Channel Islands YMCA - 2 Ventura County Locations

The Channel Islands YMCA is an association of seven YMCA branches serving Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

The Camarillo Family YMCA at 3111 Village at the Park Drive (805.484.0423) provides access to health and wellness information and activities for all ages. The Camarillo Family YMCA- Hiji Center has a wide variety of adult and senior programs, including aquatics, aerobics and cardiovascular exercise, weight and strength training, yoga, basketball and volleyball leagues, triathlon training and more!

The Aquatics Center at the Camarillo Family YMCA provides instructional swim programs for all ages, ability levels and interests. Youth and adult lessons are offered year round as well as special classes for those with physical limitations. More info at www.ciymca.org/locations/camarillo-family-ymca.

The Ventura Family YMCA at 3760 Telegraph Road (805.642.2131) has served the City of Ventura for over 130 years. It got its start on September 30, 1887 with a house that was purchased on the corner of Santa Clara and Oak Street. Today, the Ventura Family YMCA has grown with an expansive 6,000 facility members and provides childcare to over 200 children in its after-school programs. More information at www.ciymca.org/locations/ventura-family-ymca.

www.ciymca.org

For Art's Sake Studio in Westlake Village

For Art's Sake offers fine art classes exclusively in oil painting. While other methodologies dictate that students must graduate through training in other skills and mediums prior to working with oils, For Art's Sake's philosophy is that all the required skills can be effectively taught as part of the process. Students learn basic to advanced techniques in drawing, composition, color harmony and mixing theories.  Oils are a wonderfully flexible and forgiving medium for artists of any skill level to explore with unique potential for growth and advancement.

Kids and adults art classes are available as well as summer art camp, birthday parties and more. Visit www.4artsakestudio.com or call 818.707.1952 for more information. For Art's Sake is located at 31143 Via Colinas #511, Westlake Village.

Protégé Performing Arts Center in Westlake Village

Protégé Performing Arts Center is a new performing arts school in the North Ranch area of Westlake Village at 1145 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite D-1, offering classes in all styles of dance, singing, music and acting. Dance classes available for all levels and age ranges, including adults. Both group and private sessions are available. Birthday dance parties available too! Visit www.protegearts.com or call 818.532.7700 for more information.

Vita Art Center in Ventura

Vita Art Center is an educational non-profit that provides high-quality enrichment experiences in the visual arts for children, teens, and adults. Classes are taught by professional artists and instructors who design fun, challenging and educational projects and a variety of media and subject-matter is offered, with plenty of classes to choose from. Enrollment is limited to 10 students per course. Registration is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Vita Art Center is located at the Bell Arts Factory 432 N. Ventura Avenue, Studio 30, Ventura. Visit www.vitaartcenter.com or call 805-644-9214 to learn more.

Simi Valley Aquatics

Simi Valley Aquatics opened the first indoor swim school in Simi Valley in July 2016. The facility offers year-round swim lessons with two 90 degree pools for all ages, baby to adult. Offering group lessons, private lessons, semi-private lessons, "Baby & Me" classes and private parties. Located at 1263 Simi Town Center Way. Visit www.SVaquatics.com or call 805.443.SWIM for more information.

Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts

The Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts (located at 2520-A Los Posas Road) has brought the performing arts to students since 1999. The Academy features a state-of-the-art facility featuring over 10,000 square feet of learning space and a professional faculty with vast teaching and performing experience. Ages three through adult. Classes offered in ballet, tap, pointe, acrobatics/tumbling, lyrical/contemporary, aerial, modern, hop hop and voice. All boys dances classes too!

For more information, visit www.camarilloacademy.com or call 805.383.6446.

Playground Next to the Ventura Pier

Click the image for more information about this playground area adjacent to the Ventura Pier.

Dos Vientos Neighborhood Park in Newbury Park

Dos Vientos Neighborhood Park is a 5 acre park located at the corner of Lynn Road and Via Andrea in Newbury Park. This is a a low-key neighborhood park with some, but not a lot, of parking available along Via Andrea.  It has a large grassy area, sand volleyball court, playground area, basketball court, four picnic tables and BBQ grills and a small restroom.  More information at the Conejo Recreation and Park District website at www.crpd.org/parkfac/parks/dosvientosneighborhood.asp.

Rancho Tapo Community Park in Simi Valley

Located at 3700 Avenida Simi in Simi Valley, Rancho Tapo Community Park al is hidden away north of the 118 freeway between Sequoia Avenue and Tapo Canyon Road. The park has something for everyone, including several play areas, splash pad, covered area for gatherings, nicely appointed fitness circuit area, playfields, basketball and a peaceful Veterans' Plaza with pond in memory those who have served. Best of all, this is a very flat park with a nice, 1/2 mile walking path that the kids enjoy riding their scooters on. We like this park! Visit www.rsrpd.org/simi_valley/parks/rancho_tapo_community_park_%28lemon%29.php for more information.

Veterans' Memorial

Splash pad

Parks In and Around Ventura County

There's dozens of local area parks highlighted at THIS LINK that have play areas for the kids.

The Do Something section of the site has even more parks compiled at THIS LINK. All told we have well over 300 parks to park ourselves in and around Ventura County and adjacent areas.

So grab that leash and see you at the park!