Santa Cruz Parent

Family-friendly Yoga in the Park
2024-04-20 11:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mount Madonna School, 491 Summit Rd, Watsonville, CA, 95076, United States
Yoga in the Park
Saturday, April 20, 11:30am-12:30om
Join us at Aptos Village for a free, family-friendly, outdoor yoga class taught by a Certified Yoga Instructor. All ages and experiences are welcome!

Fullpower Introduction to Physical Self-Defense for Adults & Teens 15 and over
2024-04-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom, CA, United States
Fullpower: Introduction to Physical Self-Defense for Adults & Teens 15 and over
Sunday, April 21, 10 – 11
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

In Person Art Time for People with Disabilities
2024-04-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-05 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-12 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-19 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

Developing Bedtime Routines: Triple P Workshop for Parents
2024-04-22 09:00 - 10:30 | Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola, CA, 95010, United States
Developing Bedtime Routines: Triple P Workshop for Parents
Monday, April 22, 9-10:30am
Triple P—the world’s leading positive parenting program— strengthens families by promoting positive relationships.
Attend this FREE parenting workshop to learn:
• Common reasons why children have difficulty going to bed and sleeping through the night
• How to create peaceful bedtime routines that work for the whole family
• Tips to help children develop healthy sleep habits
Presented IN ENGLISH by Cori Burt, Triple P Practitioner.
Although the library is closed to the public at 9 am, entry to the workshop will be permitted. Children on laps or near parents are welcome. Light snacks will be provided.

Tai Chi in the Library
2024-04-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Aptos Public Library, 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
Tai Chi in the Library
Thursdays 10 – 11am

Are you ready to experience the ancient art of Tai Chi amidst the serene ambiance of your local library?
What is Tai Chi? Tai Chi is a gentle, flowing martial art that originated in ancient China. It’s known for its graceful movements, deep breathing techniques, and meditative benefits. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience, this class is perfect for everyone!
The Class Experience: Expect a warm and welcoming environment filled with laughter and camaraderie. Routines suitable for all fitness levels. Don’t worry; no prior experience is required – just bring an open mind and a smile!
Benefits of Tai Chi:

Enhance your balance and flexibility.
Reduce stress and increase relaxation.
Improve focus and mental clarity.
Promote a sense of overall well-being.
Foster a connection with fellow library-goers and the community.

Who Can Join: Absolutely everyone! Whether you’re a regular library visitor or someone who’s never stepped inside, all are welcome. No age restrictions or physical limitations – Tai Chi is adaptable for all.
Class Schedule: Join us every Thursday morning from 10am to 11am at the Aptos library’s spacious community room. Remember, the class is free, so mark your calendars and invite your friends along!
What to Bring: Comfortable clothing that allows easy movement is recommended.
So, come on down to the library, leave your worries at the door.. Let’s find our inner calm amidst the stacks of books and unlock the power of Tai Chi together at the Aptos Library!
Namaste!

Otterly Artistic: A Kids Collage Workshop
2024-04-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
Otterly Artistic: A Kids Collage Workshop
Saturday, April 27, 10am-12pm
Join us for an otterly, art workshop themed around sea otter conservation, with local artist Tina Fuller Somers!
Participants will learn fun facts about sea otters, explore block printing and collage techniques, and help create a community art piece that will display in the Sanctuary Exploration Center for the month of May.
This event is open to all ages but geared towards kids aged 8-12.
This event is free but registration is required and space is limited. To register, email the Exploration Center team at: explorationcenter@noaa.gov

Spring Fling at The Vintage Pick & Art Studio
2024-04-27 11:00 - 17:00 | The Vintage Pick & Art Studio, 4900 Soquel Dr. at Main St., Soquel, CA, 95073, United States
Spring Fling at The Vintage Pick & Art Studio
Saturday, April 27, 11am-5pm
We hope you can join us for this fun day. Featuring Rhonda of @fruitfullifestudio and myself with our up-cycled clothing and accessories. There will be classes scheduled for this day. Lots of yummy snacks and beverages-wine of course. Come join us and do a “Make & Take” while you are there. Sat, April 27th. 11-5. 4900 Soquel Dr. at Main, Soquel Village.

The Vintage Pick & Art Studio

Take a Six-Step Mediterranean Makeover Workshop
2024-04-28 15:00 - 16:30 | Breath and Oneness, 708 Capitola Ave, Capitola, CA, 95010, United States
Transform your Plate! A Six-Step Mediterranean Makeover Workshop
Sunday, April 28, 3-4:30pm
Tired of “nutrition confusion“, never knowing the right way to eat for more energy, weight loss or gut health?
Join me for a Six-Step Mediterranean Makeover Workshop!
I’m host and cookbook author Elizabeth Borelli extending an invitation to discover the secrets to Mediterranean eating, the lifestyle most strongly associated with longevity and wellness.
Learn why a rigid approach to diet doesn’t work!
Attend this 90-minute workshop to experience taste, and learn Mediterranean eating made easy with 6 simple shifts to uplevel your menu. We’ll sample and dip into:
⭐The Flirty 30
⭐4 to avoid
⭐Why eat at home?
⭐Must-have tools
⭐Course it up! Starting with salad
⭐Hydration with benefits: Tea-making demo
You’ll leave this engaging afternoon with tools, resources, and incentives to make your Mediterranean makeover dreams come true.
elizabeth@elizabethborelli.com
Breath and Oneness in Capitola, CA
Register Today! 💫

Enjoying Mealtimes: A Triple P Parenting Workshop
2024-04-29 09:00 - 10:00 | Aptos Branch Library, 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA, 95003, United States
Enjoying Mealtimes: A Triple P Parenting Workshop
Monday, April 29, 9-10:30am
Triple P—the world’s leading positive parenting program— strengthens families by promoting positive relationships.
Attend this FREE parenting workshop to learn:
• Why mealtimes can be challenging for both parents and children
• Effective strategies for handling challenging behaviors during mealtimes
• How to encourage children to eat a wider variety of healthy foods
• Tips for establishing positive mealtime routines in your family
Presented IN ENGLISH by Cori Burt, Triple P Practitioner
To register: contact Cori Burt at (831) 252-1137 or cmburt12@gmail.com
Although the library is closed to the public at 9 am, entry to the workshop will be permitted. Children on laps or near parents are welcome. Light snacks will be provided.
https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/12215856

Creative Art Workshops for Teens
2024-05-02 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-05-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Scotts Valley Branch Library, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, CA, 95066, United States
Creative Art Workshops for Teens
April 4 & 18: Gelli Printing
May 2 & 16: Markmaking/collaging
June 6 & 20: Basic Bookmaking
July 11 & 25: Slow Stitching
Join local artist Ruth Dailey at the Scotts Valley library for workshops where teens can learn new skills to express their creativity! Ruth has been creating art for most of her life and is excited to pass on what she has learned. Each month of this pilot series will feature a different art skill:
Only 12 seats available per session so come quickly, it’s first come first serve! Hope to see you there!

Traditional Scottish music in Scotts Valley this Thursday
2024-05-02 19:30, 2024-05-03 16:30 | CA, United States
Traditional Scottish music in Scotts Valley this Thursday
Concert: Thursday, May 2, 7:30pm
Workshops: Friday, May 3, 4:30pm
On their first visit to the West Coast of the USA, the “electrifying duo,” Rachel Hair and Ron Jappy, entertain with Scotland’s oldest instrument, the Scottish harp, with one of it’s newest instruments, the acoustic guitar.
Performing an exquisite mix of Scottish traditional music, they balance virtuosity with emotion, embracing the rich cultural tradition of Scotland, whilst charming audiences as they go.
Workshops for players of harp and fiddle take place the following day.
Concert Tickets: $10 – 30, https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/3527c4b1-0591-4e48-91ad-ba0a600dcadf
Location: 5271 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley
Workshop Tickets: $10 – 25, https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fc8fb66b-dddb-4348-aeb5-b128261011f6
Location: 5271 Scotts Valley Dr, Scotts Valley

Redwood RX Season at Henry Cowell State Park
2024-05-03 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-05-16 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-05-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Henry Cowell State Park, 101 N Big Trees Park Road, Felton, CA, 95018, United States
Redwood RX Season at Henry Cowell State Park
Join us for a rejuvenating afternoon amongst the redwoods! Redwood EX at Henry Cowell State Park will reduce stress, improve mood and boost immunity. See you in the park!
The 2024 Redwood RX Season is open at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and we are excited! We have more than 50 nature-based programs planned for this year. We would love to have you join us in the park with our amazing facilitators and fellow nature lovers.

Check out our website for a complete schedule of our 2024 classes and to register for one of these beautiful Redwood RX Classes:
Yoga in Nature – May 3, 10, 17, 24, 10:30-11:30am
Registration Fee: $20
All levels of yoga students are invited to join us for a weekly practice of yoga in a natural setting. Every week we will practice different breathing techniques and yoga postures, presented in the gentle style of Iyengar yoga and building upon the previous week’s instruction. Teaching will be scaffolded to ensure that every practitioner, from beginner to advanced, will receive the level of instruction they need.
Elder Explorers Redwood Experience – May 16, 1-2:30pm
Registration Fee: $30
You’ll be guided on a peaceful journey that skillfully blends a slow trip around an old-growth redwood loop with nature awareness practices, hands-on learning, and maybe even singing! Experience a harmonious balance of motion and stillness, solo and shared experiences. We don’t go far, but we do go deep, connecting with the magic of the redwood forest.
Walk with a Doc, May 18, 12 -1:30pm
Registration: Free
Do you live in a world that contributes to stress and “dis-ease”? Join us to experience an all-in-one prescription for a healthier and happier life! Experience the combined power of physical activity, health education, social connection, and the healing magic of nature by joining our Walk with a Doc program.
Forest Qi Gong – Nature Immersion, May 31, 10am-12pm
Embark on a transformative journey that fuses the restorative powers of the Redwood forest with the ancient art of Qi Gong. Connect with the elements of nature and learn specific exercises to promote vitality, improve mental clarity, and strengthen the immune system.
Registration: $20

Home Depot Kids Workshops
2024-05-04 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

Free Sample Swim Lesson
2024-05-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Little Fish Swim School, 5891 Plateau Dr., Felton, CA, 95018, United States
Free Sample Swim Lesson
Saturday, May 1, 2:30-4:30pm
Choose a time below for your swim lesson. We will add your appointment time here to our scheduling software. We will send you a confirmation that you are booked for your free lesson!
Please arrive no more than 15 minutes before your lesson and park in the designated parking spots in the driveway. Be ready to swim at your scheduled time.
We wear goggles when we swim so if you have some, please bring them along. If not, we have goggles to borrow for your lesson.
Our free sample swim lesson offer is for new families and is good for one free swim lesson per family.
Please email us at littlefishswimschoolcalifornia@gmail.com with any questions.
For more info about us, check us out at littlefishswimschoolcalifornia.net.

Nature Journal Studio
2024-05-08 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.

Teacher Open House
2024-05-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, 95062, United States
Teacher Open House
Friday, May 10, 5-7pm
Topic: How to teach Science Illustration

Enjoy snacks and refreshments while exploring our resources and viewing The Art of Nature exhibit.
Teachers will gain early access to field trip registration and a presentation about teaching scientific illustration.
You will also have the chance to win raffle prizes, including free field trip resources, gift certificates from local businesses, and more. Additionally, participants will enjoy a 15% discount at the museum store. While our resources are designed with grades K-5 in mind, all teachers are welcome to enjoy this event.
Register
Speakers

Chris Soriano, Field and Program Coordinator

Hannah Caisse, Education Associate

Field Sketching Workshop Coastal Explorations with Tina Somers
2024-05-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 WestCliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, United States
Field Sketching Workshop Coastal Explorations with Tina Somers
Saturday, May 18, 10am – 12pm

Inspired by coastal views, flora, and fauna — this class is an opportunity to develop field sketching skills in a gorgeous setting of Natural Bridges. Students will be guided in composition as well as techniques like watercolor, pencil, and pen & ink to help capture their experiences on the pages of their sketchbooks. All levels welcome. Basic materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their favorite nature journaling and field sketching tools, such as a journal, watercolor palette, pencils, pens, etc.
Natural Bridges State Beach (meeting location shared upon registration)
$15 Museum Members | $25 General

Register

Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registerin

Familypower: Starting Strong for ages 3-7 with their adults
2024-05-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom, CA, United States
Familypower: Starting Strong for ages 3-7 with their adults
Sunday, May 19, 10-11am
Start Strong for ages 3-7 with their adults through puppets and fun, interactive stories to introduce People Safety Skills and to continue to practice them in your daily life.
Help your child learn how to handle a friend saying something mean, check first before touching something unsafe, move away from someone doing something that could be hurtful, and get help from you effectively, even when you are busy.
