Thirty Grass Valley Charter School students will travel to Sacramento Monday morning to deliver a message to state legislators: Keep western Nevada County's state parks open.

Earlier this year, cost-conscious state officials announced plans to close state parks next summer, including South Yuba River State Park and Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.

“These kids will get a chance to lobby their own elected officials to remind them of the importance of these parks,” said Tom Mooers, executive director of Sierra Watch and a Grass Valley Charter School parent volunteer helping the students organize their plans.

While there, the group of second through fifth grade students will tour the state capitol building and meet with State Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird to ask him not to close the local parks.

“If these parks were not open,” fifth-grader Melissa Martinez wrote in student-produced press release. “I wouldn't have half of my knowledge.”

With its Expeditionary Learning curriculum, Grass Valley Charter School teaches lessons through outdoor excursions, often to the parks such as the South Yuba River and Malakoff Diggins state parks.

“Nature is our teacher,” wrote fifth-grader Lila Hunter. “These parks are our classrooms.”

The students have met a handful of times after school to brainstorm on how to get their point across, Mooers said. They wrote speeches, songs and a press release, made posters, developed a skit to perform at the Capitol and spoke on the radio in their campaign to save the parks.

“It's been a really inspired and inspiring effort to see these kids prepare for what will be a high level meeting down at the Capitol,” Mooers said.

To contact Staff Writer Christopher Rosacker, e-mail crosacker@ theunion.com or call (530) 477-4236.