California State Parks has announced a new multiyear partnership with The Unity Folks to implement their signature Unity Blaze ROI+ Training Program for park staff across California.
This strategic agreement reinforces a simple but powerful belief: The outdoors is for any and everyone. By partnering with The Unity Folks, California State Parks signals a measurable commitment to modernizing invitation strategies, strengthening visitor engagement and building a stronger, more resilient outdoor future.
The partnership comes at a pivotal moment for the outdoor industry and public land agencies nationwide, where participation among communities from emerging demographics remains underrepresented relative to their share of the U.S. population.
The Unity Blaze ROI+ Training Program equips outdoor professionals with knowledge and practical tools to increase participation, improve the visitor experience and drive long-term sustainability across the park system.
The training will begin with executive leadership and expand across districts and divisions, ultimately becoming part of the department’s broader training ecosystem — bringing consistency and clarity to how invitation and welcome are delivered statewide.
This effort also aligns with complementary initiatives at California State Parks such as the Waterway Connections Initiative, which aims to expand access to outdoor experiences for communities that have historically lacked meaningful connection to nature.
The Unity Folks has trained nearly 10,000 outdoor industry professionals nationwide and partnered with five state governments to deliver Unity Blaze ROI+ training.
By partnering with The Unity Folks, California State Parks is taking a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse outdoor recreation landscape.
This partnership represents a strategic investment in data-driven training designed to drive long-term sustainability and growth in visitation, workforce development, stewardship, and revenue.
The partnership highlights the importance of inclusive outdoor recreation in building a stronger, more resilient future.
