SUMMER WORLD CUP YOUTH SOCCER CAMPS: Cal Poly Mustang Soccer and Catalyst Soccer take place through August with a top coaching staff that includes Cal Poly Mustang soccer coaches and current and former players. Camps will take place at local fields throughout the area: Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Arroyo Grande, Orcutt, and Santa Maria. Super Fundamentals for ages 6-13 is 9 a.m.-noon for $125 and Little Skillsbuilders for ages 4-6 is from 9:30-11 a.m. for $75. Info: catalystsoccer.com or 541-3031.
WORTH THE DRIVE
THE SAN LUIS OBISPO MUSEUM OF ART presents “Learn to See … a Still Life” on Aug. 28 from all 1 to 4 p.m. at the museum, 1010 Broad St., SLO. Info: 543-8562 or sloma.org.
THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART presents, as part of its family first Thursdays, “Land and Sea,” featuring parent and child art projects on Sept. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the museum, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Info: 884-6430 or kcarl@sbma.net.
THE SOUTH COUNTY CHILDREN’S CHOIR holds auditions through Sept. 5 for ages 6 through 16 in Arroyo Grande. Info: 474-1224.
ONGOING
ADVENTURES IN LEARNING PRESCHOOL hosts a free “Story and Sing-A-Long Hour” the first Monday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. at the preschool, 145 Verbena St., Nipomo. Info: 929-1889.
THE LITTLE VILLAGE offers a daily enrichment program for kids ages 3 to 6 during the summer and fall. Activities include arts and crafts, baking, music, gardening, and creative play. Info: 925-7515.
MUSIC TOGETHER is a music and movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the adults who love them. Classes are offered in Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. Free demonstration classes available. Info: 264-5545 or strawberrymusic2gether.com.
MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS GROUP (MOPS) is a non-denominational group that meets for speakers, crafts, mom’s night out, and other fun activities every second and fourth Monday of the month, 6:30 p.m. at Pacific Christian Center. Santa Maria. Child care is provided. Info: 934-3491.
MOM’S CLUB OF SOUTH SLO COUNTY offers friendship support, weekly play groups, and other activities for moms and kids. Info: momsclubinfro@sbcglobal.net, of southslomomsclub.org.
MOMS OFFERING MOMS SUPPORT offers weekly playgroups and other activities for moms and kids. The club meeting is on the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at Hunter’s Landing, 1156 E. Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande. Info: 473-2548.
ORCUTT MOMS CLUB meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. at Orcutt Presbyterian Church, 933 Patterson Road, Orcutt. Info: 937-8337.
SANTA MARIA M.O.M.S. CLUB is a support group for stay-at-home moms who meet for play and activity groups, mom’s night out, and park days on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m., at Maramonte Community Park. Info: 928-0655 or 925-0351.
PERFORMANCE ATHLETICS GYMNASTICS offers a “Parents Night” every second Saturday of the month. Parents can drop their kids off from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. for pizza and gymnastic activities. The facility is located at 720 Aerovista St., Suite C, San Luis Obispo. Info: 547-1496.
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF SANTA MARIA, 412 S. McClelland (next to lawn bowling) is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Regional habitat exhibits are interactive and multi-sensory. School tours are by appointment only. Donations accepted. Info: 614-0806 or naturalhistorysantamaria.com.
SANTA MARIA STAY AT HOME MOMS GROUP meets for weekly play groups at local parks on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Info: sahm.meetup.com/2515.
THE SANTA MARIA RECREATION AND PARK DEPARTMENT offers the Minami After School Time program for kids ages 6 through 12 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on each school day throughout the school year. A full list of classes and events offered by the city is available at ci.santa-maria.ca.us. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 264, or ci.santa-maria.ca.us.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY DISCOVERY MUSEUM is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, closed. Enjoy themed events on Thursday nights until 7 p.m. Admission is $8 per person, kids under 2 get in free. Location is 705 S. McClelland. Info: 928-8414.
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY freight depot is located at 628 S. McClelland St. The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad hold monthly programs every second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the depot. Info: 922-7941.
SOLVANG PUBLIC LIBRARY holds a preschool story time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The library is located at 1745, Mission Dr., Solvang. Info: 688-4214.
RAILWAY HISTORICAL MUSEUM offers a trip into the Santa Maria Valley’s past when railroads ruled. See miniature railroad layouts, pictures, and artifacts. Learn about railroading in the present and future. Admission is free. The museum is located in the Santa Maria Town Center. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Info: 714-4927.
ABEL MALDONADO COMMUNITY CENTER offers daily activities for kids in 7th through 12th grades. Activities include indoor sports, a computer lab, games, fitness equipment, basketball courts, movies, and more. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 2:30 to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Free tutoring for grades seven through 12 is Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The center is located at 600 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Free. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 252.
COLUMBIA CHILDREN’S CENTER is located at 840 E Stowell Road, Santa Maria. The center offers preschool and child care, kindergarten readiness, potty training, and more. Info: 922-KIDS.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of Santa Maria Valley offers an Early Bird Program for children 6-12 years old. The program provides year-round students with the opportunity for supervised, structured programs during their off-track time from school. It runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $8 per day. Regular club hours during the school year are Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., and from noon until 6 p.m. during the summer. Info: 922-7763.
HANCOCK “COLLEGE FOR KIDS” CLASSES include ballet, ballet folklorico, hip-hop, and jazz-funk. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3209.
VOLUNTEERS FOR INTER-VALLEY ANIMAL (VIVA) hold pet adoptions Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Adoption Center, 133 North D St., Lompoc. Info: 735-6741.
This article appears in Aug 26 – Sep 2, 2010.