart from the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00AM (weather permiting). Led by Park Interpreters and Docents, tours are 90-minutes (1.5 miles) with short educational stops at exceptional viewpoints including the Pioneer Monument, Murphy Cabin site, and natural features.
*Participants are responsible for bringing their own snowshoes, warm layers, and sun protection.
If snow conditions are not appropriate for snowshoeing, tours may become walking tours. Traction devices on boots may be helpful.
Full description, schedule, and registration
Educational Resources
Park Interpretive Content and Historic References - Donner Docent website