Santa Cruz Parent

Free Thriller Dance Classes
2023-10-21 15:00, 2023-10-28 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-10-28 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Londen Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
Thriller Dance Classes are back!
Saturdays 10am – 12 pm, September 21 – October 12
London Nelson Community Center
CALLING ALL ZOMBIES!!! Free, drop in classes taught by volunteer instructors with previous zombie experience. Open to all ages and abilities. No experience necessary! All are welcome to join in the fun.
Two Thriller performances!
Halloween Mask Making Festival – Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 and 3:00 pm in Laurel Park
Thrill the World event – Saturday, October 25 at 3:00 pm in Laurel Park.

Flash Mob performance opportunities will be posted in class (all performances optional). Please spread the word and bring your friends for SUPER FUN FREE THRILLER DANCE CLASSES with your favorite zombie crew!!

XOXO, Your Volunteer Zombie Team!

Practice at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPKflp1r7ys

In Person Art Time for People with Disabilities
2023-10-22 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-29 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-11-05 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-11-12 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-11-19 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-11-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Claraty Arts, 1725 Seabright Avenue, Suite C, Santa Cruz, CA, 95062, United States
In Person Art Time for People with Disabilities
Sundays 2 – 4pm
Join our in person art class for people with disabilities at Claraty Arts Center in Santa Cruz. Adaptive art projects and space to work outside or inside and to share time with your family and work on a creative art project. It’s for the whole family – all are welcomed! This will be a great relaxing creative time adaptive to all needs, come out and express yourself! Caregiver must stay and help the participant – this is not a drop off!
Drop ins Welcomed!
$10 cash donation appreciated for art supplies

1725 Seabright Avenue, Suite C., Santa Cruz, CA

Click here to reserve your seat at art class

Lego Engineering Challenge
2023-10-25 16:00 - 17:30, 2023-11-29 16:00 - 17:30 | Downtown Branch Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
Lego Engineering Challenge
Wednesdays 4 – 5:30pm, September 27
Are you looking for a fun and competitive challenge? Are you good at building stuff using Legos? Are you between the ages of 8 yrs to 12 yrs?
If you answered yes to all these questions, then you are more than qualified to join our Lego Engineering Challenge! The Lego Engineering Challenge is a fun way for tweens to learn about basic engineering, teamwork, and leadership by completing various lego projects. All lego challenges are self paced.
Ages 6 – 11

Pizza and Pumpkin Carving
2023-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | The Art Factory, 7960 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
Pizza and Pumpkin Carving
Friday, October 27, 6pm
We hope your kiddos come to carve pumpkins with us at the 15th Annual kids Night Out; Pizza and Pumpkin Carving event in the new studio!
Ages 8 – 14

Gourds Galore Saturday Morning Ceramics
2023-10-28 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-11-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-11-11 10:00 - 11:00 | The Art Factory at Aptos Village Square, 7960 Soquel Dr, Aptos, 95003, United States
Gourds Galore Saturday Morning Ceramics
Saturdays, October 28 – November 11, 10 – 11am

Ceramic Gourd and Pumpkin Sculptures: Create a beautiful, everlasting ceramic gourd or pumpkin in this ceramics class with Teacher Danielle.
Ceramic Gourd and Pumpkin Sculptures: Create a beautiful, everlasting ceramic gourd or pumpkin in this ceramics class with Teacher Danielle. From proper clay wedging to sculpture in the round, this lesson in ceramics will leave you hooked. All ages are welcome to this workshop, so bring the whole family along!
We will dry and fire your sculpture. If you choose to attend again, you may use that drop-in class to glaze your piece. We ask that you sign each piece and pick up your bisque fired or glazed fired piece within 30 days of creation. *We do not offer long term storage or shipping.
$35 flat rate includes 60 minutes of class time, instruction, clay and first firing.
*Space is limited in this drop-in class. *Please do not work independently if you do not know how to wedge your own clay. Tickets are non-refundable but fully transferable.

Soul Collage
2023-10-28 12:00 - 15:00 | Felton Library, 6121 Gushee Street, Felton, CA, 95018, United States
Soul Collage
Saturday, October 28 & December 2, 12 – 3pm

Come join us for Soul Collage, an amazing activity that will help you focus your intentions and bring your dreams to life! Soul Collage is a dynamic and insightful process that uses collages as a powerful visual tool. We’ll have a short PowerPoint presentation of collages and all the necessary materials will be provided, including magazines. Feel free to bring your own personal photos, sharp scissors, and anything else you’d like to include.
https://loom.ly/XqagTCI

Soul Collage is an insightful, incredible, dynamic activity. A collage is a powerful visual tool to focus your intentions; create a collage of images that will express your visions, your desires, your dreams and goals. Collage speaks to the subconscious which invites and allows incredible miracles to happen, dreams to manifest, goals to be realized, and our visions to become real. This is a playful process of creative fun. It might becomes one of your favorite past times.
There will be a short PowerPoint presentation of collages. You are welcome to bring images and personal photos, sharp scissors, and magazines. Everything else will be provided including more magazines.
Community-led Learning Instructor Bio:
Peggy Black; Public Speaker and Workshop Facilitator; Peggy has lectured and taught for 45
years. She is an inspiring and motivating presenter offering a variety of insightful, empowering
topics.
Registration required.
Space is limited to 20 people

Pizza & Pumpkin Carving for Kids 8 - 14
2023-10-28 18:00 - 20:00 | The Art Factory at Aptos Village Square, 7960 Soquel Dr, Aptos, 95003, United States
Pizza & Pumpkin Carving for Kids 8 – 14
Friday, October 27, 6 – 8pm
15th Annual Kids Night Out! The class includes pizza and a pumpkin for carving. This event sells out quickly so sign up ASAP! Ages 8-14. Tickets are non-refundable.

Home Depot Kids Workshops
2023-11-04 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-12-02 09:00 - 12:00 | Home Depot Watsonville, 355 S Green Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA, 95076, United States
Home Depot Kids Workshops
1st Saturdays of the month, 9am – 12pm

Join us the first Saturday of each month between 9 am – 12 pm for free in-person Kids Workshops.

Soquel , 2600 41st Avenue, Soquel, 95073, (831)462-5650 Register

355 S Green Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076,(831)786-9877, Register

Family Field Days
2023-11-04 09:00 - 13:00, 2023-11-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Pinto Lake Park, 451 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, CA, 95076, United States
Family Field Days
Saturdays 9am – 1pm: 9/9 & 23; 10/7 & 21; 11/4 & 18
Come to Pinto Lake County Park for exciting Family Field Days with County Park Friends, America SCORES, Ecology Action, and free books from Live Like Coco.
PVUSD students can join the soccer clinic led by the awesome AmericaSCORES team.. If you’re a football sensation or want to improve, this is just for you! Starting at 9am.
If you’re not a PVUSD student, don’t worry; there are more activities. Take a walk with our guided walk presented by our team and Ecology Action. We will also have a book giveaway thanks to LiveLikeCoco. Let your creativity flourish with nature-inspired art activities along with the fantastic County Park Friends. Unleash the artist inside you and create something incredible from the heart. Starting at 10:30am.
Don’t lose the excitement: RSVP now through our Linktree and let’s create unforgettable memories together. I’ll see you there!
Questions: 831-454-7956
Pinto Lake County Park

Death Cafe
2023-11-04 16:30 | Downtown Library, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
Death Cafe
Saturday 4, 4:30pm
Do you have questions about death but are too afraid to voice them? Let’s normalize death and end of life conversations. After all, talking about it won’t kill you! Death Cafe offers a safe and confidential space to explore questions and feelings around death and dying. Coffee and cake provided.
Facilitated by: Monica Montefiore, End of Life Guide and Founder of The Mountainflower Path, themountainflowerpath.com
Registration is required: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/11310824

Circle to Thank Our Roots
2023-11-05 10:00 | RC Fam Center, 1205 Freedom Bl #B3, Watsonville, CA, 95076, United States
Circle to Thank Our Roots
1st Sundays, 10am

Another FREE family event TODAY at 10!

Hoping to bring elders in our community. ALL languages, cultures, abilities, and ages are welcome.

This is a drumming circle to honor our elders and ancestors. Led by Joaquin Barreto. He would like this to be inclusive to ALL community members. His description is in the comments

We invite you to this group circle where we will participate with our beautiful energy. We will take a moment to honor, remember and to thank our grandparents, elderly people in our lives. We will dedicate a moment with good thoughts, thoughts of happiness, peace, health, and we will send this to our elders that live far away, or that only live now in spirit. Join us in this group with some music, feeling gratitude and respect towards all the directions.

Joaquin Barreto

Fall 2023 PAWS Tier 1 Junior Programs Ages 7 - 9
2023-11-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Santa Cruz SPCA 2601 Chanticleer Ave Santa Cruz, 2601 chanticleer ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065, United States
Fall 2023 PAWS Tier 1 Junior Programs Ages 7 – 9

PAWS Tier 1 Junior Program (Promoting Animal Welfare with Students) (Ages 7-9)
This very popular animal-filled after-school program teaches our student volunteers to recognize and respect animal needs. It allows participants to nurture, play with and train our shelter dogs and cats, and walk our dogs too. Children will gain an understanding of how an animal shelter works and who works there. They will make enrichments for the animals and posters to help them get adopted.

PAWS Tier 1 Junior and Pre-Teen Program (Promoting Animal Welfare with Students) (Ages 7-9)
These sessions, which meet for three weeks on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4-6pm September through December, are for students who are having their first experience in our PAWS program. It is an introductory level that starts everyone in it off on the same level to help them decide if our young volunteer program is a good fit for them.
As we have a high interest in our programming, students should initially only sign up for ONE session in the September through December period so that we can accommodate as many new learners as possible! If there is additional space after we have initially placed everyone, you can share your information with us to be contacted!
Junior PAWS Tier 1-For 7–9-year-old participants, each Monday for three weeks out of the month, 4-6pm
Pre-teen PAWS Tier 1-for 10–12-year-old participants, each Tuesday for three weeks out of the month, 4-6pm

Bike Commuting 101
2023-11-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St, Santa Cruz County, CA, 95060, United States
Bike Commuting 101
Wednesday, November 9, 12 – 1pm
Next level commute | Lunch-and-learn | Business casual biking
Are you ready to take your morning commute to the next level? Or are you just ready to give your wallet a break from gas prices? Learn from the experts about bike commuting basics including hauling gear, what to look for in a solid commuting bike, riding while “business casual,” rush hour rules of the road, and more.
As Santa Cruz county expands its network of protected bike lanes and paths, now is the perfect time to explore commuting by bike.. With the right preparation, including biking as one of your commute options can be a breeze.
Staff from Ecology Action will share the need-to-knows of bike commuting, trouble-shoot your commute and after-work errands, and help cyclists of all levels plan for a safe and satisfying ride.

Nature Journal Studio
2023-11-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95062, United States
Nature Journal Studio
2nd Wednesdaysof the month, 6:30 – 8pm
Nature journaling can help us view the natural world with new perspectives, learn about our surroundings, and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. During monthly Nature Journal Studio sessions at the Museum, Melinda Nakagawa will guide you through a topic as we practice skills in a group setting and share our learning with others. We will develop observation skills and awareness of nature, improve sketching skills, and practice strategies to bring the 3-dimensional world onto the page. Rather than an art class, nature journaling is about observation, curiosity, wonder, and honing these abilities.

Free with Admission Register

Sign-up for other Nature Journal Studio events.

*Free for Members and Youth under 18 | $4 General | $2 Students and Seniors

About Melinda Nakagawa
Melinda Nakagawa is a biologist, naturalist, and educator with a passion and skill for connecting people to nature. She founded Spark in Nature to guide participants to cultivate a deeper relationship with the natural world, slowing down to nature’s pace and seeing rather than just looking at the world. With an approach that bridges nature, art, and heart, she welcomes all people regardless of their skill level or background. Through her gentle guidance, hundreds of participants have awakened their spark of curiosity, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural world. Melinda has partnered with local institutions such as the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History to lead educator trainings on nature journaling. She leads the Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club’s free online Sunday sessions. She has an M.S. degree in Marine Science, and has also worked as a naturalist guide, floral designer, and wildlife rehabilitator. For the past two decades Melinda has kept nature journals and continues to learn more from nature with each journal she fills.

Create a Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
2023-11-10 18:00 - 19:30 | The Art Factory at Aptos Village Square, 7960 Soquel Dr, Aptos, 95003, United States
Create a Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
Friday, November 10, 6 – 7:30pm
Ages 8 and up!
Join us making Succulent Pumpkin centerpieces, an annual Art Factory tradition. We can hardly wait to share it with you. A pumpkin up to 14″ and all materials are provided along with a brief lesson on succulent care.
Additional mini-sized centerpieces if time allows for a separate charge.

Glimpses of World History Series
2023-11-11 13:00 - 14:00 | La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Avenue, La Selva Beach, CA, 95076, United States
Glimpses of World History Series to Begin at La Selva Beach Branch Library

Second and fourth Saturdays in January, February, and March, 1 – 2

Dr. Robert Strayer, Ph.D of European and African History, presents a series of six illustrated talks dealing with particular topics in world history and their implications for the present. These free events take place from 1 – 2:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays in January, February, and March at the La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave. The first event in the series on January 14th, “In the Beginning: 95% of the Human Story” covers the Paleolithic Era.
Adults and Teens 12 – 18
Visit the Library’s calendar of events for more information: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10008414

Fullpower: Introduction to Physical Self-Defense
2023-11-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom, CA, United States
Fullpower: Introduction to Physical Self-Defense
Saturday, November 12, 10 -11am
In our Fullpower Introduction to Physical Self-Defense online program, adults of all ages as well as teens age 15-17 learn how to:
*Interrupt the Pattern of Attack
*Spot trouble early- and avoid it
*Deal confidently with threats and harassment
*Take the lead with friends to help them be safer, too
*Use 7 emergency self-defense skills to escape an attack

United Against Hate
2023-11-12 16:00 | Branciforte Library, 250 Gault St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95062, United States
United Against Hate
Sunday, November 19, 4pm
Bystander Intervention Training teaches bystanders about the principles of nonviolence and de-escalation techniques. In this training participants learn hands-on skills about how to de-escalate a hate incident before it leads to violence, how to create a safe space, and how to support the person being targeted. This training opportunity is presented by CAIR California.
Although the Branciforte Branch is closed on Sundays, this event will take place there.
Registration is required. Register at: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/11435184
United Against Hate was created by civic leaders in direct response to the sharp rise in expressions of hate in our communities. Our organization, Santa Cruz County for Safe and Inclusive Communities (SCCUSIC) wants to empower local residents to take action in our communities and alter the course of this growing intolerance. When we come together to work against hate, we can restore respect and civil discourse, embrace the strength of diversity and build inclusive and equitable communities for all.
United Against Hate Week (Nov. 12-20, 2023) is a call for a week of local civic action by people in every community to stop the hate and implicit biases that are a dangerous threat to the safety and civility of our neighborhoods and community. We have extended the week to incorporate additional opportunities to connect and learn.
