Interpretive Programs
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ACTIVITIES and PROGRAMS at DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK
Campfire Talks & Sierra Speaker Series Presentations (Saturday Evenings)
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Scroll Down for Schedule and Activity Description
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Amphitheater (Campfire Center) Location: Campground Map - link
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Donner Lake Paddling Guided Tours -
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Click for: description, schedule, and registration
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In-person Field Trips -
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Click for: description, schedule, and registration link
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PORTS Virtual Programs -
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Click for: description, schedule, and registration link
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CAMPFIRE TALKS and SIERRA SPEAKERS SERIES PRESENTATIONS
Campfire Programs are held in the campground Amphitheater (Campfire Center) - Located south of Ridge Campground (Campground Map - link) Campfire Programs are held 8:00pm-9:00pm. Remember to bring a flashlight or headlamp and light sweater or jacket. FREE!
Sierra Speakers Series held in the Visitor Center Main Theater. Third Saturday of the month, doors open at 5:00pm and the presentation follows at 5:30pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. No registration required.
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Campfire Descriptions:
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June 14 - Campfire Program - 8:00-9:00PM: “Echolocation Exploration: An Interpretive Fireside Bat Talk.” Bats are often misunderstood and unfairly feared despite their vital role in our ecosystem. Join Senior Environmental Scientist, Lindsay Cline, as she reveals her insights to this often-misunderstood flying mammal. Learn about where bats live, what they eat, and how we benefit from them. Equipped with handheld ultrasonic microphones, capable of detecting bats' echolocation calls as they fly overhead, Park Interpreters will offer visitors an immersive, real-time learning experience.
Campground Amphitheater
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June 21 - Sierra Speakers Series – 4:00-5:00PM (note this unique time following Legacy Day FUN!): “Wolves Return to the Sierra Nevada.” Similar to the grizzly bear, the gray wolf was removed from California over 100 years ago; however, howls of wolves can be heard today in both the northern and southern Sierras. Axel Hunnicutt, the State Gray Wolf Coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife presents the story of the gray wolf’s return to California, the conservation and management efforts needed to support them, and the social complexities they have returned to.
Visitor Center main theater.
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June 28 - Campfire Program - 8:00-9:00pm: “A Touch of Gold – "Children of the Pioneers''. Historical storytelling through music and song. Great family fun!
Campground Amphitheater
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July 5 - Campfire Program - 8:00-9:00pm:"Early Explorers and Pioneers. - Before the Donner Party". Park Docent and Vice President of the Truckee Donner Railroad Society, Jerry Blackwell,explores some of the lessor known, but equally important, immigrantcpmpanies that crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains before the ill-fated Donner Party.
Campground Amphitheater
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July 12 - Campfire Program - 8:00-9:00pm: Alice & the Wonderlandz. “Music with an Historic Twist”. Alice Osborn on vocals/guitar and John Kedzie on keyboards. Featuring Alice’s original compositions and John’s varied and original progressions, this band can’t be categorized—it’s an energetic mix of folk, Americana, pop, and adult contemporary that leaves audiences waiting for the next note to drop.
Campground Amphitheater
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July 19 - Sierra Speakers Series – 5:00-6:30:00PM: "The “Rail” Housewives of the Central Pacific" Debbie Hollingsworth holds a master’s degree in public history and serves as the head researcher and exhibit writer at the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento State Historic Park. Over the past nine years, she has crafted engaging exhibits that explore key moments in Transcontinental Railroad history, including the contributions of Chinese railroad workers, the significance of the Golden Spike Ceremony, and the story behind the Commissioners’ Car. Passionate about bringing overlooked stories to light, Debbie’s favorite research topics revolve around the contributions of women in railroad history.We often hear about the men who built the Central Pacific Railroad, but what about the women who stood beside them? Jane Stanford, Elizabeth Huntington, Mary Hopkins, Mary Crocker, Margaret Crocker, and Anna Judah were more than just the wives of railroad titans—they were strong, capable women who shaped history in their own right.Far beyond managing their households, they led lives of significance and influence, making their mark in ways that deserve recognition. It’s time to uncover the untold stories of these remarkable "rail" housewives of the Central Pacific and celebrate their enduring impact.
Visitor Center main theater.
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HISTORICAL TOURS
*These tours are offered Thursday-Sunday at 11:00AM and 1:00PM. 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.
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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.
Full description, schedule, and registration
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JUNIOR RANGERS
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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.
Travelers of the Sierra Nevada Mountains: 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.
Educational Resources
Park Interpretive Content and Historic References - Donner Docent website