Regular Activities by the day of the week
(Note: always confirm by phone before planning these activities)
Monday and Thursday nights Beginner Line Dancing 6 pm at the Boulder Creek Rec Center, ultra beginner starts at 6 pm, and the advanced beginner starts at 7:00 pm for ages 8-90, 831-338-8990, donation or register 5 claases for $20
First Tuesday: Seymour Free Day 100 Shaffer Rd, SC, 831-459-3800 www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/visitor_information.html
Free First Thursday: Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Dr, SC, 420-6115, www.santacruzmuseums.org
Marine Mammal Research Tour: Behind the scenes at Long Marine Lab, 2nd Thursday and 4th Sunday of every month 2:15 - 3:30 pm. Seymour Marine Discovery Center, end of Delaware Ave. Santa Cruz 831.459.3800. Learn about the work of scientists and their studies of dolphins, sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals. seymourcenter.ucsc.edu
FRIDAYS: Game Day at Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St, SC 420-6177, play board games and eat popcorn from 1-2:30 pm
Museum of Art and History, Free First Friday 11am - 9pm, Free noontime tour of MAH Join MAH docents for a museum-wide tour highlighting the current exhibitions.12noon, cost: free, The McPherson Center in downtown Santa Cruz, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (corner of Front and Cooper Streets) 831-429-1964
Second Thursday of the Month: Capitola Kids Club at the Capitola Mall, 3:30 pm for ages, 12 and under, 831-465-0773 at the food court
Acoustic Jam Session first Saturday of the Month 7 pm - 9 pm at the Boulder Creek Rec Center, all ages, abilities and instruments, 831-338-4144
Variable Saturdays: varying times, Star and Moon Gazing, 335-2423, http://.astronomy.santa-cruz.ca.us
Children's Clothing Swap Third Saturday of the Month, 6-10 pm at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. Bring clothing to exchange from birth to size 5, or come pick up what you need, 101 Riverside, Ben Lomond, 408-875-3450
First Saturday of Each Month: 10 am til 2 pm, for ages 8-17 yrs, KIDS FLY FREE with a parent or guardian by a pilot from the Experimental Pilots Ass'n, 831-688-2809 May thru November
Sundays: Seaside Crafts from 1 to 3 pm, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, end of Delaware Ave. Santa Cruz 831.459.3800. Crafts created from materials at the Center and learn about ocean creatures

Other Activities around the County
(Note: always confirm by phone before planning these activities)
WATSONVILLE LIBRARY, lots of events for kids, 831.768.3400, Freedom Branch, 768-3420, www.watsonville.lib.ca.us/services/programs.shtml

SANTA CRUZ PUBLIC LIBRARIES http://www.santacruzpl.org/kids/
www.santacruzpl.org/events/list/programs-kids/2009/5/
SC Teen Center, 125 Laurel, SC, 420-6235, call for hours, pool, ping pong, air hockey, X-Box 360, Wii, movies, internet, music, chill space, dances, band nights, overnight trips, sports, ongoing drop-in classes, computer lab with high-speed internet connection, homeowrk help

Hikes and Other Park Activities
(Note: always confirm by phone before planning these activities)
STATE PARKS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: bicycling, kayaking, fishing, hiking, horse-back riding, surfing, swimming, wind-surfing, wildlifie viewing http://www.santacruzstateparks.org/
RANCHO DEL OSO NATURE & HISTORY CENTER
Located 16 miles north of Santa Cruz along Highway One, at Waddell Creek (831) 427-2288 Nature Walks
NATURAL BRIDGES STATE BEACH
Located at the end of West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz (831) 423-4609
HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK
Main entrance located two miles South of Felton on Highway 9 (831) 335-7077
WILDER RANCH STATE PARK
Located two miles north of Santa Cruz, on Highway 1 (831) 426-0505, 1pm
A Tour of the Historic Ranch Buildings, Wilder Ranch, Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, 831.426.0505
www.santacruzstateparks.org Discover what life was like a century or more ago on this innovative dairy ranch. Sundays, Jan. - Nov. PESCADERO MARSH STATE NATURE RESERVE
Located north of Pescadero Rd. along Highway One (650) 879-2170 Pescadero Marsh Nature Walks
BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK
Located 9 miles outside of Boulder Creek on Hwy 236 (831) 338-8883
ALL WALKS START AT PARK HEADQUARTERS, Redwood Loop Guided Walks, Weekends, March - November, 11am and 2pm, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek, 831.338.8883
www.mountainparks.org Easy, half-mile walks. Learn about redwoods, the park's history, and see its most impressive trees.

OTHER LOCAL PARKS
Ano Nuevo State Reserve Guided Elephant Seal Walk, Reservations req. 800-444-4445. Dec 15-March 31, 2010. This is the mating and birthing season
Elkhorn Slough Guided Tours, Guided Tours Sat and Sun 10am and 1pm. First Saturday of the month: 8:30 am tour. Call to check times at 831-728-2822 Binoculars provided. http://elkhornslough.org/
Elkhorn Slough Self Tours Elkorn Slough Foundation, Wednesday - Sunday 9am - 5pm The 1400-acre Reserve is a hub of activity and hosts programs that promote education, research, and conservation in Elkhorn Slough. The Visitor Center has award-winning exhibits that invite everyone to explore the Unseen Slough. There are five miles of trails that meander through beautiful oak woodlands, calm tidal creeks, and freshwater marshes. We offer tours on the weekends and special events throughout the year.1700 Elkhorn Rd., Watsonville, (831) 728-2822 http://elkhornslough.org/
Monarch Butterfly Tours at Natural Bridges State Beach All Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 2pm. November-February. These walks take place during the winter months, when migrating monarchs come to Santa Cruz. Natural Bridges is located at the end of West Cliff Drive. 423-4609

COUNTY PARKS http://www.scparks.com/county_parks_list.html
Quail Hollow Ranch County Park has weekend activities, mostly FREE and drop-in at 800 Quail Hollow Rd, Ben Lomond, 831-335-9348, www.scparks.com/quail_hollow.html

CITY PARKS
Watsonville Wetlands Walking Tours, 1:30 every Sunday, 30 Harkins Slough Rd. Watsonville, 768-1622, www.wetlandsofwatsonville.org

Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents: "In Concert", 2pm, Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive
Aptos, 831.479.6331 or 831.477.1606, scbt.org New original choreography by Robert Kelley with music and live performances! Known as a top regional ballet company.

March 7 Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre presents: "In Concert", 2pm, Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive
Aptos, 831.479.6331 or 831.477.1606, scbt.org New original choreography by Robert Kelley with music and live performances! Known as a top regional ballet company.

Pooches in the Park. 10 am- 3 pm, Aptos County Park Polo Grounds, 2255 Huntington Drive, Aptos, 454-7930,
www.scparks.com

March 8 Kirby Hosts Admissions and Campus Tours
9 am, families are invited to an hour-long admissions information session and campus tour for prospective students in grades 6-12 at Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School, 425 Encinal Street in SC. To rsvp go to www.tinyurl.com/kirbyrsvp/ or call (831) 423-0658?202 or email gbkadmissions@kirby.org Applications for 2010-2011 are currently being accepted.

March 9 Kirby Hosts Admissions and Campus Tours 2:45 pm. Families are invited to an hour-long admissions information session and campus tour for prospective students in grades 6-12 at Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School, 425 Encinal Street in SC. To rsvp go to www.tinyurl.com/kirbyrsvp/ or call (831) 423-0658?202 or email gbkadmissions@kirby.org Applications for 2010-2011 are currently being accepted.

Parent Circle 7-9pm Join other parents in this monthly support circle. We will study, share, sing, and enjoy artistic activities together. Co-facilitated by Cindy Brooks, MFT and Joya Birns, Waldorf Educator.  Suggested donation: $5 to $15.Location: 3065 Porter Street, Suite 200, Soquel. Cindy Brooks, 464-2972.

Chinese Immersion Sing and Play Class
FREE Demo Class, 11:00 am
Come and Play with us at Jelli Beanz, Second Floor, 2555 Soquel Drive @ Winkle
Use familiar Melodies from around the world, through
singing, playing, movement and stories to learn Chinese
To reserve your spot, please call 408 661 3838 or visit
www.ChineseBees.info

Morning in the Waldorf School Kindergarten, 10am to 12pm.Give your three- to six-year-old a chance to experience the delights of a Waldorf kindergarten while you learn about what we do, why we do it, and how home life supports school life. 2190 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz. Call 831.425.0519 x 222 for more information. www.scwaldorf.org

Fundraising Gala for Aptos Academy: independentschools.html

March 19 Mount Madonna School Creative Writing Reading, 7pm, annual reading by high school students includes poetry, short stories, first-person monologues, and personal essay. Public welcome. MountMadonnaSchool.org

March 22 Open House at Kirby 7 p.m.
for grades 6-12
Prospective students and their parents are invited to attend the Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School Open House for grades 6 through 12 at 425 Encinal Street in Santa Cruz. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know more about Kirby and its excellent academic and exceptional arts programs.Talk with faculty and students, listen to student musicians, tour the campus, and peruse curricular, art and athletics fairs.  To rsvp go to tinyurl.com/kirbyrsvp For more immediate information or to schedule a student shadow call (831) 423-0658 X202.

SC Waldorf School 8th Grade Hosts a Persian Dinner Fundraiser 831.425.0519 www.scwaldorf.org

April 2 Free First Friday 11am - 9pm, Free noontime tour of MAH Join MAH docents for a museum-wide tour highlighting the current exhibitions.12noon, cost: free, The McPherson Center in downtown Santa Cruz, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (corner of Front and Cooper Streets) 831-429-1964

May 1

May 9 Marine Discovery Run/Walk Distances are 10K/5K and Kids 1K at Long Marine Lab . Santa Cruz. 4th Annual Marine Discovery Event and we welcome runners and walkers of all abilities to come out and enjoy the day on this scenic course next to the ocean. Register on line or download a mail-in regsitration forms on our website.  Our goal is to get 1100 runners this year...one for every living monk seal in the world. 
10K   $35, 5K   $25, 1K   $ 5, Family Entry $50

June 5 Woof to Woof, a Doggie Fun Day and Service Dog Expo, will be held from 10am to 3pm in the Skypark Soccer Field in Scotts Valley, CA. The event features parades, contests with prizes, demonstrations, Fun Fotos booth, Mystic Paw Reader, a raffle, silent auction, shopping and food. http://www.wooftowoof.com