Cove Currents: April News

Dear Friends of Crystal Cove,

This place takes a minute.

The coast doesn’t. The beaches don’t. They arrive fully formed. You see them once and you understand why people fall in love.

The rest of it takes longer.

If you come from somewhere green—somewhere the landscape wraps around you and insists on itself—this can feel muted at first. I felt that. I came from Colorado, where the mountains rise to meet you, where the seasons announce themselves, where you don’t have to work very hard to feel held by the landscape.

This is different.

Here, the palette is quieter. Dusky greens. Silvers. Dry golds. Nothing towering overhead. Nothing demanding your attention. It meets you more slowly.

You have to lean toward it.

And if you do, it leans back.

The smell of hot sage in the sun.  

Salt in the air at the same time.  

The ground holding dryness and moisture together.  

Everything balanced right at the edge of what’s possible.

Not less alive—more specific.

This is a Mediterranean climate—found in only a few regions globally. These are among the most biodiverse and most threatened systems on Earth.

Here, that shows up as coastal sage scrub. Low, open, aromatic, adapted to live with very little water and very little margin for error. It is endangered and shrinking.

It doesn’t reveal itself all at once.

But if you stay with it—if you keep leaning in—you start to see what it’s doing. How it holds together.

We recognize places like that when we travel.

Laguna San Ignacio. The Galápagos. Yellowstone.

We arrive ready to pay attention. Ready to let the place be what it is.

At home, it’s easier to forget.

Familiarity flattens things. The extraordinary starts to read as ordinary simply because it’s always there.

But nothing about this place is ordinary.

The longer you’re here, the more you see how much has to line up for it to exist at all. How little margin there is. How quickly the balance could shift.

Which makes this place not just beautiful, but rare and fragile and worth knowing well.

Crystal Cove State Park is one of those places where people lean in.

Thank you for being part of protecting that.

See you around the park,

Kate Wheeler

President & CEO

There's More to Discover at Crystal Cove

Each visit reveals something new. A tidepool full of life. A quiet trail along the bluffs. A moment you didn’t expect.


For thousands of students each year, that discovery goes further. They come here to explore the coast as scientists and stewards, collecting data, asking questions, and seeing themselves in science for the first time.

This work is made possible by people who choose to take part.


And this year, membership offers more ways to experience the park firsthand.

New in 2026: More ways to explore for members


Discovery Series 
Small group, educator-led “101” experiences designed to help you notice more each time you visit


Seasonal Events
Holiday Tree Preview Party, Grunion Run, Plein Air painting, and other moments throughout the year


Full Event Calendar
Opportunities to slow down, look closer, and return again and again

Now Accepting Applications: Natural Resource Summer Internship

Applications are now open for Crystal Cove Conservancy’s 2026 Natural Resource Summer Internship—a paid, hands-on opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to explore careers in conservation, environmental science, and natural resource management. 

In partnership with Crystal Cove State Park, UC Irvine, and Parks California, this program invites emerging leaders—especially those from backgrounds historically underrepresented in these fields—to work alongside scientists and park professionals on real-world projects, from tidepool research to coastal monitoring. Through fieldwork, mentorship, and professional development, interns gain the skills, confidence, and clarity to take their next steps in this field.

Reflecting on an Evening with Secretary Wade Crowfoot

On March 31, Crystal Cove Conservancy was honored to welcome Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources, back to Crystal Cove State Park for a special Cove Talk. Guests gathered for an unforgettable evening that paired thoughtful dialogue with a beautiful coastal setting. 

The conversation explored climate resilience, biodiversity, and equitable access to the outdoors—brought to life in a place where those ideas are actively practiced every day. What made the evening especially meaningful was the rare opportunity to engage directly with a state leader shaping California’s environmental future, all within the natural landscape our work helps protect. It was a powerful reminder of how place-based experiences can deepen our connection to policy, stewardship, and one another.

Among the Gray Whales of Baja

Last month, a group from our community traveled down the Pacific Coast to Laguna San Ignacio—one of the last remaining wild calving grounds for Pacific gray whales, nestled within the UNESCO-designated El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. Over five unforgettable days, guests experienced rare, up-close encounters with gray whales in their natural habitat, guided by local experts, marine naturalists, and Crystal Cove Conservancy staff. From the quiet rhythm of panga boats on the lagoon to evenings under expansive Baja skies, the journey offered a profound sense of connection—to the whales, to the landscape, and to one another.

More than a trip, this experience was a powerful reminder of both the beauty and vulnerability of these ecosystems. Witnessing mothers and calves in this protected sanctuary underscored the importance of continued stewardship and global conservation efforts. Through thoughtful partnership with Baja Discovery, the experience honored the delicate balance of this place—leaving guests not only inspired, but deeply connected to the ongoing story of these remarkable animals and the waters they call home.

To learn more about our next trip, please contact our special projects manager, Nick Burciaga, at nick@crystalcove.org. Visit crystalcove.org/events/baja-expedition for trip details.

In The News

• Crystal Cove Conservancy to Host California Secretary for Natural Resources for Cove Talk on Climate Resilience and Conservation - Newport Beach Independent

• Voting opens for favorite California state parks - Antelope Valley Press

• Voting Opens for Favorite California State Parks; LA, OC Sites Nominated - mynewsLA.com

• The 7 Most Scenic Running Trails in the U.S. - Outside

Upcoming Events