Events for the week of June 22, 2008
Each week we present selected events for parents and kids in the Bay Area.

• Events in July
• Summer Camps & Activities
• Ongoing Summer Fun
• Ongoing Events & Activities
• Story Times

Summer is on the way! Are you looking for ways to keep the kids busy this summer? In addition to our weekly calendar of events, we have added local summer camps, as well as on-going family friendly summer events! Scroll down or click here to learn more.

Events in July

Tuesday, July 1
Toilet Training Your Toddler (Oakland)
Meg Zweiback, author of Keys to Toilet Training, and a previous guest on Childhood Matters, will facilitate a workshop on “toilet training for the first time.” This workshop is for parents of1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year olds. Children in the toddler age group need an approach that emphasizes practice, repetition and lots of opportunities to be successful.
Cost: Free
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Bananas, 5232 Claremont Ave, Oakland
Information: 510-658-7353, bananasinc.org

Tuesday, July 1
Music Fun Under the Sun (San Jose)
Bring a blanket and your picnic lunch and join in the Children Discovery Museum’s outdoor Cadence Amphitheater for a live lunchtime musical experience! Join award-winning singer/songwriter and recording artist Pam Donkin as she works her interactive musical magic.
Cost: Free with admission
Time: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Location: Children’s Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San Jose
Information: 408-298-5437, www.cdm.org

Wednesday, July 2
Wildlife Exploration at Indian Valley Open Reserve (Novato)
Discover the beauty of Marin’s open spaces with families just like yours. Bring your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, neighbors or any other inquisitive youngster in your life who needs a deeper connection to nature. The forest at the base of Big Rock Ridge is a great place to look for bugs, birds, and other critters.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Meet at the parking area at the west end of Indian Valley College, 1800 Ignacio Blvd
Information: 415-499-3647, dherlocker@co.marin.ca.us

Wednesday, July 2
Buggy Craft (San Jose)
Make a “buggy” sun visor with lots of eyes, antenna and other extras to keep you buzzing around this summer. The library will provide the materials; you will provide the creativity. This program is ideally suited for ages 5-12.
Cost: Free
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Edenvale Branch Library, Community Room, 101 Branham Ln. East, San Jose
Information: 408-808-3036

Wednesday, July 2
Exploratorium Free Day (San Francisco)
Take advantage of the free admission day the first Wednesday of the month. The Exploratorium is full of fascinating things to look at, play with, and learn from - for everyone from toddlers to teenagers to so-called grown-ups.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon St.
Information: 415-EXPLORE, www.exploratorium.edu

Thursday, July 3 – Sunday, July 6
Napa County Fair (Calistoga)
Celebrate the Napa County Fair at the fairgrounds in Calistoga! Rides, entertainment, animals and attractions for all ages await you!
Cost: $3 - $7, children under 6 are free
Time: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Calistoga Fair Grounds, 1435 North Oak Street
Information: Napa County Fair

Thursday, July 3
Create A Bug! (Concord)
Make a bug for yourself and one to decorate the library!
Cost: Free
Time: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Location: Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street
Information: 925-646-5455

Friday, July 4
4th of July Parade (Novato)
The 100 entrants in this patriotic procession feature marching bands, classic cars, Irish pipers, horses, dance troupes, basset hounds, the largest assemblage of restored military vehicles in the Bay Area and noted novelty drill teams!
Cost: Free
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Grant and Reichert Avenues, Novato
Information: 415-899-8900, info@novatoparade.com

Saturday, July 5
Knucklehead the Clown (Kensington)
Come join the fun as Knucklehead the clown shares his hilarious magic tricks, creates amazing things with balloons, and is all around silly! This extremely entertaining event is appropriate for ages 3 and up and is sponsored by the Friends of the Kensington Library.
Cost: Free
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Avenue
Information: 510-524-3043

Sunday, July 6
Animal Estates at the SFMOMA (San Francisco)
Join the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for a free family studio. Working with special guest artist Fritz Haeg as part of his Animal Estates 5.0: San Francisco project, these Family Studios focus on creating model homes for the California slender salamander (July 6) and the peregrine falcon (July 20). Stop by on July 6 for an animal-inspired garment-making workshop and on July 20 for an animal movement workshop.
Cost: Free
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street
Information: 415-357-4000, www.sfmoma.org

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Summer Camps & Activities

High School Musical Summer Camp (Oakland)
Be a part of the fun and excitement that is the High School Musical Theater Summer Camp! Your children will learn to become professional stage actors while performing in a wildly popular musical. Highly skilled counselors will teach your kids everything High School Musical from the amazing songs, to the witty lines, to the awesome dance numbers. For kids ranging from K-8. Before and aftercare available.
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Cost: $550 with sibling discounts and partial scholarships available
Information: www.moonlightentertainment.org, sbishop@moonlightentertainment.org, 510-338-0810

Tree Frog Treks Summer Day Camps (San Francisco)
Come exploring with Tree Frog Treks! Get your goggles, strap your shoes on tight, and get ready to get out and get dirty! At Tree Frog Treks Day Camps, counselors make science fun while exploring the great outdoors, doing hands-on science experiments and art projects, and learning new ways to save, preserve and maintain our home! Sign up now; space fills up fast!
Dates: June 16 – July 11 (varies by individual camps)
Cost: $275 - $395
Information: treefrogtreks.com, 415-876-FROG

California Adventure Camps (Walnut Creek)
From traditional day camp fun to Bay Area exploration, skateboard, teen leadership, contact tackle football and high adventure overnight camps, campers will make the most of their summer adventure experience. At California Adventure Camps there's exciting summer fun for everyone. Activities include sports, games, swimming, skateboarding, tackle football, archery, fishing, mountain biking, backpacking, field trips, white water rafting, caving, wilderness camping and much more! Ages 4 1/2 - 18. Transportation available from downtown Walnut Creek, Oakland/Berkeley, Orinda, San Ramon and Martinez.
Cost: Up to $350 per week. Financial aid and “buddy discounts” available.
Information: californiaadventurecamps.org

Los Gatos/Saratoga Recreation Summer Camps (Los Gatos)
Pre-school age to teens will enjoy aquatics, cooking, creative arts, dance, drama, music, discovery, gymnastics, martial arts and fencing, sailing, soccer, sports and fitness.
Dates: June 16 – August 22 (varies by individual camps)
Cost: $75 - $280
Information: LGS Summer Recreation, 408-354-8700

Camp Edventure More (Marin County, Oakland, San Francisco)
Camp "Edmo" features fun, hands-on activities designed by the Bay Area's best kid museums: Exploratorium, CA Academy of Sciences, Museum of Children's Art, Zeum and the YMCA. Instructors and college counselors lead K-5 campers through Art, Science, and Recreation stations plus silly camp games, songs & skits. Older campers (3 - 5th grade) can also enroll in new Animation sessions.
Dates: June 23 – August 8 (varies by individual camps)
Cost: $379 - $1077
Information: Camp Edventure, 415-731-MORE

Camp Seascape (Aptos)
Encourage your children to explore new areas of interest this summer while meeting new friends and creating memories that will last a lifetime! Camp Seascape emphasizes fitness, safety, nutrition, and most of all - fun!
Dates: June 9 – August 29
Cost: $585 for 2 weeks; $345 for one week; $95 daily
Information: Camp Seascape, 831-688-1993

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Ongoing Summer Fun

Shakespeare in the Park (Pleasanton, San Mateo, Cupertino, San Francisco)
Bring family and friends to enjoy Shakespeare's grand tale of heroic adventure as performed in parks around the Bay Area!
Cost: Free
Information: http://www.sfshakes.org/park/index.html

Alameda County Fair (Pleasanton)
With 17 days of events, there is sure to be something for everyone at the Alameda County Fair! The fair runs June 20-July 6 with rides, concerts and entertainment, delicious food, horse racing, and contests. Kids get in free on Fridays, June 20, 27, and July 4!
Cost: $4 - $39, with packages available
Information: www.alamedacountyfair.com/fair/index.html

Golden Gate Band Free Concerts in the Park (San Francisco)
The Golden Gate Park Band has been playing free concerts on Sundays in Golden Gate Park continuously since 1882. Bring a picnic and enjoy a glorious musical tradition any Sunday from April through October! Shows start at 1 PM and usually last about 2 hours.
Cost: Free
Information: Golden Gate Park Band, 415-831-5500

Telescope Viewing (Oakland)
Enjoy a view of the stars at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. The Chabot Observatory Telescope is open every Friday and Saturday for public viewings, weather permitting. Viewings begin at sunset.
Cost: Free
Information: chabotspace.org, 510-336-7300

Free Summer Lunch for Kids and Teens (San Francisco)
Every Monday through Friday from June 23 through August 15, everyone ages 18 and younger can enjoy a healthy, hot lunch for FREE at any of 107 designated locations throughout San Francisco. Children and youth must arrive at the location during specific serving times. Not all sites are open all summer. Serving times vary by location.
Information: For a list of locations click here

Free Summer Movies (Emeryville)
Beat the heat (or fog if you live in the City) and enjoy a different movie each Wednesday at 10 AM for only a buck! Proceeds benefit Variety, the Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.
Information: click here for a list of movies and dates

Friday Night Movies (Oakland)
Each week Tumble & Tea in Oakland shows an assortment of kid friendly short films sure to bring on the giggles. Enjoy pizza by the slice from Milano’s pizza and have a great time! Bring the kids in their favorite pj’s and make it a pajama party! The kids love the idea of going out in their pajamas and once you get them home, you can just roll them into bed! What a combo.
Cost: Adults and pre-crawlers free, ages 1 to 5 $4.95, additional siblings $2 each
Information: tumbleandtea.com

Children’s Bookmobile (San Francisco)
Get your child ready to read! Stop by the children’s bookmobile to get a library card; check out books in English, Spanish, and Chinese, check out picture books for preschoolers, and board books for babies and toddlers, check out parenting and teacher resources; check out books for elementary school children from our collection of graphic novels (comics), early readers, and chapter books! The bookmobile will be parked at the Good Samaritan Family Resource Center on 1294 Potrero Ave on second and fourth Mondays.
Cost: Free
Information: 415-557-4344

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Ongoing Events & Activities

Weekdays
Play Groups (Pleasanton)
Are you taking care of your grandchild? Are you babysitting for a friend or a neighbor? Do you offer child care in your home? If you provide care for a child, Child Care Links invites you to Play Groups. Children of all ages are invited to join a morning of laughing, playing and learning. Snack and activities will be provided for all children. Adults must remain and supervise the child(ren) in their care.
Cost: Free
Information: 925-249-3941, www.childcarelinks.org

Free Preschool for Parents and Children (East Palo Alto & Menlo Park)
Family Connections, a free, parent-participation nursery school for children ages newborn to 5 years in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, is registering new families. New participants are welcome to visit and register at any time during the school year – registration is ongoing. Weekday morning classes are held at all three classroom locations from 9:00am – 11:30am. Parents attend all classes with their children, 2 to 3 mornings per week. Our Saturday class is held at the Belle Haven Community School site from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. - this program is designed specifically for parents who work traditional weekday hours or for young parents still in school. The preschool program includes field trips, visits to the library, a special class just for dads, and many other fun activities for young families. In addition, parents will meet with the bilingual teacher for parent education and support. A wide range of parenting topics will be covered.
Cost: Free
Information: http://www.familyconnections.org, 650-685-6240

Mondays
Play Classes (Castroville)
Enjoy classes with activities for parents and children ages 0-3 at the Castro Plaza Family Resource Center. These classes also meet on Wednesdays.
Cost: Free
Information: Kristina Torres, 831-633-5975

Tuesdays
Fathers’ Support Group (Campbell)
The Fathers’ Support Group is peer-to-peer group created to offer fathers an opportunity to share coping and child rearing strategies, feel acknowledged, get support, and build new friendships. Join the Foundation of Family Values to share frustrations and hopes for our families and ourselves. Address communication skills, explore parenting strategies, and discuss accountability issues. This group is a safe place for all fathers – single, divorced, married – to explore the issues they are facing. Fathers that face life challenges and are willing to address them can learn to overcome their difficulties to achieve better relationships, parent more effectively, and enhance their overall well-being.
Cost: Free
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Campbell Community Center, 1 West Campbell Ave, Campbell
Information: www.fofv.org, parentsupport@fofv.org, 408-866-6686

Tuesdays
Drop In and Play (Salinas)
This is an information and activity class for parents and their children. Parents have an opportunity to ask child-rearing questions and enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Some classes are bilingual.
Cost: Free
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Salinas Adult School, 20 Sherwood Place, Salinas
Information: 831-796-6970

Tuesdays
New Parent-Baby Support Group (Lafayette)
This is an ongoing, drop-in support group where parents can discuss topics of interest and interact with other parents. The focus is on making connections with other new parents, and sharing issues and insights about parenting a baby. If you would like to be contacted regarding upcoming topics, sign up at the Center. Advance registration is NOT required. Come on Tuesdays with your baby (newborn to one year), and get connected!
Cost: $28 for four pre-paid sessions.
Time: 12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Location: The Nurture Center, 3399 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Information: 1-888-998-2229

Tuesdays
Kinship Support Network (Redwood City)
Are you a grandparent raising a grandchild? An aunt or uncle raising a niece or nephew? Kinship Support Groups provide a supportive environment where extended family members who are raising their relative’s children can receive emotional support, share information, and discover available resources.
Cost: Free
Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Edgewood Center for Children & Families, 643 Bair Island Road, Suite 211, Redwood City
Information: Marylouise 800-496-3019, or e-mail marylouises@edgewoodcenter.org

Wednesdays
Mommy and Me Classes (Monterey County)
On going classes for moms and young kids to learn and play together! Spend time with your child and meet other moms (and dads)! There are classes available in King City, San Ardo and San Lucas. Please call the number below for specific times and locations.
Cost: Free
Information: 831-386-9753

Wednesdays
Dad and Me Sharing Playtime (San Mateo)
A playgroup for dads and their little ones. Ideas will be shared about how to make the most out of time with your children. Please call to let us know you are coming. This playgroup is part of the Fatherhood Involvement Program. Call or e-mail to register.
Cost: Free
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PAM
Location: Child Care Coordinating Council, 2121 S El Camino Real, Suite A-100, San Mateo
Information: 650-655-5078, ptucker@sanmateo4cs.org

Wednesdays
Autism Support Group (Fremont)
Every third Wednesday of the month, the Family Resource Network invites you to meet with other parents to share support, information, parenting tips and more! Who attends? Parents of children 0-8 years who have ASD. Offered in partnership with 4C's of Alameda County & First 5 Alameda County.
Cost: Free
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Information: 510-547-7322, katew@frnoakland.org

Wednesdays
Parenting Lecture Series (San Francisco)
The San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group in collaboration with the Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco presents a free public lecture series on parenting. These lectures provide useful advice and helpful information about the challenges of being a parent, stepparent, or grandparent. Lectures are the 4th Wednesday of every month, and cover a wide range of topics presented by experts in the field. Visit the website for a complete listing of topics and speakers. Childcare is available.
Cost: Free
Information: www.sfprg.org/ParentingLectureSeries.html

Thursdays
Cuddle Club (Walnut Creek)
For children 0-12 months and their caregiver. Lap bounces, tickle rhymes, and other early literacy activities.
Cost: Free
Time: 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Location: Walnut Creek Downtown Library, 1644 N Broadway, Walnut Creek
Information: 925-646-6773

Fridays
YMCA Swim & Gym for Special Needs Children (Berkeley)
Families with special needs children, go to a free program at the YMCA in Berkeley! Your child will join a swim class and a gym class specifically designed for children with special needs. Afterwards, a support group for parents and caregivers is offered. During the support group, your child goes to Childwatch while you meet with other parents and caregivers to discuss the challenges of having a special needs children. Snack or pizza provided to children and adults. Spanish translation is available on Fridays.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Location: YMCA, 2001 Allston Way, Berkeley
Information: 510-848-6834 x543, rlongan@baymca.org

Saturdays
Bilingual Kindergarten Readiness Program (Fremont)
La Academia de Centro VIDA provides a free bilingual Saturday school kindergarten readiness program. This is very popular program and in its third year -- parents have an opportunity to participate in parenting workshops in Spanish. Classes are provided to children three to four years old.
Cost: Free
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Information: 510-525-1463

Saturdays
Lotus Bloom (Oakland)
A free art and music program for children 0-5 years old.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: 2285 International Boulevard @ 23rd Avenue, Oakland
Information: Angela, 510-910-0805, lotusbloom510@yahoo.com

Saturdays
Excelsior Youth Center Free Classes (San Francisco)
The Excelsior Youth Center provides free Saturday programs that include sports, cooking, open gym, arts, puppetry, drama, and family story time. Toddlers 3-5 years old can learn new sports and motor skills or attend story time with their families. Elementary school-aged children can stay healthy while playing sports or explore their artistic side while making new creations in puppetry or cooking. Older youth can learn to be stars in the acting and drama class or let out some energy while playing pick-up sports in the open gym.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: YMCA of San Francisco, 163 London Street @ Excelsior St. & Mission St.
Information: Saturday Free Classes, 415-586-6900

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Story Times

Berkeley Public Libraries (Berkeley)
The Berkeley Public Library offers a variety of story times for kids in each of its five locations.
Dates/Times/Location: Vary by location, please call or check the link below for information.
Cost: Free
Information: 510-981-6223, or visit Berkeley Public Library :: Children :: Events and Storytimes

Monterey County Libraries (Monterey County)
The Monterey County Public Library System offers a number of story times in various locations.
Dates/Times/Locations: Vary by location, please check the link below for more information.
Cost: Free
Information: Monterey County Free Libraries

Story Hour with the Salinas Adult School (Salinas)
Children will be able to experience and develop listening skills, participate in extended story activities, and check out a book to take home and read! For parents of children ages two to five.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Salinas Adult School, 20 Sherwood Place, Salinas
Information: 831-796-6900, info@salinasadultschool.com

Storytime with the SF Library at Parents Place (San Francisco)
Stories and fun and games with the San Francisco Library in the Parents Place playroom.
Cost: Free
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Parents Place, 1710 Scott Street, San Francisco
Information: 415-359-2454, ParentsPlaceSF@jfcs.org

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