The Santa Barbara and Montecito Family YMCA's offer Adventure Guides, a parent-child program. In Adventure Guides, children and parents become "Friends Forever" as they embark on a limitless journey in which they learn from each other and develop positive and lasting relationships. Family is the focal point and nature is an integral part of the program. Circles are created with other families and the adventure begins immediately with in-house meetings and field trips.
Beach Stars Gymnastics is a recreational gymnastics club that teaches technical gymnastics in a creative and fun way. There is no other gym like it! When you walk in you are greeted with a 62 foot ocean mural behind a large boat which houses a trampoline, foam pit, bungee harness and a rock climbing wall! Boys & girls are given instruction on bars, balance beams, trampolines, tumbling, trapeze and rings each week! Cheerleading class offered. This is a very special place where only 10-12 kids are in the "beach gym" at a time.
Awesome birthday parties and theme-based summer camps like Harry Potter and Narnia are only part of what makes this amazing gym so special. Call for a free trial class! Tumbling trailer is available for birthday parties.
Camps: 4-12 years.
Beit Ha Yeladim at Congregation B'nai B'rith offers a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment. Child-centered curriculum emphasizing Jewish values. Year-round program; full and half-day schedules. Call to tour our beautiful, new facility. Toddler program begins at 18 months is available.
Visit this City site for complete information on affordable recreation classes for toddlers, youth, teens and adults;
The Parks & Recreation Activity Guide is available online. Easy online registration. www.sbparksandrecreation.com or 805-564-5418.
With KidzArt, students produce original drawings, paintings, cooper etchings, monoprints, silk paintings, clay sculptures, paper & fabric creations, and a multitude of imaginative and challenging art projects. Students learn techniques and explore a variety of artist quality media: Aqua sticks, charcoal (white & black), oil and soft pastels, clay, Prismacolor markers, ArtStiks and colored pencils, fabric markers, and watercolor, bio-color and acrylic paint. All ages build skills in visual arts, stretch their imagination, and have fun with new and age-appropriate curriculum every session!
KidzArt kids create extraordinary art work!
Register online or see program descriptions: www.kidzartsantabarbara.org
Kindermusik, the leader of music and movement programs, is committed to providing a unique and quality music program for children 3 months to 8 years. Incorporating the musical theories of Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze and Laban, it is a sound developmental method of teaching musical skills and appreciation, voice and instrumental instruction that builds music to academic to life skills. The Award-Winning KINDERMUSIK WITH KATHY studios have been in the community for over 11 years and are honored as one of the "Top Best" Kindermusik programs in the world. Our classes include infant sensory/play stimulation, creative movement and folk dancing, singing and vocal play, beat and rhythm awareness with drums and instruments. In our Young Child class (5-7 years), students will learn to read and write musical notation while playing 4 different instruments (including keyboard). For the Majors in Music class (7-10 years), your musician will enjoy a small group piano and recorder in-depth instruction, but still have the FUN and ease of Kindermusik's dance, storytelling and singing play! Our Kindermusik classes include also Kindermusik with Seniors- a multi-generational class where children and seniors bond together through music; FAMILY TIME CLASSES where family, siblings and friends of ALL ages can enjoy a music class together and SPANISH TIME CLASSES that are unique only to our studios. Classes offered in SB, Carpinteria and Goleta! First class is FREE to visit. 884-4009
KINDERMUSIK ADVENTURE MUSIC & CREATIVE ART CAMPS: A theme-based Music curriculum integrated with storytelling, drama, dance, drumming, art, cooking, and games taught by exceptional Maestro Kindermusik Teachers. Art taught by Kidzart. Your child will develop an early awareness of rhythm, movement, singing, and drama, explored through multi-instrument and multi-cultural elements. Camps are small in size and personal, each child receives special love and attention! Week long, half day camps offered for ages 4-8 years, during the summer in SB and Carpinteria.
Award winning, noncompetitive, program designed so that kids will succeed! Children 3 month thru 13 years of age develop strength, balance, coordination, flexibility and social skills through music, dance, relays, games, unique rides, gymnastics and FUN! We also host birthday parties. We also have MY GYM parties at your home or park. Contact us for more information.
Join us for Spring, Summer and Winter Camp. (ages 2.5-9 years)
Sandcastle Music Together - offers weekly 45-minute classes for young children ages Newborn through 4 years, and their parents/caregivers. We sing, dance, play with instruments, provide opportunities for musical creativity, and have lots of fun! Why Music Together? Most of us are born with enough musical aptitude to play in a symphony orchestra, yet many adults cannot sing anything more than "Happy Birthday", much less play an instrument. This is due to lack of experience, not genetics. In a lively but relaxed musical environment, our children gain experience through musical play, taking advantage of the window of opportunity for musical development that begins before birth and diminishes by age 5. Music Together classes are a way to promote a lifetime love of music in children, be part of a family-oriented musical community, and even for adults to reconnect with their own musical nature.
Families are invited to come and explore the 5,000 years of world art on display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Admission free every Sunday. Special activity guides for families and interactive family tours make the SBMA a great place for the whole family to engage in creative and fun learning. Have lunch or a snack at the café opposite the Children's Gallery.
ArtVentures at the Ridley-Tree Education Center at McCormick House offers a variety of art classes year-round and camps during school breaks in Summer, Winter, and Spring which provide an atmosphere of creativity, studio art practices, and an enriching experience for people of all ages.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - Walk inside and all around a life-size 72-foot Blue Whale skeleton; visit exhibit halls about birds, insects, mammals, marine life, paleontology, Native Americans; hike the Nature Trail along the Mission Creek; experience space exploration in the Astronomy Center and Planetarium; and purchase mementos/unique gifts at the Museum Store. During the summer months, see 1,000 butterflies up close as they flutter around you in the Butterfly Pavilion. A Museum membership provides admission to the Museum and its off-site marine-themed campus, the Ty Warner Sea Center. Daily 10-5; closed all day New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and the first Friday of August for Fiesta. Admission: Museum Members are free; Non-members are $8/adult; $7/teen (13-17); $6/senior (over 64); $5/child (2-12). Summer admission differs. Free to all on the third Sunday of the month. Camps during Summer/Winter/ Spring (scholarships available) for ages 4-11. Weekday classes available throughout the year for ages 4+. Host a Birthday Party.
See website for dates/details on Winter/Spring/Summer Camps.
Wilson Swimming LLC offers private swim lessons all Summer.
Two one-week SB Swim Camps are held at UCSB.
2010 dates: June 14-18 and July 12-16 (ages 6-16) from 8:30am to 4pm daily.
Sibling discounts offered.
Mommy and Me swim classes offered on Thursday evenings at 5:30pm for children under 2.
Located on 30 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is home to more than 500 animals. The Santa Barbara Zoo is open 10-5 every day except Christmas.
Reserve a picnic site or book the birthday party animal package. The package includes: Zoo admission, train tickets, parking, tableware, animal encounter, 3-hour site rental, invitations, and crayons, animal masks and activity booklets for the kids. Optional catering and goodie bag add-ons available as well.
Spring Zoo Camp: Monday, 3/22 - Friday, 4/2
Register your child for the Zoo's award-winning Zoo Camp program during Spring Break. Age-appropriate themed programs are available for kids ages 3 to 9 and include games, teacher-led workshops, behind-the-scenes visits, up-close animal introductions, hands-on science, and crafts. Camp hours are Monday - Friday from 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m Full week: $210 for non-members; $185 for members. Per Day: $45 for non-members; $40 for members. Please see the Zoo's website or call (805) 962-5339 for more information.
Summer Zoo Camp: Monday, 6/21 - Friday, 8/20 - Voted Best Summer Camp!
Voted "best summer camp" by both Independent and Santa Barbara News-Press readers' polls, this camp is fun and educational. Age-appropriate themed programs for ages 3 to 5 and grades 1 through 7 include games, teacher-led workshops, behind-the-scenes visits, up-close animal introductions, hands-on science, and crafts. Now offering overnight options at an additional fee! Camp hours are Monday - Friday from 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m; extended day 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (additional fee required). Full week: $210 for non-members; $185 for members. Registration required; on-line registration available or contact the Conservation Education Department at (805) 962-5339 for more information.
Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education (aka "Adult Education") is a wonderful resource for parenting classes throughout the school year. Most are free or have low optional fees. For a detailed list of current classes, connect to our website.
Private Swimming Lessons Ages 2 weeks - adult Swim With Phyn offers customized lesson plans to cultivate you or your child's unlimited swimming ability. Attentive one-on-one instruction provides for a safe environment and happy swimmers. We specialize in the very young and the young at heart. Heated Indoor swimming pool (92 degrees) allows for minimizing the discomfort of being cold and the private setting makes it distraction-free. New indoor pool gives even the more advanced swimmer a place to grow. The pool is located in Old Town Goleta near 7-11, allowing for easy access. We offer baby group classes and toddler group classes, which give parents a chance to interact and have fun in a group setting. Spaces fill quickly so call early to book your reserved time slot. Call or email swimphyn@hotmail.com. You can also check the blog at http://swimwithphyn.blogspot.com/.
The SB Museum of Natural History's Ty Warner Sea Center is focused on connecting people of all ages to the marine environment through interactive exhibits and programs. These dynamic experiences are designed to inspire a passion for the natural world and foster stewardship for the marine environment. Visitors to the new Sea Center can become involved, not just by observing, but by actually doing marine science activities. Participate in current marine research, collect and test water samples, and experience guided encounters with live sea creatures. Children can crawl inside a simulated tide pool to see the life and power of the ocean as the surf and tide surges around them. The Sea Center is owned and operated by the SB Museum of Natural History, and a Museum membership provides admission to both campuses. Daily 10-5 (except holidays). Sharks 12 inches long? That's right! Sharks come in all sizes...big and small. SHARKS...bite size will showcase sharks found in the Santa Barbara Channel, including Swell Sharks, Horn Sharks, Thornback Rays, and other species. Visitors have the chance to touch and come face-to-face with sharks. Birthday Parties/Parent-Child Classes/Camps avail.
We offer a unique combination of classic academics anchored by an arts-rich curriculum. Waldorf students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8 are engaged in a dynamic learning process through which they develop the skills and motivation for a lifetime of learning. Diverse specialty subjects include Spanish, Strings and Orchestra, Fencing, Handwork, Biodynamic Gardening and Field Studies.
After school program features crafts, athletics, and creative play.
A proponent of parent education, Waldorf hosts community workshops in subjects such as parenting philosophies and techniques, children's health and development, and gardening, all lead by local and national experts.
Weekly Parent-Child Circle offered on Friday & Saturday from 9am-11am at Vieja Valley School. Please join us in a nurturing natural environment for bread baking, puppet shows, nursery rhymes, gardening and more (for ages 1-3).
To experience the curriculum in action, join us for a Walk Through the Grades, or inquire about our next open house. Call for more information.
Summer camp available in 2010 for preschool/kindergarten aged children.
Specializing in infants 2 1/2 months through adults at three locations with warm water. Classes led by a group of talented and energetic professionals dedicated to your child's success in swimming. The owner and outstanding staff have re-defined "the swim lesson" experience for thousands of children by providing a unique, creative animated and challenging style of teaching that keeps children smiling, swimming, and safe! Our program enables a child to obtain swimming skills at the earliest possible age that they are able to acquire and apply them. "A Gift for Life" Sign up now! Non-competitive swim team available once they have progressed through the program.
Wilderness Youth Project is a community-building non-profit organization that inspires and guides youth, adults, and families toward finding, expressing, and manifesting their inherent gifts through mentoring and creating nature experiences.
Below are some of our ongoing offerings. Check our website for the most current schedule.
Home School - Ages 6-12 Connect with each other and the natural world by heightening awareness, playing and learning on our local trails.
Chickadees - Ages 3-5. Following the natural rhythms of the earth, giving us ample material for the making, telling and sharing of stories while building language skills and a sense of community.
Young Eagles After School - Ages 5-11 Explore natural mysteries and begin learning wilderness skills such as fire by friction, awareness of the four directions and knife safety.
Peace Makers Journey Ages 9 - 13 (prior WYP participation required) Fostering a deeper relationship with, and stewardship of, the earth through a variety of skill-based activities that support our animal, plant and human communities.
Northwind Leadership Ages 13-17 The intention of North Wind Leadership is to cultivate teens who are equally comfortable and competent both in their communities and in the natural world. We move toward this goal through community service, an ever deepening knowledge of place, and wilderness survival skills.
Summer Camp - Different opportunities for kids ages 4-17. Check our website for details of time, place and cost.
Family Camps: Outdoor fun for the entire family in the Summer and Winter!
Spring Break Camps: Day camps for ages 5-11 and Backpacking for ages 11-14