In summary Many of us have personal connections to California’s public lands and rivers; it’s imperative that we protect these places for the next generation. Lea este artículo en español. By Kim Orbe, Special to CalMatters Kim Orbe is the Conservation Program manager for the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Kim.orbe@sierraclub.org. She previously worked with Nature for All. Growing up, my family and I had limited access to parks and green space nearby. I learned of California’s iconic National Parks like Joshua Tree later in life, but my mom, like other low-income, single parents, either wasn’t aware of these places or couldn’t afford to take me.