kidSTREAM Children's Museum "Pathway to Play" Brick & Legacy Campaign

kidSTREAM Children’s Museum is an emerging, hands-on destination dedicated to inspiring children through meaningful play-based learning. Designed especially for kids under 12 years old, kidSTREAM offers opportunities to explore Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STREAM) through interactive exhibits and programs that spark curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. kidSTREAM’s mission is to provide a vibrant, engaging environment where young children can discover, imagine, and learn through play, fostering a lifelong love of exploration and learning. Once open, admission will be comparable to other children’s museums in Southern California, ensuring accessibility for families throughout the region.

At completion, the museum, located at 3100 Ponderosa Drive in Camarillo (the former Camarillo Public Library site), will feature over 30,000 sq. ft of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. A grand opening of Phase 1 of the Museum is anticipated by the end of 2025 and will feature 21,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor exhibit space. Outdoor exhibits will highlight local and regional themes (agriculture, Channel Islands, camping, pygmy mammoth dig pit, etc.). Phase 1 indoor exhibits will include an early childhood microbiology area, creative studio and maker space, sensory room, and more.

Currently in its pre-opening phase, kidSTREAM is working towards creating a world-class children’s museum that serves families throughout Ventura County and beyond. As part of this effort, the museum has launched its Brick Legacy Campaign, a public initiative allowing individuals and organizations to leave a lasting mark on kidSTREAM’s future home. By purchasing a personalized brick, bench, or log seat, supporters can help fund immersive exhibits, innovative programming, and expanded access for all children while creating a permanent pathway to play. This campaign invites the community to join us in shaping a place where every child can experience the joy of discovery for generations to come.

Learn more at kidstream.org/brick-legacy-campaign and www.kidstream.org.

2025 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp in Oxnard July 22 to August 13

The 2025 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp presented by American Airlines will be open for fans to attend practice sessions in Oxnard from July 22nd through August 13tth. Fans can attend all practice sessions open to the public, starting with the first workout on Tuesday, July 22nd until the final open practice on Wednesday, August 13th. Location is the River Ridge Playing Fields, accessible at 2501 Ventura Road in Oxnard.

Training Camp in Oxnard will be highlighted by the annual camp opening ceremony – Cowboys Back Together Weekend presented by American Airlines – as the team welcomes fans back to training camp on Saturday, July 26th. The Cowboys Back Together Weekend event will begin at 9:15 am as fans enjoy live entertainment, appearances by Cowboys Alumni, Dallas Cowboys mascot Rowdy, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders autograph signing, exclusive merchandise, prizes, giveaways and more! The opening ceremony will take place at 11:15 am, which will include a performance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and remarks from Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones before the open practice session at 11:45 am.

On Thursday, July 31st, the team will host Heroes Appreciation Day presented by USAA to show their gratitude towards military personnel and first responders. Heroes who wear their military or first responder uniform or show their military ID will receive free general admission parking and two reserved spots on the sideline VIP structure to view practice. Capacity is limited; first come, first served.

Admission is FREE, no tickets needed. There will be autograph opportunities, Dallas Cowboys cheerleader appearances, live weekend entertainment, Cowboys merchandise for sale, food and drinks available for purchase, field access and more.

Fans will have the option to purchase VIP or Hospitality Deck Access to the training camp. Sideline Access / Early Entrance is $23 (including fees). VIP YAAMAVA’ Hospitality Deck Entrance is $115 (incl fees) Mon-Thurs and $172 (incl fees) Fri-Sun and joint practices . More info at fanexperiences.dallascowboys.com/training-camp.

More information at www.dallascowboys.com/training-camp..

2025 Schedule (gates open 2 hours before start time)

Tuesday, July 22 - 11:45 am

Wednesday, July 23 - 11:45 am

Thursday, July 24 - 11:45 am

Friday, July 25 - 4:00-6:00 pm - Oxnard Fan Night at The Collection at RiverPark featuring the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and Cowboys Mascot Rowdy. This event will also include Dallas Cowboys trivia, contests, giveaways, and more. Event will also feature host ZEALE of rap duo Blackillac, plus performances by local dance crews, an appearance by a Cowboys legend and more.

Saturday, July 26 – Cowboys Back Together Weekend & Opening Ceremony - 9:15 am Doors Open. 11:15 am Opening Ceremony. 11:45 am Open Practice

Monday, July 28 - 11:45 am

Wednesday, July 30 - 11:45 am

Thursday, July 31 - Heroes Appreciation Day - 11:45 am

Saturday, August 2 - 10 am

Monday, August 4 - 11:45 am

Tuesday, August 5 - Open practice with the Los Angeles Rams at 2 pm

Thursday, August 7 - 11:45 am

Friday, August 8 - 11:45 am

(Saturday, August 9 - Preseason game vs Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium at 4 pm)

Tuesday, August 12 - 11:45 am

Wednesday, August 13 - 11:45 am

Driving Directions

Northbound on the 101 freeway from Los Angeles: Exit Oxnard Boulevard. Turn RIGHT. Make your first LEFT onto Town Center Drive. Make a LEFT onto Ventura Road. Travel 1 mile and it will be on your RIGHT before Vineyard Ave. (watch for traffic lanes at the entrance to the parking lot).

Parking at River Ridge Playing Field opens at 8 am on weekdays and 7:30 am on weekends and the cost is $20 weekdays for small vehicles (cars/trucks) and $40 for large vehicles.  Cash only.

No bicycles, backpacks (small diaper bag ok), coolers, ice chests, outside food and pets. No strollers in the bleacher area. No tailgating or alcohol allowed.

Historical Note: The Cowboys have been training in Oxnard in the majority of years since 2001 (the years they were elsewhere were 2002-2003, 2007, 2009-2011 and 2020). They also trained at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks from 1963 to 1989.

2025 City of Thousand Oaks Summer Beach Bus Service June 16 to August 9

City of Thousand Oaks Summer Beach Bus Service Returns For 2025

The City of Thousand Oaks will once again offer the Summer Beach Bus: a regular scheduled public transit service traveling weekdays between Thousand Oaks and Zuma Beach in Malibu and, again this year, Saturday service to Ventura Harbor beaches. This is the 12th year the service is being offered by Thousand Oaks Transit (TOT). The service runs Monday through Saturday from June 16 through August 9, except for July 4.

Two round trips will be available daily. The fare is $4.00 round trip ($1.00 for seniors 65+ and persons with disabilities) cash only and is collected in person at the time of boarding. Students from kindergarten through college can ride the beach bus for free.

The Beach Bus departs from two locations -- Borchard Community Center parking lot and the Thousand Oaks Teen Center bus stop. The beach bus drops off and picks up at Zuma Beach Monday through Friday and picks up and drops off at Harbor Village and Harbor Cove Beach in Ventura.   

For exact departure times, refer to the timetable posted at each stop or for more information about the Summer Beach Bus, visit the Thousand Oaks Transit website at toaks.co/beachbus. Seating is limited and riders will be boarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival, at least 15 minutes in advance, is encouraged.

Parents and riders may track the bus location in real-time by visiting www.govcbus.com/map.

First Look from Rubin Telescope Beams into Santa Barbara

The glow of the Milky Way reflects off of Rubin Observatory's silver dome in this photo from May 2025. Credit: Quint 

On Wednesday, June 25, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History hosted a special “First Look” event in partnership with Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO), debuting the first images from the groundbreaking Vera C. Rubin Observatory. As the Museum prepares to launch its Space Sciences exhibit on July 12, this event offers an early glimpse into the global discoveries and local science shaping our understanding of the universe. 

Located in Chile, the Rubin Observatory is the most powerful survey telescope ever built. Over the next decade, it will scan the southern sky every few nights as part of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST)—capturing dynamic events like supernovae, near-Earth asteroids, and black hole mergers, and helping to unravel mysteries like dark matter.  
 
“The Rubin Observatory will observe countless objects in our local universe that have never been seen before. LCO scientists have been preparing for this for over a decade and we can’t wait to see what exciting things Rubin reveals,” says LCO Observatory Director Lisa Storrie-Lombardi, Ph.D. 

Santa Barbara-based Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) plays a vital role in the Rubin Observatory’s mission. With the only global network of robotic telescopes, LCO is uniquely positioned to track and study new cosmic events discovered by Rubin in real time. LCO scientists have been instrumental in shaping the project through their leadership in the LSST Discovery Alliance, a collaborative network supporting the Rubin survey’s scientific goals. 

The Museum’s “First Look” event featured a live broadcast of Rubin’s debut images, interactive displays, and a preview of themes that will be explored in its upcoming Space Sciences exhibit. Opening July 12, the exhibit will build public familiarity with the dynamics of the solar system and an appreciation for how astronomers constantly build on past discoveries to refine our understanding of the cosmos. 

Rubin During First Look Observing Campaign. Credit: Matsopoulos 

The Museum’s Astronomy Programs Manager, Ila Jad Komasa said. "Our Gladwin Planetarium allows us to make space more accessible and bring it a little closer to home. We have an amazing opportunity to take these remarkable images from Rubin Observatory and explore them in our planetarium. I am thrilled to collaborate with LCO to celebrate this milestone of astronomy." 

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History 

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History connects people to nature for the betterment of both, drawing on collections that preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Central Coast and beyond. Founded in 1916, the Museum is a private nonprofit supported in part by philanthropy, membership, and visitors. Members visit free. For more information, visit sbnature.org. 

This image combines 678 separate images taken by NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory in just over seven hours of observing time. Combining many images in this way clearly reveals otherwise faint or invisible details, such as the clouds of gas and dust that comprise the Trifid nebula (top) and the Lagoon nebula, which are several thousand light-years away from Earth. More information about this image is available on RubinObservatory.org. Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory 

2025 Summer Beach Buses in Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks

The City of Agoura Hills Summer Beach Bus is back for 2025. Runs June 18 to August 8 (except July 4) Monday through Friday from three designated locations to/from Zuma Beach. Service is $2 each way. Exact change required. Open to anyone (not just Agoura Hills residents). www.agourahillscity.gov/business_detail_T4_R106.php

The City of Thousand Oaks is offering Summer Beach Bus Service in 2025 from June 16 to August 9 (except July 4) to Zuma Beach and Ventura Harbor Beach. Two round trips will be available daily Monday through Friday. to Zuma and Saturday to Ventura Cove Beach. The fare is $4.00 round trip ($1.00 for seniors ages 65+ and persons with disabilities) cash only and is collected in person at the time of boarding. Students from kindergarten through college can ride the Beach Bus for free. toaks.gov/beachbus

Kids Bowl Free This Summer at Various Ventura County Bowling Centers

Here's a great summer deal that will bowl you over! Bowling alleys across the country are offering Kids Bowl Free deals during the summer months once again this year!

Up to two games per kid on designated days and times, subject to lane availability. Note that applicable ages for Kids Bowl Free vary from 2 up to 15 to 18.

The deal also does not apply to parties, camps and other organized events. And lastly, the deal does not include bowling shoe rental. With no further ado, here are local alleys in Ventura County and nearby areas that are participating in Kids Bowl Free!

NOTE: You first must visit www.kidsbowlfree.com and register with specific bowling alleys. After registering your children, you will receive coupons via email or through mobile devices, and in turn redeem them at the time of purchase. In addition to the 2 FREE Games, you may be able to purchase a family package (at participating centers) and generally must pay for standard shoe rental rates at the time of bowling.

Harley's Camarillo Bowl offers Kids Bowl Free Monday through Wednesday from 9:30am to 4pm for kids 2 to 17, from June 2 to August 29, 2025.

Harley's Simi Bowl offer Kids Bowl Free Monday, Wed, Thurs and Fri from 9am to 4pm for kids ages 2 to 16, from May 28 to August 29, 2025.

Harley's Valley Bowl offers Kids Bowl Free Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4pm for kids ages 2 to 18, from June 2 to August 29, 2025.

Click this link to pin down information about all the local Ventura County area bowling alleys.

2025 #TBT Food Truck Thursdays at Camarillo Ranch House on June 26, July 31

Throwback Thursday Food Truck Fest at the Camarillo Ranch is planned from 5-8PM on Thursday, June 26th and Thursday, July 31st, 2025. Events feature food trucks, including beer and wine, family activities, artisan market, live music, house tours, and more. Free admission. Located at 201 Camarillo Ranch Road.

For more information, visit camarilloranchfoundation.com/tbt-food-truck-festival..

2025 City of Agoura Hills Beach Bus June 18 to August 8

The City of Agoura Hills Summer Beach Bus is back for 2025. The bus runs June 16 to August 8 (except July 4), Monday through Friday from three designated locations to/from Zuma Beach, Parking Lot #8 - Lindero Canyon Middle School, Agoura High School and Agoura Road at Liberty Canyon Road. Service is $2 each way. Exact change required. Open to anyone - not just Agoura Hills residents, but must carry a form of ID. More details at www.agourahillscity.gov/business_detail_T4_R106.php

"Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition" Opens at the Reagan Library on November 22nd

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announces its new exhibit, “Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition,” that will open on November 22nd. The exhibit will mark the Dead Sea Scrolls' return to the U.S.A. for the first time in almost a decade and will celebrate the 75th anniversary of one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in modern history. It offers visitors a firsthand experience of the ancient manuscripts from the collections of the Israel Antiquities Authority and their profound implications for our understanding of the history, culture, and religious practices of ancient Judaism and the early foundations of Christianity. The Scrolls will be shown in a way they have never been seen before, integrating the latest cutting-edge technology that is exposing new secrets being revealed.

Highlights of the exhibit include the Magdala Stone, the Sea of Galilee Boat, often referred to as the "Jesus Boat,” as well as many never-before-toured artifacts.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, believed to date back to around 250 BCE to 68 CE and discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves near the Dead Sea, are a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts that have impacted the world’s understanding of history, religion and culture. Many of the scrolls in this rotating exhibit have never been seen outside Israel. Of the first fragments to be displayed are one sheet of the Great Psalms Scroll from Cave 11, dating back to the 1st century CE and written in square Hebrew script, still in use to this day. The exhibit will feature around 200 artifacts from Israel's National Treasures of the Israel Antiquities Authority, including:

● The Magdala Stone, which dates to the Second Temple Period, features intricate carvings of the Temple. These carvings provide insights into the role of synagogues as sacred spaces prior to the Temple's destruction and showcase the earliest known synagogue images of the Temple Menorah.

● The Sea of Galilee Boat, often referred to as the "Jesus Boat," a 1st-century CE fishing boat discovered in 1986 along the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. Unearthed during a severe drought, the reconstruction measures 27 feet in length and 7.5 feet in width and includes wood from the original vessel.

● The Psalm Scroll, the most substantial and well-preserved manuscript of Psalms of the thirty-six discovered in the Qumran caves. The Psalm Scroll is a rare find, as it contains several Psalms not found in the Hebrew Bible. These include two on display, focusing on the greatness of King David. The first focuses on his wisdom, attributing to him the writing of Psalms. The second, told in first person, describes the manner in which David was chosen and anointed as the monarch of Israel.

● Ossuaries, small stone receptacles used for secondary burial. They represent burial practices unique to the Second Temple Jewish population, bearing decorative reliefs and inscriptions. These ossuaries teach us about early Jewish beliefs regarding the afterlife, as well as the importance social structure given to family life and death.

● Objects from Masada, a natural fortress in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea, a key site in the struggle between Jewish rebels and the Roman Empire almost two thousand years ago. Items on display include Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin ostraca—small potsherds bearing writing, botanical remains such as pomegranate peels, walnut shells and olive pits; and imported textiles.

● Tyrian shekels, that were minted in Tyre, were the only coin accepted as the annual Temple tax, mentioned in the New Testament, and contributed by males above 20 years old.

This limited-time exhibit is almost two years in the making, curated by Dr. Risa Levitt, Dr. Orit Shamir, Dr. Joe Uziel, and Navit Popovich-Geller. The show is expected to draw visitors from all over the United States, created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collections of the National Treasures.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ReaganLibrary.com/DeadSeaScrolls.