Paradise, CA…California State Parks celebrated the graduation of 32 cadets on Friday, April 11. These dedicated individuals completed eight months of rigorous training and are ready to “Live the Parks Life” as State Park Peace Officers, joining the nation’s largest state park system. From the program’s start on September 3, 2024, the cadets have shown unwavering commitment to protecting California’s natural and cultural treasures. Their journey exemplifies this year’s motto: “Water and Land, Together We Stand,” reflecting their dedication to safeguarding the state’s diverse landscapes and waterways for future generations.

“California congratulates the 32 new state park rangers and lifeguards who will now serve in 13 parks across the state. I thank these dedicated individuals for their valuable public service – ensuring our parks remain enjoyable and safe destinations for all Californians,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The graduation ceremony marked the culmination of a 32-week Basic Visitor Service Training (BVST) Academy. The graduates officially received their badges in front of their family, friends and department staff, watching in person and virtually. With this milestone, they now embark on careers dedicated to serving, protecting and educating visitors across California’s 280 state parks.

“We welcome 32 new guardians of California’s most cherished places,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “These men and women have not only trained hard, but they have chosen a life of service, of standing in the gap between preservation and destruction, between safety and danger. They will be the steady hands guiding lost hikers home, the first responders in times of crisis, and the storytellers who connect us to our past. Their duty is not just a job, but a promise to protect the lands and waters that define who we are as Californians.”

This year’s graduating BVST 50 class includes 27 rangers and five lifeguards, selected from a competitive pool of approximately 830 applicants. Their assignments span the state, from the North Coast Redwoods to the Central Valley, Santa Cruz, Orange Coast and Inland Empire districts.

The cadets’ training was extensive, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges ahead. Key areas of instruction included:

Strategic communication and de-escalation techniques
Physical arrests and defensive tactics
Search and rescue operations
Investigation techniques
Visitor services, public education and interpretation
Park resource protection and management
Firearms training and first aid
The program’s rigorous curriculum also prepared the cadets for the next stage of their journey: a 13-week Field Training Officer Program, where they will gain hands-on, on-the-job training.

Start Your Own Journey
Want to “Live the Parks Life”? Explore a rewarding career with California State Parks! Visit LiveTheParksLife.com for more information on the academy, including requirements, frequently asked questions and the recruitment timeline. Click on the “CA State Park Peace Officer Cadet Academy Exams (Ranger/Lifeguard)” link to start your journey.

BVST50 Graduation

Top left: State Parks Peace Officer graduation ceremony on April 11, 2025. Top right: BVST 50 graduating class. Bottom left: Lifeguard Heath Hawkins leads the graduates into the auditorium. Bottom right: State Parks most senior ranger, Andrew Ahlberg, salutes the least newest ranger, his daughter, Jordyn Ahlberg. Photos from California State Parks.

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The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.