Annual Events

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

Preschool Story Time
Library Central
Date: Every Th from 10:00am to 11:00am
Ages: 3-6 Admission Fees: free

Downtown Preschool Story Time (10:00 AM-11:00 AM)
 
Join us at the Downtown Library for our weekly Preschool Story Time. We'll read books, sing songs and make a simple craft! Ages 3-6.
View similar upcoming events: Storytimes/Laptimes

 

Brainfuse - Homework Help
Libraries
Brainfuse: Free online homework help for students of all ages.
Date: Every day

Free Academic Help at All Levels.

 

Brainfuse offers live online tutoring in elementary, middle school, high school, college, and adult education.

 

Live Tutoring: Students draw or type their question in our online classroom and receive live homework assistance from a Brainfuse-certified tutor. Our tutors don't simply give answers but help students master underlying academic concepts.

 

SkillSurfer: SkillSurfer includes an extensive library of Brainfuse-created lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects, and further integrates them with live tutoring.

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

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.

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.

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.)