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JPL Tour in Pasadena

Posted on July 31, 2014 | Filed Under: Field trips in Los Angeles | 2 Comments

JPL TOUR IN PASADENA

Last August, my children and I ventured out to Pasadena, CA for a tour of Jet Propulsion Laboratory with Julian Charter School.  A few months later, I set up a second tour of JPL for our homeschool organization.

Field Trip Participants on the JPL tour in Pasadena.

JPL’s educational tours are designed for schools and educational groups of 20 people or more.  The tour is specifically geared for children in 3rd grade and up for comprehension of information.  However, we had younger children in our group and it was fine.

Space Rover Replica

First, we saw a short multimedia presentation about JPL entitled “Journey to the Planets and Beyond,” which provides an overview of the Laboratory’s activities and accomplishments.

Next, we visited the von Karman Visitor Center, the Space Flight Operations Facility, and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility.

Field Trip Participants looking JPL’s space rover replicas. Space Fun! JPL’s Space Flight Operations Facility JPL’s Spacecraft Assembly Facility Field Trip Boy and Friends visiting JPL’s Spacecraft Assembly Facility.

For your information, planning a field trip to JPL can be very time-consuming, but it is worth it!

Just make sure that everyone in your group is properly registered and brings ID with them the day of.

“JPL requires that all U.S. citizens, 18 years of age or older, present official, government issued photo identification (driver’s license or passport) before being allowed entry. All non-U.S. Citizens 18 years of age or older must present a passport or resident visa (green card) before being allowed entry.  Individuals without proper identification will not be admitted to the Laboratory.”

Learning about JPL’s past and present work in space.

Here are my recommendations when planning a field trip to JPL:

1. Wear comfortable shoes.  The tour itself is .8 miles and involves a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing.

2. Wheelchair access can be accommodated with advance notice.

3. Dress for the weather.  In the summer, it is hot and dry.  In the winter, it can get a bit chilly since you are close to the mountains.

4. Bring water.

5. Cameras are permitted on the facility..

6. Babies are allowed as long as you can carry them.  I carried my then 3-year-old in a baby sling for some parts of the tour when she got tired.

7. All tours are conducted in English.

8. The tour lasts approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

9. JPL tours are FREE to the public.

Beginning on August 4th, JPL will be accepting new reservations for tours in 2015.   I highly recommend that you sign up then, because JPL’s tours are very popular.  To make your reservation, please visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/tours/views/

In the meantime, encourage your children to build their own space mission compliments of NASA.

Happy Field Tripping,

Jilleen

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are our own.  Images used by permission from Windi Eklund.

The Children’s Science Learning Center at Cal State Long Beach

Posted on July 14, 2014 | Filed Under: Field trips in Los Angeles | 1 Comment

THE SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER

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CAL STATE LONG BEACH

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Last March, I led a group of students from Celebration Education on a field trip to The Science Learning Center at Cal State Long Beach.

Earlier that week in our homeschool group, we learned about early U.S. inventors and inventions.  I decided to plan a field trip to The Science Learning Center to expand upon our lesson plan.

Science labs are great.  They are 100% about “hands-on” learning.  The more you touch and feel, the more you learn and grow.

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The Science Learning Center at CSULB is a “hands-on” museum that encourages personal discovery through direct physical contact with exhibits.  Visitors are encouraged to turn the handles, push the buttons, and twist the knobs to make their own personal discoveries in science.

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Just listen to their story:

“With Frank Oppenhiemer’s ground breaking, interactive science displays at the San Francisco Science Exploratorium as an example, CSULB physics professor R.D. Ayers approached CSULB administration.

In 1979, with the support of then CSULB president Stephen Horn, and college dean Roger Bauer, the CNSM Natural Sciences Museum opened in the basement of Peterson Hall 2, and in 1980, the university embarked on creating a unique outreach program with the Mobile Science Museum – a converted 27-foot mobile home to bring science to the schools.

The CNSM Natural Sciences Museum opened in 1979 and featured, among other things, moon rocks from one of the Apollo trips and Henrietta, a 15′ 8” Burmese python who was a star attraction until she retired in the late nineties.  Each display was designed to encourage touching, exploring, and questions. Today, the Science Learning Center has many displays housed in the Hall of Science Room 109.”

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All exhibits in the lab meet the grade appropriate standards for California science education.

The Science Learning Center’s exhibits include:

Biology – Terrarium

Zoology – Iggy the Iguana, Frogs, Chameleon, Snakes, Scat

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Marine Biology – Submersible, Aquarium, Whale baleen

Astronomy

Geology/Earth Science – Rocks / Minerals, Seismograph, Weather Station

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Physics – Bernouli’s Principle, Solar Panels, Spectrum, Gravity, Bubbles, Hologram

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Chemistry – Crystal Structures

The Science Learning Center’s staff consists of highly enthusiastic and encouraging graduate students from the University.  On our particular visit, our guides were very kind and shared with us their wealth of knowledge about the field.

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When planning YOUR trip to The Science Learning Center:

1. Individuals and groups are welcome to visit the lab anytime the staff is available in the Center.

2. Visitors should allow 30-45 minutes to explore and experience the exhibits.

3. Student group visits are most successful when students are visiting in numbers of 30 or less at a time.

4. For groups of 30 or more, the science lab can arrange for your group to visit with other sites on campus.  During our tour, we also got to visit CSULB’s Marine Science Lab.

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5. Advance reservations are HIGHLY recommended for large groups.

6. Parking is a bit of a challenge at CSULB.  There are two types of parking options available – metered and prepaid.  Make sure you know which type of parking structure you park in prior to paying.  Take it from someone who got a parking ticket while there, it is worth double checking!

In addition to the Science Learning Center, CSULB also has a Mobile Science Museum which serves to supplement Long Beach’s local schools’ science instruction.

mobile science museum van

CSULB Mobile Science Museum

“The 27-foot converted mobile home carries over 40 exhibits that invite hands-on inquiry from both children and adults in astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, biology, zoology, and marine biology.”

Location and Contact Information:

The Science Learning Center, Hall of Science, Room 110, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840.

Phone: (562) 985-4841

Pricing:  A $1.00 donation per person.  However, I believe it is worth so much more!

I leave you with a following picture challenge from The Science Learning Center! 

Is this picture of an old woman or a young lady?  Leave a comment and let us know.

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Happy Field Tripping!

Jilleen

SUMMER FUN: Children’s Museums in Southern California

Posted on June 25, 2014 | Filed Under: Family Outings in Orange County, Family Outings in Riverside, Family Outings in San Diego, Family Outings in Santa Barbara, Family Outings in Ventura, Field trips in Los Angeles, Field Trips in Orange County, Field Trips in Riverside, Field Trips in San Diego, Field Trips in Santa Barbara, Field Trips In Ventura, Museums, Science, STEM, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ALL

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

Child exploring simulated fire station (Children's Museum of Denver, 2009)

Where do families go in Southern California to escape the heat?  To a local children’s museum, of course.

The first children’s museum, called the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, was founded in 1899.

Brooklyn Children's Museum

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

The Association of Children’s Museums says that “Children’s museums are places where children learn through play and exploration in environments designed just for them.  Reflecting their diverse communities, children’s museums create playful, interactive learning experiences.  In an increasingly complex world, children’s museums provide a place where all kids can learn through play with the caring adults in their lives.”

Temporary children's play area at the National Museum of Singapore - 20100626

Children’s museums are perfect for families with young children.  They provide a safe place for children to explore, use their creativity and dive deep into imaginary play.  The words “touch, feel and see” are always welcomed.

Children’s Museums also host a variety of special events and programs throughout the year to encourage family togetherness, community involvement and volunteerism.

In Southern California, we are lucky to have over 10 children’s museums within a few hours from any city in the southland, including Barstow!  Just take a look at our list below.

Children Museum Amman 3Los Angeles County

Kidspace Museum, Pasadena

Kidspace Museum’s believes that “when learning becomes fun, the learner does so willingly.”  They offer an expansive outdoor play area that features hands-on arts & science exhibits.  The first Tuesday of every month is FREE Family Night.

Noah’s Ark at The Skirball Museum, Los Angeles

Noah’s Ark is a special space within The Skirball Museum dedicated especially to children.  The space features a floor-to-ceiling wooden ark filled with a variety of animals, where children can play, build, climb, explore, make music and more.  Admission is FREE.

Zimmer Children’s Museum, Los Angeles

The Zimmer Children’s Museum’s mission is to make a better society through interactive learning, creative self-expression and art experiences for children and families.  They serve children specifically ages 0-8.  In addition to their regular hours, the museum will be open every Monday in July and August.

Orange County

La Habra Children’s Museum, La Habra

La Habra Children’s Museum’s exhibits include a hand-carved carousel and a classic 1942 railroad car.  On certain Sundays throughout the year, the museum offers FREE admission and family programming, sponsored by Target.

Pretend City, Irvine

Pretend City Children’s Museum features a small, interconnected city designed to “build better brains” through purposeful play, hands-on learning experiences, role-playing, and educational programming.  Visit their new summer exhibit The Ultimate Recycling Machine Challenge now through August 1.

Ultimate Recycling Challenge @ Pretend City

Ultimate Recycling Machine Challenge at Pretend City (2014)

Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana

The Discovery Science Center is a children’s science museum with more than 100 hands-on science exhibits designed to spark children’s natural curiosity.

Their current exhibit, Mythbusters – The Explosive Exhibit, is bound to be a summer hit.

Field Trip Boy Exploring One Of The MythBusters Exhibits At The Discovery Science Center

Field Trip Boy Checking Out The MythBusters Exhibit @ The Discovery Science Center (2014)

Bowers Kidseum, Santa Ana

Bowers Kidseum, both an interactive children’s museum and learning center, offers multi-faceted art and cultural experiences for young children, their families and the community.  The museum is primarily dedicated to the pre-school and early elementary age children.  Visitors can enjoy free access to the museum and all activities on the first Sunday of every month, thanks to the Target Corporation.

Field Trip Girl At The Kidseum in Santa Ana

Field Trip Girl At Bowers Kidseum (2012)

Riverside / San Bernardino Counties

Chino Youth Museum, Chino

The Chino Youth Museum’s mission statement is to provide an interactive learning environment to foster a better understand of tomorrow through an appreciation of yesterday and today.  On the first Friday of every month they host a FREE family event that features an entertainer, craft and a healthy snack. 

Pennypickle’s Workshop, Temecula Children’s Museum, Temecula

At Pennypickle’s Workshop, kids don’t even know they are learning as they explore over 7500 square feet of hands-on inventions, gadgets and experiments.  On June 28, the museum is hosting a FREE family workshop called Building-Crazy-Contraptions, sponsored by Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Children’s Discovery Museum Of The Desert, Rancho Mirage

At the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert kids are encouraged to touch, feel, learn, think, and play.  It’s an interactive and engaging museum for children with more than 40 hands-on learning exhibits in an environment that sparks imagination and curiosity.  The museum serves children of all ages with particular emphasis on primary school age children of the Coachella Valley.

Fingerprints Youth Museum, Hemet

Fingerprints Youth Museum has a flair for exciting the imagination of a child and offers the most trendiest interactive exhibits for children in Riverside County.  To take a virtual, visit  http://fingerprintsmuseum.com/exhibits.aspx

San Diego County

San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, Escondido

The mission of the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum is to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination, and experimentation.  Serving children ages 0-10, SDCDM focuses on these critical years of child development while also encouraging families to learn together.  Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, they are offering FREE admission for Active Duty Military and Veteran Families.

The New Children’s Museum, San Diego

The New Children’s Museum is an arts-based children’s museum that commissions contemporary artists to create pieces with tactile, physical and participatory elements, opening up a world of art to children through opportunities to observe and create.  Join the museum for their 2nd Annual Superheroes’ Night Out family party on Saturday, July 12.

Ventura County

Gull Wings Children’s Museum, Oxnard

Gull Wings is a hands on museum for children aged 2 – 8 that offers weekly art, music and science programs.  Their exciting exhibits include a marine animal touch tank, model train display, Lego-a-Go-Go Room, Orion Space Station and exotic animals (think tarantula!).

If you know of a great children’s museum in the area that should be added to our list, please let us know at jilleen@jilleen.com.

Happy Summer Field Tripping,

Jilleen

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions and points of view are our own.  Images used by permission via Wikimedia commons.

 

Family Volunteer Opportunities in Southern California

Posted on June 16, 2014 | Filed Under: Field trips in Los Angeles, Field Trips in Orange County, Field Trips in Riverside, Field Trips in San Bernardino, Field Trips in San Diego, Field Trips in Santa Barbara, Field Trips In Ventura | 6 Comments

“Volunteers are paid in six figures…S-M-I-L-E-S.” 

Gayla LeMaire

Back in the day, before I had kids, I use to travel extensively speaking and singing at a variety of venues from churches to non-profit organizations.

One of my favorite parts about performing was the opportunity to share with my audiences about an organization that is near and dear to my heart named World Vision.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.  They are able to accomplish this through their highly effective child sponsorship program.

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In 2004, I had the privilege of traveling with World Vision to El Salvador to see first hand how child sponsorship made the difference in the life of a child and their community.  It was a life changing experience, that’s for sure.

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Over the years, my family and I have sponsored several children through World Vision.  One such little boy was named Fuad.  We sponsored Fuad from the time he was 2 years old until fourth grade.

Our Family's World Vision Sponsored Child Named Fuad At Age 2.

Our World Vision Sponsored Child Named Fuad (2002)

From time to time, we would write him letters, send him pictures and deliver care packages.

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Fuad In Fourth Grade (2012)

Fuad’s community in Palestine was eventually deemed self sufficient and did not need any further humanitarian assistance.  Therefore, our sponsorship ended and we wrote him a farewell letter.

I share this story with you, because volunteering through child sponsorship, taught my children that life is not always about them or what they want. 

Instead, they now see the needs of others and voluntarily try to find ways to help them and cheer them up.

Volunteering as a family creates special memories and brings families closer together.
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But you don’t have to travel the world to volunteer.  All you have to do is step outside your front door and see what needs are in your community.

Whether helping an elderly neighbor mow their lawn or serving meals at a local soup kitchen, volunteer opportunities are all around us.

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Someone is always in need.

Here’s an important tip.  While researching places to volunteer, make sure to verify age limits and how much time is required to serve.  You personally know the strengths and limitations of your family the best.

Recently, I reached out to my friends in the homeschool community and asked where were the best places to volunteer as a family in Southern California.

Here were their responses.

Children volunteers helping plant a pollinator garden Los Angeles County:

Cory’s Kitchen (Irwindale)

Cory’s Kitchen provides emergency food to families in need.  Families can obtain an allotment  of  food once a month, for a period of six months.   The amount of food distributed to each family is dependent on the food collected from grocery chains and outlets that week, and from government food available to Cory’s Kitchen

The American Military Museum (El Monte)

A military vehicles museum founded in 1962 that consists of over 178 exhibits and also loans out vehicles, props, and uniforms to the movie industry.  The Volunteers at the museum are a family.  The museum’s volunteers participate in events like the Sierra Madre 4th of July Parade and the Rose Parade.  Our volunteers help with living history displays, restoration of vehicles in mechanical and cosmetic ways, and many other things.  If you are interested please contact the museum to find out how you can help.

Operation Gratitude (Van Nuys)

Operation Gratitude hosts volunteer days where families can come and prepare care packages to send to American troops overseas.

Heal The Bay (County Wide)

If you want to help protect the ocean you love from pollution, Heal the Bay can help. From volunteering with your friends and family at one of their monthly beach cleanups, choosing your favorite beach for a year of cleanups, to helping orchestrate an event for your own company, there are many ways you can protect what you love.

L.A. Family Housing (Los Angeles)

L.A. Family Housing’s mission is to help families transition out of homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing enriched with supportive services.  Volunteer opportunities abound from helping children with homework to beautifying their premises.

Toberman Neighborhood Center (San Pedro)

Toberman Academy offers after school activities for children in Kindergarten through 6th grade.  They need youth volunteers who are juniors/seniors in high school to provide an enriched activity with the kids. The goal is to teach the youth something about an activity in music, art, dance, science or leadership skills.  Adult volunteers can assist within the classrooms by helping youth at homework stations, reading, engaging by asking questions about the homework and identifying if the youth comprehends the assignment.

Sharefest (South Bay)

Sharefest focuses on mentoring youth to develop the leaders of tomorrow, fostering volunteerism in the community through service projects in specific points of influence including schools, parks and community programs, and establishing working coalitions made up of city leaders, schools, businesses and the faith community.

Love In The Mirror (Long Beach)

Love in the Mirror began with the love of Jonas, a 6 year old boy who wanted to help kids that were less fortunate than him by giving them things he felt no child should live without. The idea grew into a non-profit organization that strives to meet the needs of disadvantaged youth, while at the same time, kids like Jonas can gain the ability to develop self-esteem and learn great leadership skills. With the support of dedicated adults, these kids can grow into great community leaders and feel good about themselves while they offer those in need necessities like clothes, toiletries, learning materials, toys and a chance to be happy so they can look in the mirror and love what they see.  They have a variety of needs for volunteers.

Aquarium of The Pacific (Long Beach)

Families can volunteer together starting at age 7.  You and your child would interpret exhibits at the aquarium.

The Historical Society of Pomona Valley (Pomona)

Adobe de Palomares was the 13 room home of Don Ygnacio Palomares and his wife, Dona Concepcion Lopez de Palomares. The Palomares and Vejar families owned the Rancho San Jose, which covered eastern Los Angeles county, some 150 years ago.  Due to recent budget cuts, they need help with general maintenance such as cutting back weeds, minor repairs, etc.

Orange County:

Bunny Bunch (Fountain Valley)

Bunny Bunch’s goal is to place rabbits into loving homes where they will spend the rest of their life in a happy, healthy, environment.  They do this this by helping people make the right choice about adopting a rabbit, by educating them about rabbits and their care, and what to expect when you have a rabbit living in your home as part of the family.  Children can volunteer along side their parents.

OneOC (County Wide)

OneOC goal has been connecting nonprofits with volunteers for over 50 years.  They connect young and old, diverse cultures and religions, and people of all economic levels to build a stronger, more vibrant Orange County.  Volunteer opportunities are available all over the county.

The Harvest Club (County Wide)

The Harvest Club helps people with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables they cannot or would not harvest themselves and donate the food to the underserved with their volunteer harvesting teams.

Love Fullerton (Fullerton)

Love Fullerton is a citywide service day that happens in the spring.  It is a partnership of 20+ churches, city government, the Mayor and City Council, the Chief of Police, local businesses, service organizations, public and private education, and local residents all working together to enhance the world-class experience of living and working in our city.

Families Forward (Irvine)

Do you remember that end-of-summer feeling with “Back to School” signs on every store window?  Having those new supplies in your hand on the first day made it fun to go back.  Families Forward wants to give every student that same oopportunity by participating in their Back to School Program. Grade-appropriate school supplies and backpacks are distributed to low-income elementary, middle, and high school students in August, helping them start on the same foot as their peers – building their confidence for the coming school year.  They accept donations for their Back To School Program at their office through August 2014.

Great Strides of The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Dana Point)

Great Strides provides a great opportunity for people within the community to get involved in a great cause. Participants can form walk teams at their workplace, through their clubs and organizations, or with friends and family.  Walk day is a fun, family-oriented event with a healthy 5k walk, children’s activities, food, and festivities that participants look forward to year after year.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (Count Wide)

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County has a really cool children’s volunteer program called Izzy’s Corner.  It is a kid-friendly space inside the Food Bank’s warehouse that provides a volunteer experience unlike any other. From the colorful cartoon town walls, to the kid-sized Candy Palace, kids are captivated by their surroundings, as they volunteer to help their peers in a safe environment.  Here they learn that they can make a real difference in the lives of needy children in their community. Students age 7 to 13 gain hands-on experience packing nutritious food for their neighbors in need.

Bolsa Chica Land Trust (Huntington Beach)

The Bolsa Chica Land Trust was formed in 1992 by a small group of Californians who believed that one of the last standing wetlands ecosystems in Southern California was worth preserving for future generations. The Land Trust now includes more than 5000 members from throughout California and twenty other states.  They offer a Junior Stewards program for youth.

Grandma’s House of Hope (Santa Ana)

Grandma’s House of Hope mission is to provide compassionate and uplifting transitional care for women in crisis and hungry children in Orange County.  Their vision is to provide a safety net for uniquely challenged and under-served women and children through love, hope, and spiritual healing.

Orange County Rescue Mission (County Wide)

The Orange County Rescue Mission provides assistance to those in need in Orange County in the areas of guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care and independent living communities.

Loves & Fishes (County Wide)

Volunteers come from churches, food pantries, college clubs, and individuals participate each year in Loaves and Fishes x10 gleaning and harvesting activities. Each year, thousands of pounds of produce are salvaged and given to the poor at no cost to them. Gleaners are people of all ages and income levels who want to give of themselves. Usually within 48 hours of picking the produce, hungry community members receive the gleaned food.

Shea Center for Therapeutic Horseback Riding (San Juan Capistrano)

The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through therapeutic horse-related programs.  Volunteers must be a minimum of 14 years old.

Riverside / San Bernardino Counties:

Inland Harvest (Redlands)

Inland Harvest was established in late 1990 to feed hungry people by transporting this surplus food donated by hospitals, restaurants, hotels, schools, bakeries, caterers, wholesalers and retailers to already established feeding programs in the Inland Empire.

Amy’s Farms (Ontario)

Amy’s Farms welcomes volunteers of all ages.  They are open for help Monday through Saturday year-round, rain or shine.  You make your own schedule and hours.  The only requirement is that you have a primary orientation meeting with their head farmer, Randy to become acquainted with the farm first.

San Diego County:

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is committed to ensuring that all available resources are used to assist personnel of the Naval Service–active, retired, and their eligible family members – to achieve financial self-sufficiency and find solutions to emergency needs.

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Great opportunity for high school students that need Community Service hours. Our Critter Camp runs all summer and we need JV’s to help out the counselors with campers. It is both fun and hard work. JV’s should enjoy working with children, be able to demonstrate respect for animals, serve as a positive role model for campers and be dependable and responsible! Must be at least 14 years of age and entering 9th grade in the Fall 2014.

City of San Diego Park and Recreation Dept. Habitat Restoration Crew

Join us in our effort ot enhance and preserve unique habitats and biodiversity. Share the enthusiasm and help protect nature.

Meets the Second Saturday of each month. RSVP to http://www.mtrp.org/events.asp to find out the specific meeting location.

We meet for this project from 8:00am to 11:00pm on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

*Volunteers who are coming to habitat Crew formerly known as habitat restoration crew) need to RSVP by emailing hgutknecht@mtrp.org that I can prepare appropriate project and enough tools.

**Court Referral Volunteers must contact Park Ranger prior to showing up to volunteer by calling Visitor Center 619-668-3281.

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Join the Habitat Restoration Crew in their effort to enhance and preserve unique habitats and biodiversity throughout San Diego.  The crew meets the second Saturday of each month.

Santa Barbara / Ventura Counties:

Gull Wings Children Museum (Oxnard)

The Museum features hands-on exhibits designed to make a child’s imagination soar. For close to 25 years, the nonprofit Museum has provided high quality educational programs and exhibits to children aged toddler to 12.  They offer many volunteer opportunities for teens, adults and groups.  As a part of their Crew, you will interact with visitors, assist staff with our hands-on exhibits or help our hard-working administrative staff.

Ty Warner Sea Center (Santa Barbara)

At the Sea Center visitors of all ages enjoy interactive exhibits, opportunities to work like scientists, a theater showcasing the wonders of the Santa Barbara Channel, hands-on close encounters with sea creatures, and a live shark touch pool.   A variety of volunteer options are available such as cleaning tanks and greeting visitors.

Community Roots Garden (Oxnard)

The Community Roots Garden invites you to come dig, weed, learn, teach, ask questions, take a shift on irrigation, cook for our Saturday meals, share ideas, or donate materials or funding. You can help in whatever way you’d like.  Working in the garden is also a fun way to complete needed community service hours.

ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Volunteer Match

VolunteerMatch strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement.

Guide Dogs of America

Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to its mission to provide guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so that they may continue to pursue their goals with increased mobility and independence.

Doing Good Together

Doing Good Together’s only aim is to make family volunteering accessible, easy, and enjoyable.  For parents and other caregivers, this means project ideas and resources that empower you to raise generous, civic-minded children, most popularly through their new Big-Hearted Families program.  For schools, faith groups and businesses, they work to deepen your organization’s culture of service, through a one-time workshop, Family Service Night event or fully integrated program.

Operation Help A Hero (Serves Military Families in So. Cal)

Operation Help a Hero is dedicated to the well-being and care of our American military members.  Their programs support military units and families as they prepare for separation, while they endure the challenges of deployment, and as they transition back to the United States.  Every cent contributed to Operation Help a Hero is used to serve the military community, and every project is based on real needs.

Special Olympics

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Ronald McDonald House (Loma Linda, Orange, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Long Beach, San Diego and Mission Viejo)

Since 1974, The Ronald McDonald’s House network of local Chapters have been making children happier and healthier by keeping families together – giving them a place to rest and refresh during a trying time.  A place that feels like home. These programs, tailored to meet the urgent needs of each community, can now be found in 58 countries and regions across the globe.

Big Sunday Weekend

The idea behind Big Sunday is that everyone has some way that they can help somebody else.  Tens of thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds join together one weekend a year to help make the world a better else.  There are projects for every passion and every talent ranging from helping people with AIDS, low-income children, the elderly, animals, deployed U.S. troops, the disabled, the homeless, the hungry, the environment and so much more.

If you know of any places that are great for families to volunteer together, please send them to jilleen@jilleen.com and we will happily add them to the list.

Happy Volunteering!

Jilleen

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center – Review and Giveaway!

Posted on May 14, 2014 | Filed Under: Field trips in Los Angeles, Giveaways, Summer Camps, Waterparks | 8 Comments

SPLASH! LA MIRADA REGIONAL AQUATICS CENTER REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!

Splash! La Mirada's

Splash! La Mirada’s Regional Aquatics Center

Do you have a fish in your family?  You know, the type of child that asks to go swimming all day, every day.  I have two of them.  Field Trip Girl and Field Trip Boy are avid swimmers.

Ella, Garrett & Jilleen Summer 2011

Field Trip Girl (2 yrs. old) & Field Trip Boy (4 yrs. old) in 2011.

Field Trip Boy especially likes to go on water slides.  He was born a thrill seeker.  So much so, that at the ripe old age two, he cried for hours after discovering he was too small to go on a certain water slide.

Well, happily those days are over!  Now we are going to Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center in La Mirada, CA to celebrate my son’s new growth spurt!

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

While at Splash!, he gets to rides all the water slides that he wants because he is officially over 48 inches tall; the minimum height requirement to ride the largest water slides.

Summertime fun at Splash! includes a family-fun “Buccaneer Bay” which combines the excitement of a water park with pirate themed features throughout.  Buccaneer Bay features a flowing river channel, three water slides, a children’s interactive play structure, zero-depth beach entry and two spray pad areas.

Buckaneer Bay at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

Buccaneer Bay at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

Pirate themed elements include: a marooned ship, a dramatic skull rock, shade canopies that resemble sails, cannon walls, wharf plank benches, and crow’s nest.

Last summer we visited Splash! for the first time and had a blast.  My daughter especially enjoyed the lazy river and my son played on the smaller water slides which are designed for little children.

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center also has a heated olympic size pool and offers year-round swim lessons for all ages and ability levels.

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center offers swimming lessons for all ages.

Right now Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center is offering a special deal on their 2014 SEASON PASS for only $54 per person OR for 3 easy payments of $18!

Visit Splash! for more information.  Hurry though!  The deal ends on May 31.

Splash! is also hosting several Buccaneer Bay Sneak Peek Events in May and June.  This is a great chance to check out Splash! before purchasing a season pass.

   Sneak Peek 2014

Splash! season passes are good from May 24th – September 28th.  If you are anything like my water loving family, you will use your pass all summer long.

A few tips for visiting Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center:

1. Parking is FREE.

2. No outside food or drinks are allowed inside the park except for sealed water bottles.  So if you want to eat you will either need to bring a picnic lunch to eat outside on the picnic tables or purchase food inside.

3. The best time to visit Splash! is after 3 pm when the crowds are the lightest.

4. Bring a lot of sunsceen and your own towels.

5. Splash! also makes a great location for summer birthday parties.

For more fun, Splash! is giving away 2 TICKETS TO 3 LUCKY WINNERS to the water park on SoCal Field Trips!  To enter, visit a Rafflecopter giveaway!!!

Happy Field Tripping,

Jilleen

DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored giveaway. Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center invited SoCal Field Trips to review their water park. All opinions and points of view are our own. Images used by permission. Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only. No purchase necessary to enter. One winner per household. Everyone has an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win.  Winners will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. No cash value. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected the same way. Several different ways to earn entries. Not liable for unclaimed prizes.

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