Kellogg Park in Ventura

 We stumbled upon Kellogg Park in Ventura when headed home from Camp Arnaz with the Girl Scouts. It is such a fun combination of elements. This park had so many elements we loved! Many things reminded us of Wallis Park but there were many other things noted below! Created in the Ventura Watershed, there are natural places to climb and for water to drain. It reminds me in this way of Creek Park in Carpinteria! (which apparently I still need to review!)

 

 

There are elements like Tomol Interpretive Playground in Carpinteria with a tomol, tree stump and rocks to climb.

Another familiar element is the sliding hill similar to the one at the SB Zoo!

And there are diggers--similar to the ones in Tierra de Fortuna Park in Isla Vista!

These petal spinners remind us of Willowglen and Hidden Valley Park! 

The spinner, chess tables and adult exercise set remind us of Wallis Park on S Kellogg Ave.

The park also has swings, two large play structures for 2-5 and 5-12,

There is also an amphitheater as well as bathrooms, picnic tables, benches, and even built in cornhole!

This is in a more industrial part of Ventura closer to the 33 highway. We loved it and will go again when we are in the area! More info: https://visitventuraca.com/business/kellogg-park/

Sky Zone - Ventura

 

**We never got to sky Zone on our Summer of Day Trips, but we went in August 2022!

Sky Zone is a trampoline park in Ventura--think Cloud 10 only larger with more variety. It has a variety of areas: a kids adventure zone, ninja warrior course, soccer and basketball areas, dodgeball area, zipline, a foam pit and arcade. It was so much fun for my almost 9 year old! Summer 2022 they had a deal for $74 which included the shirt and socks as well as 90 minutes each time. When we were there, the snack bar had pizza and snacks, but not the other food advertised.

Cost: $21 for 60 min. $26 for 90 min. $29 for 120 min, $33 unlimited (a pair of socks $5 and shirt $7 must also be purchased)  
Hours: M-Th 3-8pm, F 3-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-8pm (School Year Hours) 11am-8pm/10pm (Summer Hours),
Time: 60 minutes to "all day"
More information: https://www.skyzone.com/ventura/
Directions: 2825 Johnson Dr. Ventura      Take the 101S to the Johnson Dr exit (exit 63B). Turn left onto Johnson Dr. Turn left into the parking lot after half a mile.
Drive: 40 miles, 42 minutes.

Related posts: Summer of the Easy Day Trips

Ninja Warrior Course

Zipline

Kid's Adventure Zone

Basketball

 

Dodgeball

Foam Pit

Soccer

Wipe Out

Arcade

Snack Bar

Snapshot Spring 2022

This season has kinda been a hot mess at my house--between the last push to finish my capstone project for my master's degree, COVID (we held out for so long!) and now Influenza A. We haven't gotten much done on our summer list or with our goal to hike more. Hopefully we will get to it if we recover soon or not. I have had to learn some flexibility about my goals over the past 7 years (like the last time we had nature walks and easy hikes as a goal). So in place of that I will share my belated spring snapshot (and will format it all later).

Favorite New Product: We have been playing the old game Rummicub a lot in preparation of visiting some older relatives. It is a great game for my almost 9 and almost 12 year old. 

Life Hack: Apparently having "pointless" goals or "stupid quests", not only makes life more fun, but also can help when we are feeling powerless in other places in life (ahem, parenting). My quest to visit all the parks in Santa Barbara makes so much sense now!

Last Book I Finished: And Then There were None by Agatha Christie

Ten strangers are invited under various pretenses to a week away on a mysterious island. When the wealthy host doesn't show, an uneasiness settles. A record is played accusing the guests of a crime for which they cannot be convicted in a court of law. A framed nursery rhyme in every room seems to predict how things will go. As murders occur, according to the rhyme, fear grows and mistrust overwhelms the guests.

Who is behind the murders? One of them? If so, how? In the end, there will be none, in what seems like an impossible end. This is masterfully put together in the old style of murder mystery with very little gore and all sleuthing.

Life Project: I just (6/30) finished my Master's of Education in Instructional Design at Western Governor's University. I love that you can work at your own pace to accelerate your classes when you demonstrate your competence in the subject matter by test or by project!

What we are eating today: Salsa Chicken so easy and yummy!

 

Related Links:
Winter 2022 Snapshot
Fall 2021 Snapshot
Summer 2021 Snapshot
Spring 2021 Snapshot
Winter 2021 Snapshot
Fall 2020 Snapshot
Summer 2020 Snapshot
Spring 2020 Snapshot
Winter 2020 Snapshot
Fall 2019 Snapshot
Summer 2019 Snapshot
Winter 2019 Snapshot
Fall 2018 Snapshot
Spring 2018 Snapshot

Inspiration Point

You can't beat the view from Inspiration Point. It is tough enough that I didn't attempt it with my kids until recently (and even then it was a special request for my birthday). The trail is moderately strenuous for those used to hiking. 

 

 

Directions: Take the 101S to Mission St. Turn left onto Mission, then left on Chapala St.  Turn right onto Los Olivos St and continue onto Mission Canyon. Take a right onto Foothill and left onto Mission Canyon Rd. Veer left at the fork to continue onto Tunnel Rd. Park near the end of the road. 

I would recommend a map or description for this one since it does not have well marked signs. You will take the left fork at about .7 miles in (Jesusita Trail). Continue left (not toward 7 Falls) and at the end of the path you cross a power road to an overlook. The actual Inspiration Point is to the left along the power road (look for a footpath to the right). 

 

 

Trail Rating: Difficult for toddlers and kids not used to hiking, Moderate for others
Distance: 2 miles to the point, 4 miles round trip
Time: 2 hours round trip
Nearby attractions: Botanic Gardens, Rocky Nook Park, Natural History Museum

 

 

Related Posts:
Summer of the Nature Walks and Hikes
Summer of the Hikes

Summer of the Hikes

The 2022 Quest is....... (drum roll please)

Summer of the Hikes! In 2017 when my kids were 7 and almost 4, we set out to walk nature trails and short hikes, but now we are able to walk a bit further with older kids (12 and almost 9). We will try to share one new hike a week in July and August (Mondays), one shorter nature walk we still love (Wednesday) and one other treasure (Friday).

 

Resources: 

All Trails App

Day Hikes around Santa Barbara: 82 Great Hikes by Robert Stone

Santa Barbara Day Hikes by Raymond Ford, Jr   

Walk Santa Barbara by Cheri Rae and John McKinney

 

Cold Springs Loop Trail

Hot Springs Trail

Inspiration Point

Jesusita Trail
Lizards Mouth
Parma Park

Rattlesnake Canyon

San Ysidro Falls
Seven Sisters
Skofield Park
Tangerine Falls

Tunnel Trail

Wind Tunnels at Gaviota State Park

2017 Nature Walks:
Botanic Gardens

Carpinteria Salt Marsh Preserve
Carpinteria Bluff Nature Preserve
Douglas Preserve
Elings Park -- Veteran's Trail
Ellwood Butterfly Preserve/Bluffs
Knapp's Castle
Lake Los Carneros
Moore Mesa
Rocky Nook Park
Tucker's Grove Trails (behind the playground)

Cheltham/Westmont Trail (Short one we missed in 2017)  

Allan Road Footpath 

Ortega Hill Loop

Ennisbrook Trail

 
2017 Short Hikes:
Arroyo Hondo Preserve *
Elings Park -- Sierra Club Trail *
Nojoqui Falls
San Antonio Creek Trail (Tucker's Grove, Kiwanas Meadow) *
San Marcos Preserve
Stevens Park

Related Posts:

Kid's Choice Awards (Summer 2021)

Summer of the Beaches II (Summer 2020)

Summer of Museums (Summer 2019)

Summer of Day Trips (Summer 2018) 

Summer of Nature Walks and Easy Hikes (Summer 2017)

Summer of the Beaches (Summer 2016)

Summer of the Parks (Summer 2015) 

Student Sphere at UCSB

 

Flora Zhang from StudentSphere and a current UCSB student reached out to me to let me know about the new program that pairs college students with parents and families. She shared that StudentSphere was established in response to COVID-19 and hopes to alleviate the resultant stress on parents and their children. They pair K-12 students with college students for assistance with homework, learning a language, tutoring, dancing, and more! Everything is absolutely FREE and virtual! I asked if she would be willing to do a Q&A to answer questions so I can share the program with you!

 

Q: What inspired you/students to start the group?

A: Two UC Davis students launched StudentSphere, to assist families with children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They were inspired to start the program when they observed families in their own community, including those that consisted of single parents, frontline workers, and immunocompromised individuals, facing challenges with balancing work and their students’ education. Our program was initially designed to help connect K-12 students to college student mentors for assistance with the transition to online learning. Although in-person learning has resumed, our program continues to establish mentorships and support K-12 students.

Q: Who are you hoping to reach?
A: We offer free mentoring services to K-12 students living in North America.

Q: What kind of help do you provide?
A: We are a community-service based organization that provides free and virtual academic support and enrichment to K-12 students. We pair volunteer college/university students, known as mentors, with K-12 students for homework help, tutoring, social activities, and college preparation.

Q: How are students matched? How are the students vetted?
A: StudentSphere screens applicants based on interests, availability, and compatibility. We match mentors and mentees based on these criteria in order to ensure a successful mentorship. In terms of mentors, we also verify that they are indeed college students.

Q: How do I find out more?
Our website is https://studentsphere.org/ and email is studentsphereinfo@gmail.com.

Q: Any other things you want to share?
A: StudentSphere was interviewed by Univision back in September 2020. Thanks to outlets like Univision and other community organizations, our program has been able to reach diverse population of students from all over the nation. Link to the interview

 This sounds like an amazing resource for our community!

 Related Posts: 

STEM Camp at UCSB

Winchester Park

 Winchester Park 1 and 2 just got face lifts. Winchester I Park is located in the 7600 block of Calle Real (closest cross street Bradford Dr). It got new exercise equipment for adults, but no playground for kids.  

Winchester II Park is located in the 7700 block of Calle Real with an entrance across from Jenna drive or another entrance in the cul-de-sac Warwick Pl. There are 2 large play structures with shade over rubber foam mats as well as a self powered merry-go-round, lily pad bridge and swings. There are regular swings a toddler swing and a differently abled swing. This park also has shaded benches and a shaded picnic table as well as older picnic tables under a tree.

The age 2 to 5 place structure has three climbing areas, a larger double slide and a tiny slide for very littles as well as the kind of place my kids used to use for an ice cream store. 

The 5 to 12 play structure has a rope climbing structure, swinging rings and three other climbing places as well as a long slide.

Pros

The shade for parents is definitely a plus

There is plenty of sitting space for parents.

The merry-go-round was a hit with my kids. 

 

Cons

Parking can be hard to come by.

There is no bathroom. 

Related Lists:
Parks for Big Kids
Summer of the Parks
Extensive Parks List