Annual Events

Homework Club at La Madrona
La Madrona Athletic Club
Enjoy family time at home because all of your child's homework has been completed after school!
Date: Every Tues, Wed and Th (Feb 6-Mar 29) from 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Ages: 1st-5th Grade Admission Fees: $60.00 Day/Session

Enjoy family time at home because all of your child's homework has been completed!

This special time is for doing homework under the supervision of our qualified staff that can offer assistance.

When all their homework is complete, they can participate in in quiet fun such as dot to dots, coloring sheets and mazes.

Sign up for Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays or 2 days all 3 days! Session 2 2/6/18-3/1/17

Session: Feb. 6 - Mar. 29

All Mondays in the session $60

All  Mondays and Tuesdays $120

All Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesday $180

Free First Friday
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Enjoy our intertidal touch pool, large-screen microscope, and geology exhibit and "dig pit".
Date: Every day from 11:00am to 4:00pm
Ages: All ages Admission Fees: FREE

FREE First Friday 11am-4pm. Enjoy the Museum for FREE with your family on the first Friday of every month. Enjoy our intertidal touch pool, large-screen microscope, and geology exhibit and "dig pit". Santa Cruz Natural History Museum. 1305 East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz. 420-6115

Club Kanopy
Library Boulder Creek
Fun, thoughtful, dramatic, or important movie screenings with some discussion afterward
Date: The 2nd Th of every month (Jan 14-Jun 14) from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Club Kanopy is a movie club that screens quality films from SCPL's hottest movie platform, Kanopy. Join us monthly for fun, thoughtful, dramatic, or important movie screenings with some discussion afterward.

 

Starts January 11 • Every 2nd Thursday of the month, 5:30 - 7:30pm

 

January 11- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) Watch Trailer here: https://youtu.be/n8Xvsjy57X0
February 8- Mother of George (2013) (rated R)
March 8- Gold (2014)
April 12- East Side Sushi (2015)
May 10- The Beautiful Fantastic (2016)
June 14- Almost Adults (2017)

Can't make it to the club? Stream Kanopy movies anytime with your library card and PIN/Password from home!

Tour the Pacific Migrations Center
State Park New Brighton
Self-guided tour highlights history of Pacific Rim migrations
Date: Every Su, Tues, Wed, Th, Fri and Sa from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Ages: 7-12

 Tour the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach

Come explore the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach. This free mini-museum highlights the history of Pacific Rim migrations and how they have influenced the Monterey Bay area. 

The exhibits explore the contributions of Chinese fishers, who established fishing camps on the Monterey Bay coastline beginning in the 1850s. Fishers dried and shipped most of their catch to markets up and down the coast, as well as across the Pacific. Chinese fish merchants also sold their fresh catch in local towns. China Beach, as New Brighton was known at the time, lasted until the mid-1880s. 

The center, which is supported by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. It also includes a ParkStore, offering nature and history-themed merchandise for sale. All proceeds benefit local parks and beaches.

Self-guided tours of the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center are free. Docent-led tours are available for groups. Contact Jean Bernard at the Visitor Center, 831-464-5620, to schedule. Parking at New Brighton State Beach is $10 and supports the park. New Brighton State Beach is located at 1500 Park Ave. in Capitola

English Country Dance
English Country Dancing
It's really, really fun!
Date: The 2nd Th of every month from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

Ten Reasons to Go English Country Dancing

1   It’s Really, Really Fun.

2  It’s Easy: If you can count and skip and tell your right hand from your left, you can begin doing the easy dances immediately. This form of dance does not require fancy footwork or a high level of coordination. This is an excellent place to learn, even if you’ve never done any folk dancing. Beginners are very welcome.

3  It’s Social: The level of interaction that occurs between all the dancers in the set make this a very social dance form. Singles or partners are welcome. This is a very friendly community, and a great way to meet new people.

4  It’s Good Exercise: How many calories did you burn the last time you watched a TV show? Yeah, that’s what we thought. Although English country dancing is not as strenuous as a workout at the gym, it does a whole lot more for your health than a sitcom and a bag of potato chips. It’s a good, light exercise.

5  It’s Casual: We are not a performance troupe, so our goal is not to make the dances look perfect. Our goal is to have fun, and we can do that without requiring technical perfection. Come as you are, wear casual clothes, relax and enjoy it.

6  It’s Low-Tech: Tired of staring at a computer screen all day? So are we. Come dance with us! We won’t require you to look at a computer screen all night. We promise!

7  Indulge Your Inner Anglophile: Come on, you know you want to.

8  It’s Good Clean Fun: Although English country dance has been known to lead to Renaissance Faire addiction, apart from that, it’s totally harmless. (Actually, we love our local Renaissance Faire, especially the Newcastle Country Dancers.)

9 It Brings Together People of All Ages: This form of entertainment appeals to a wide range of ages, which helps bridge the gap between generations. Whether you’re a teen, a septuagenarian, or someone in between, there’s a place here for you.

10  Did We Mention That It’s Really, Really Fun?

 

Dance Schedule

Come dance with us! We usually meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, from 7:00—9:30 p.m., at Peace United Church (upper hall), 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, California. (We meet on only the second Thursday in November and December.)

Spring Camp: The Art and Science of Nature
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Calling young artists and scientists curious about nature!
Date: Every day (Feb 2-Apr 6) from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Ages: 5-6 Admission Fees: $265 - April 2-6, 8:30-3:30
Special Instructions: Discounts for members and siblings, limited scholarships available

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is proud to present an inspiring week of nature exploration.

Campers draw inspiration from nature through exploration and hands-on investigation! They make new friends at this day camp featuring walking field trips, Museum exploration, science projects, and nature-inspired art.

We invite kindergartners and first graders to come observe, explore, and appreciate the wonders of the natural world here in our backyard as well as in the Museum's collection. With the inspiration of our spring "Art of Nature" exhibit, we will explore what nature reveals to us everyday through a variety of individual and collaborative art projects. Every camper will create artwork to take home, make scientific discoveries, and most importantly, create memories, friendships, and a personal connection to the unique nature of the Santa Cruz coast.

Each of the five days will focus on a different theme that will guide a variety of art projects, science investigations, supervised explorations, and games. "Leave no trace" ethics and safety in nature will be emphasized throughout the week so that campers will leave equipped with a better understanding of how to responsibly interact with the natural world.

Join us to build connections to nature and stewardship for our world. ENROLLMENT WILL OPEN FEB 2 at 9 am.

Elephant Seal Walks
State Park Ano Nuevo
3 mile hike over sand and sloping terrain to see thousands of elephant seals, including newborn pups, their mothers, and bulls
Date: Every day (Oct 20-Mar 31)
Ages: All: (Lots of walking) Admission Fees: Guided $7; Self-guided free
Special Instructions: Dec 15 - Mar 31

Explore Año Nuevo with a Docent Naturalist

Guided Elephant Seal Walks

Ticket sales open Friday, October 20

Cost: $7 per person + $3.99 reservation fee

www.parks.ca.gov/anonuevo

Journey to view a large colony of Northern elephant seals, guided by your docent naturalist on this moderate 3-mile, 2.5 hour adventure. In the month of December, male elephant seals, or bulls, arrive along the shore of Año Nuevo State Park to establish hierarchy, while pregnant females come ashore to birth to their pups.

 

These popular guided walks take place rain or shine, so be prepared for windy, rainy conditions as well as muddy trails. Layered clothing, sturdy shoes, and rain gear is strongly advised. Umbrellas and strollers are not permitted. Pets are not allowed in the park. Parking is $10. For more information, please call (650) 879-2025 or for recorded information (650) 879-0227.

 

People with accessibility needs may reserve an equal access tour along the boardwalk.

These tours take place on Fridays, weekends, and select holidays. For reservations and info call ReserveCalifornia at 1-800-444-4445. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.

 

Self-Guided Seal Walks

Daily, between 8:30am and 3:30pm (Natural Preserve closes at 5pm)

Stroll over sand dunes, enjoy beautiful ocean views, and gain a unique opportunity to view a large colony of Northern elephant seals on this 3-mile, 2.5-hour self-guided trail! Visit the female elephant seals as they return to shore to molt, or shed their fur, in this annual excursion.  Additionally, young pups are still ashore from the winter breeding season. Layered clothing, closed-toes shoes, and rain/wind gear are strongly advised. Umbrellas and strollers are not permitted inside the dune area. Pets are not allowed in the park. Walk is free; day-use vehicle fee is $10. Entrance to the reserve for your self-guided walk requires a free permit that can be obtained at the entrance station, or the Visitor Center. Please contact the park at 650-879-2025 for further information.

 

If you require mobility assistance, you may request a volunteer-led equal access tour. You will board our accessible van and get a ride to our wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. A volunteer(s) will accompany you to the two seal-viewing decks, explain the Northern elephant seal natural history, the history of the park, and answer questions. Reservations are required. Please, allow a 2-week advance notice. The volunteer led tour is free, day-use vehicle fee is $10. Contact the park at 650-879-2033 or email Ano.EqualAccess@parks.ca.gov. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.

Maryjo Koch and the Art of Scientific Illustration
Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery
Koch is one of the world's most accomplished naturalist painters around. Exquisite detail!
Date: Every Tues, Wed, Th, Fri and Sa (Jan 24-Mar 16) from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Admission Fees: free

Art Seen

Maryjo Koch and the Art of Scientific Illustration

Maryjo Koch doesn't overlook the little things. When it comes to painting birds nests and honeybees, every little twig and hair matters. With acute attention to detail and precision, Koch is one of the world's most accomplished naturalist painters around.

 

Her hyperrealistic specimens are often found in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where Koch works. She has illustrated 18 books, and her work has been featured across the globe.

 

Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 12 PM-5 PM
Holidays and campus breaks observed.

Step Parents Support Group
Live Oak Family Resource Center
Drop-in support group for anyone in the step-parenting role.
Date: The 2nd Th of every month at 6:30pm

Step Parents Support Group 6:30pm. Join us on the second Thursday of each month for a free, drop-in support group for anyone in the step-parenting role. We meet at Live Oak Family Resource Center. Contact mailto: 1notsoevilstepmom@gmail.com for more information