Upcoming Programs at Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center in Ojai

Here's the lineup of summer programs planned at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center in Ojai in 2017. $3 for adults; $2 for age 5-12. Under 5 are free.

May 20 – 11:00am  –  Luzonica Birds of the World - Join  Erin Koski, Director of Luzonica, as they share their love and conservation of all bird species.  Luzonica will bring a variety of birds to share and show outside of the Visitor Center.

May 27 – 11:00am – Nature Walk with Julie Tumamait - Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait will teach and show local plants around Wheeler Gorge Campground.  She will explain how to use native plants for food, medicine and with Chumash games.

June 10 – 11:00am – Hiking: Be Prepared - Dr. James Caballero will draw from over 20 years of local hiking to talk about practical hiking tips.  These tips will help to keep you safe while on the trails and what to look for on the trails.  Whether you are a seasoned hiker or new to the trails, you will benefit from the knowledge gained.

June 17 – 11:00am – Humane Society Surprise Program - Dawn Riley, Education Department of the Ventura County Human Society, will share her insight and experiences in this surprise presentation.  She talk could cover a pesky cat or dog or maybe even a cockroach.  Dawn is full of surprises and these programs are loved by all who attend.

June 24 – 11:00am – REI Takes the Mystery Out of…. - REI specialists will take the mystery out of backpacking in California’s Central Coast as we share our knowledge on how to enjoy this activity with your family.  REI will cover backpacking essentials, including choosing a pack or child carrier, selecting proper clothing and the right footwear and food solutions for different age groups.  No experience necessary.

July 1 – 11:00am – Reptiles with Southwestern Herpetological - Southwestern Herpetological Society will present live and impressive lizards and snakes and give advice on reptiles as pets along with being able to answer any questions you might have about reptiles.

July 8 – 11:00am – Saving the California Condor - What issues face this most endangered species and can they truly be returned to the wild to live on their own?  A presentation and items displayed by members of the Friends of the California Condor.

July 15 – 11:00am – Volcanoes in Story and Science - Learn from gifted storyteller Richard Wade, scientist, artist and educator, the science of how volcanoes erupt and grow. He will also entertain children and adults with legends and lore. Volunteers make a model volcano erupt! Get a free piece of lava.

July 22 – 10:30am – Trees Are Tremendous - Discover the native and non-native trees that live in Wheeler Gorge on this short and very educational walk led by Los Padres National Forest Botanist Lloyd Simpson.  The walk begins at the Visitor Center and continues into and around the campground before finished back at the Visitor Center.  This is a Cub Scout Required Program.

July 22 – 1:00pm – Into the Woods - Gordie Hemphill, LPFA Ojai Chapter President, leads a program that covers forest trees and plants and how mankind and animals use them. See how mankind and animals depend on them. Reservations required (Wheeler@LPForest.org) 

July 29 – 11:00am – Humane Society Surprise Program #2 - Dawn Riley, Education Department of the Ventura County Human Society, will share her second surprise presentation featuring our domesticated friends.

August 5 – 11:00am – Last Days of the Dinosaurs - Richard Wade, scientist, artist and educator will present a hands-on, fun-filled presentation about how dinosaurs lived and died, even the sounds they made. Hold a real meteorite and replicas of fossils. Appropriate for all ages.

August 12 – 11:00am – Earth Rocks! Geology - Discover from Jennifer Flittie how volcanoes, mountains, caves and geysers are formed. Learn how rocks and minerals are used in metal, glass, jewelry, and in building homes. Make a Moh’s scale of hardness kit. Start a rock and mineral kit. Reservations required (Wheeler@LPForest.org)

August 12 – 1:00pm  –  Into the Wild (Naturalists) - Join Alexa Hohensee as she covers in this program respecting and protecting wildlife in our local forest.  You will also learn about birds and their flyways, venomous snakes, poisonous plants and how to identify them.  You will learn about food chains and ecosystems and how humans have changed the balance of nature.   *Reservations required, $3.00 fee to cover material costs. Reservations required Wheeler@LPForest.org)

August 19 – 11:00am – Strange & Exotic Critters - This hands-on experience lets you meet some unusual animals up-close and personal.  Learn about the benefits of having pets, some special considerations for living with animals and meet some amazing ambassadors including the softest bunny ever, a hairless guinea pig, a boa constrictor, tarantula and a miniature chicken.

August 26 – 11:00am – Wonderful World of Bees - Scientists estimate that one-third of the world’s food crops and four-fifths of its flowering plants depend on some form of insect pollination, mainly by bees.  Yet honeybees are native bees around the globe are declining in numbers.  Discover the fascinating world of bees and its impact on the ecosystem.  Join University of California entomologist Anna D. Howell in a talk about the wonderful world of bees.

September 2 – 11:00am – Amazing World of Bears - Kelley Swedlow, Wheeler Gorge Docent, will present information about our brown and black bears, and    the many other types of bears found around the world.

September 9 – 11:00am – Rescuing Ocean Animals - Wildlife rescuer Ron Barrett, with the Channel Island Marine and Wildlife Institute, will present information and insights on sea lions, seals, otters and other animals found sick or injured. What you should do and not do when you find an animal stranded on the beach?

September 16 – 11:00am – Reptiles with Southwestern Herpetological - Southwestern Herpetological Society will present live and impressive lizards and snakes and give advice on reptiles as pets along with being able to answer any questions you might have about reptiles.

September 23 – 11:00am – Storytelling of the Chumash with Julie Tumamait - Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait will share stories of death and resurrection, stories still alive today with lessons reinforced by a look in the night skies or a walk in the wilderness.  Particular sharing will be The Story of Anucwa and  The Boys Who Turned to Geese.  Hear stories of woodpecker, blue jay, coyote and others.  Learn to look at plants and stones in different ways.  Julie is an amazing and engaging storyteller.

Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center is located at 17017 Maricopa Highway, Ojai. Call (805) 640-9060 or visit lpforest.org/wheeler for more information.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley Family Fun Run 2K Mud Dash on Sat, April 15th

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley invite youth to ‘get a little muddy’ at the Family Fun Run 2K Mud Dash on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Redwood Middle School, 233 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks.  Check-in begins at 8 a.m. and the first wave of runners starts at 9 a.m.

The 2k course is designed for the entire family to participate and starts and finishes at the same point.  Participants will have fun as they loop in and out of tires, jump hay bales, climb mini-walls and, of course, get a little dirty!  Finisher medals and t-shirts will be provided to all participants.  An Easter Egg Hunt will also be part of the event beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Music will be provided by Oakheart County Music Festival.

The Family Fun Run is presented by Logix Federal Credit Union and Variety, The Children’s Charity.  The cost for early registration is $10 for 9-year-old and under & after-school members and $20 for 10-year-old and up.  Day-of-race entry is $15 for 9-year-old and under & after-school members and $30 for 10-year-old and up.

Registration can be made at www.active.com.  To inquire about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, call 818-706-0905 or visit the website at www.bgcconejo.org.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley are open before and after school, during lunch, on weekends, throughout the summer for the camp program and all day during school vacations with tours of the Clubs available upon request.  For more information about supervised youth programs, to donate, volunteer, or register online, visit www.bgcconejo.org or call 818-706-0905.

Commemorative Air Force Airpower History Tour in Camarillo April 18-23, 2017

The Commemorative Air Force Airpower History Tour, a National Air Tour of Historic WWII Aircraft, flies in to the Camarillo Airport at the CAF So Cal Wing, 445 Aviation Drive, on Tuesday, April 18 through Sunday, April 23, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Ramp access cost is $15 for adults and $8 for youth (ages 11 to 17. Children 10 and under are free. Price includes B-29 cockpit tour when the aircraft is available. 

Aircraft tours available as follows:

• Tues-Fri 4/18-4/21: Aircraft tours start at 9 a.m.
• Sat-Sun 4/22-4/23: B-29 flies at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tours available after noon.

Attending aircraft include the B-29 Superfortress FIFI, the premiere bomber of WWII (ride times available at Sat/Sun online), C-45 Expeditor Bucke of Bolts (ride times sold onsite - seats start at $75), T-6 Texan, the legendary trainer of WWII (ride times sold onsite) and Fairchild PT-19, an open cockpit trainer (ride times sold onsite).

Visit www.airpowersquadron.org to learn more.

Calabasas High Cross Country and Track Teams Host 5K Fun Run on Saturday, Feb 25th

The Calabasas High School Cross Country and Track teams are hosting the Team Something Yellow 5K Fun Run and 400 Meter Kids' Dash on Saturday, February 25th at 3:30pm.

Proceeds support the Kevin Cordasco Foundation: Something Yellow & Concern Foundation, in support of former CHS student Kevin Cordasco. Cordasco had neuroblastoma at age 10 but has not let that get in the way of his accomplishments. He will be at the event.

More details at www.raceentry.com/race-reviews/something-yellow-5k-fun-run-and-400-meter-kids-dash

Sankta Lucia Service at Cal Lutheran Thousand Oaks on Thursday, December 8, 2016

Cal Lutheran to hold Sankta Lucia service

Student elected by classmates wears crown of candles

California Lutheran University’s dramatic Sankta Lucia Festival, in which a student wears a crown of lighted candles, will be held at 11:25 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, in Samuelson Chapel.

Undergraduate students select five female and five male representatives whose depth of character and faith make them leaders in the Cal Lutheran community. In the festival, Lucia, her attendants and their escorts enter to the accompaniment of an ancient hymn and read an adaptation of the legend. Attendants then light the candles in Lucia’s crown.

The Swedish ceremony pays homage to the Christian martyr who died at the stake on Dec. 13, 304 A.D. and symbolizes the spirit of a centuries-old legend of Christian service. The tradition, which was brought to America by Swedish immigrants, has been part of the university’s holiday celebrations since its early years. The festival honors the character traits of mercy, humility and purity of heart, as seen in the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Office of Campus Ministry at Cal Lutheran is sponsoring the free event.

The chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane on the Thousand Oaks campus. Additional parking is available in the lot at the corner of Olsen Road and Mountclef Boulevard. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lohr-Myers at campusministry@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3228.

Hanukkah Celebration at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks on Monday, December 5th

Cal Lutheran hosts Hanukkah celebration

Hillel students organizing service activity, ceremony

California Lutheran University is hosting its annual Hanukkah celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5.

Organized by students in the university’s Hillel club, the event will be held in Lundring Events Center on the Thousand Oaks campus.

The ceremony will feature the lighting of the candles on the menorah. The community can also join faculty, staff and students in enjoying traditional food and activities.

For the first time this year, participants are invited to bring a toy and assemble holiday packages during the event for children served by Many Mansions. Hillel members are volunteering for the nonprofit throughout the year.

This year Hanukkah takes place from sundown on Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. Every year, Jewish people around the world celebrate Hanukkah to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees defeated the army of the Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanies and won their religious freedom.

Hanukkah is referred to as the Festival of Lights because, according to tradition, a rekindled menorah burned for eight days although it only held enough oil to burn a single day. The holiday is a reminder to rekindle our spiritual lights and shine for the world.

Although Cal Lutheran has long hosted Hanukkah celebrations, the Hillel club in recent years has organized more events for the campus and the nearby community. In 2012, Rabbi Belle Michael took over as the adviser for Hillel and became the first Jewish member of the university’s Campus Ministry staff. The Oak Park resident also began helping to lead chapel services.

The number of Jewish students at Cal Lutheran is growing and currently stands at about 150. Hillel, led by president Briana Shneyder of Encino, provides a community for the Jewish students and opportunities to explore their identity with one another and community members. Celebrations draw students from many faiths and perspectives, and club members participate in the campus’s interfaith activities as well as social justice events. The club recently put together an advisory board made up of community leaders, parents, alumni, faculty and staff.

Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is on the north side of Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard.

Cal Lutheran’s Office of Campus Ministry is sponsoring the free event. For more information, contact Shneyder at bshnede@callutheran.edu or Michael at bmichae@callutheran.edu.

Menorah Lighting Hanukkah Events at Janss Marketplace 2016

Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks presents the following Menorah Lighting Hanukkah events this upcoming 2016 holiday season:

Tuesday, Dec 27: Thousand Oaks Chabad Center celebrates the 4th night of Hanukkah with a candle ceremony from 5:30-7:30pm. Event will include traditional Jewish music and food, sizzling hot latkes, free entertainment, kids' craft activity and face painting. Giant 18 foot menorah will be illuminated at 6:30pm.

Wed, Dec 28: Temple Etz Chaim will host the 5th night of Hanukkah candle ceremony.

Visit www.janssmarketplace.net.

8th Annual Day of the Dead Celebration at CSU Channel Islands on November 1st

CI celebrates Day of the Dead with ofrendas, sand murals, and dancers

CSU Channel Islands (CI) students will help professional artist Sergio Hernandez create a sand mural in front of the John Spoor Broome Library as part of CI’s 8th Annual Day of the Dead celebration.

Hernandez and the students will begin designing the sand mural in a 4-foot by 8-foot frame at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 so it will be ready for the celebration, scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m.

The public is invited to the event, which will begin with a traditional Aztec blessing, followed by a performance from Danza Tlaloc Ollin, an indigenous Aztec dance group made up of CI students.

Roberto Rodriguez of the Mexican Consulate will be among the guest speakers. He will provide an overview of the meaning, history and differences in the way the Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in various regions of Mexico.

Celebrated throughout Mexico and parts of Central and South America, the Day of the Dead is an opportunity for families to remember family and friends who have passed, and to support them on their spiritual journey. It is an ancient tradition that was transformed when the Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico more than 600 years ago.

“When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, they tried to replace the old traditions with traditions they brought from Spain,” Rodriguez said. “The celebration became a combination of the old Aztec tradition with All Saints Day, part of Spanish Catholicism.”

Ofrendas, or “offerings” describe homemade altars in homes that will contain common elements such as flowers, water, photos, and cherished articles from the deceased.

“Every article has meaning,” Rodriguez said. “And the elements are different in different parts of Mexico. In Ecatepec, for example, they prefer candles. In Michoacan, the 1st of November is dedicated to the elders and the 2nd of November is for the children.”

The CI celebration will include colorful ofrendas created by CI’s Art program. Guests are invited to view them on display in the John Spoor Broome Library Gallery.

Rodriguez explained that the Mexican states closest to the U.S. border tend to combine Halloween with the Day of the Dead, mixing jack-o-lanterns with traditional sugar skulls and the ubiquitous “La Calavera Catrina” or just “Catrina.”

Catrina is a zinc etching done in the early 1900s by a Mexican printmaker depicting a female skeleton in an elaborate hat. Catrina became synonymous with Day of the Dead. 

The event is sponsored by CI’s Art program, Intercultural Services, and the Mexican Consulate.

Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus.  Riders should board the CI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.

Free Family Fun Day at Big Rock Nature Preserve in Ventura on Saturday, August 6th

On Saturday, August 6, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host Family Fun Day at their Big Rock Nature Preserve from 10 a.m. - 12 Noon. This free, family-friendly, open-to-the-public outdoor event will include nature-themed crafts, an environmental scavenger hunt and a biologist-led hike along the banks of the Ventura River.

“It has been several months since our generous volunteers helped us plant the 500 trees that are taking root at our Big Rock Preserve and we are eager to show off our work,” said Derek Poultney, VHC Executive Director. “We invite the public to explore our preserve, learn about the delicate habitat along the Ventura River and the importance of preserving it.”

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust that has operated in the Ventura region since 2003 and currently manages nearly 80 acres of the Ventura River. In addition to preserving and restoring natural areas, VHC provides outdoor education programs where school students and community residents can learn about important environmental issues in our community.

Family Fun Day is appropriate for people of all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees should wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Please note that the trails at Big Rock Preserve are not stroller friendly. There is no cost to attend but reservations are strongly encouraged. To RSVP, visit www.venturahillsides.org and click on the Events tab.

VHC is seeking support for future outdoor educational programming. For more information, contact VHC Development Director, Adrienne Stephens at: (805) 643-8044 or adrienne@venturahillsides.org.

Downtown Ventura Farmers' Market 30th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, June 4th

The Downtown Ventura Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 30th birthday on Saturday, June 4, 2016 with a community event complete with all types of fun activities for all ages.  The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the farmers’ market area and also throughout the Main Street Mini Park, located on the corners of East Santa Clara and Palm Streets, south of the 300 block of Main Street.  A special presentation will beheld at 8:30 a.m. to thank the original visionaries and participants who brought the market into Downtown Ventura.

One of the main highlights of the event is a chef demonstration by award winning chef, author and farmers’ market advocate, Amelia Saltsman who will demonstrate recipes utilizing the theme, ‘Making the Most of the Summer Market’.  Saltsman is the author of the award-winning ‘The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook:  Simple Recipes, and Stories from the Market and Farm’ and ‘The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen,’ her latest release.  She will use recipes from both books in her cooking demonstration.  Saltsman is passionate about helping everyday cooks make the connection between small-farmed foods and real-life meals.  In her warm style, she streamlines today’s desire for healthier, sustainable foods.  The chef demonstration will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Mini Park.

Along with the chef demonstration, the celebration will feature a customer appreciation booth with free giveaways, a children’s area with face painting and activities, community information booths and tasty birthday cake, which will be given out while supplies last.  Special food offerings will include a tri-tip BBQ from the Busy Bee Café and several food trucks including Scratch, a local favorite.

Gene West, toy maker will also be on hand to share his handmade wooden toy creations.  Now 85, West, known as the ‘Toy Man’ has allowed children all over the county to play with his nearly 700 handmade wooden toys.  A retired mechanical engineer and an Oxnard resident for more than 40 years, West started his toy making during his retirement and continued delighting young and old alike, still active today.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Jerry McWorter and the Hot Roux Band from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Hot Roux is very well known in southern California with a Louisiana flavored blues and swampy rock & roll sound.  Musician and band leader, Jerry McWorter comes from a rare tradition of ‘singing drummers’ such as Levon Helm, Sam Lay and Buddy Miles.  The Ventura County based band features Jerry McWorter on drums/lead vocal, Brent Harding on bass/backup vocals, Ed Berghoff on guitar/backup vocals and Frank Goldwasser on guitar.

The Environmental Sustainability Division for the City of Ventura’s Public Works Department will provide attendees with information on food waste prevention, edible food recovery and backyard composting.  In addition, the community can also learn how the farmers’ are adapting to the drought by viewing a continuous screening of ‘Water Woes:  We Plan for Your Eating’, a film by Diana Rodgers, a small farmer and farmers’ market manager.  The film will provide a look at the implications of the drought for both farmers & consumers and provide information on how the drought is affecting the local food supplies.

About the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association serves the community of Ventura with two weekly markets -- Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall, front west parking lot on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays in Downtown Ventura on the corners of East Santa Clara and Palm Streets from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.  The Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market is held Thursdays at The Oaks Shopping Center at the east end parking lot, Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard from 1:30 to 6:00 p.m.  Santa Clarita Farmers’ Market is held on Sundays at the College of the Canyons, parking lot 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.  

For more information on the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association, visit www.vccfarmersmarkets.com or call 805-529-6266.