Enrichment

Drawn 2 Art Studios

19C Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos
831.661.5652
[email protected]
drawn2artclasses.com
Drawn2Art offers a “Free Introductory Art Class,” ages 4 years- Teens/Adults. The trial Class is a nice introduction into the program and the student takes home a finished picture. The program is designed to the student’s level of ability, each student works independently at their own pace/artistic level. The techniques are based in a traditional/classical approach, using different mediums/subject matter. Classes are available throughout the week and are broken up into different age groups. Seasonal Camps are offered throughout the school year. Call us at: (831) 661-5652 or email us: [email protected]. Sign-Up Now and Join Us for educational fun!

International Academy of Dance

IADance.com | NutcrackerSantaCruz.com
[email protected]
831.466.0458
International Academy of Dance, home of Santa Cruz City Ballet, provides world class instruction in classical ballet, tap, contemporary, lyrical, and jazz. The studio is an encouraging and supportive community from ages two to eighty-two. It is our mission to inspire students of all ages to develop a lifelong love of dance. Through choreography, balance, agility, strength and flexibility, we work with each dancer to hone artistry, technique, focus and musicality. We aspire to bring joy and generate growth in every class. Come see us on stage at Nutcracker: Experience The Magic at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater, Dec. 20 & 21!

Jim Booth Swim School

Watsonville indoor pool and coming soon to Toadal Fitness
831.722.3500
JimBoothSwimSchool.com
Be a water wonder! From our Little Otters swim class for parents and their babies to Aquaphobics, our adult beginner class, the whole family splashes together at Jim Booth Swim School. Little Otters is a gentle introduction to our 94-degree pools that will make you confident that you are guiding your infant to a happy water experience. Our group lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers. Soon offering a non-competitive swim team to help develop strength, endurance and technique. The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School!

Junebug’s Gym

3910 Portola Drive, Suite 2, Santa Cruz
831.464.2847
junebugsgym.com
Junebug’s Gym is a joyful place where children and families can experience movement in a safe and supportive environment to strengthen children’s motor and gymnastics skills.

MusicalMe, Inc. offering Music Together™

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County
Call/Text: 831-332-9002
[email protected]
musicalme.com
Elevate your family’s experience with the gift of music! Explore the wonders of Music Together®, a cutting-edge music enrichment program for children aged birth to 5, and the adults who hold them dear. This research-backed program not only enhances your child’s development across various domains but also strengthens family bonds, offering a valuable addition to your parenting toolkit. Siblings (infants under 8 months are free!) are welcome. Contact us for a free class or gift certificate (GREAT holiday gift!).

Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center, Inc.

2750 B Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
831.462.0655
scgym.com
At Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center our mission is to build a community of people who support each other’s growth, learning, safety and development through our love of gymnastics and fun. From preschool to competitive programs, kids learn skills such as rolls, handstands and cartwheels. We also focus on age-appropriate school readiness: waiting in line, sharing, taking turns and color/number/shape recognition. We believe every child can benefit from gymnastics physically, emotionally and cognitively. We offer something for everyone. Visit our website for more information and class registration.

City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department

323 Church Street, Santa Cruz
831.420.5270
cityofsantacruz.com
Give the gift that inspires joy, movement, and connection this holiday season! A Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation gift card is the perfect way to share memorable experiences with the people you care about. From swim passes and fitness classes to youth programs, arts, and special events, a gift card opens the door to fun for all ages. It’s flexible, easy to use, and supports community recreation. Celebrate the season by giving something meaningful—give the gift of recreation and spark a year full of activity, discovery, and smiles. Purchase your gift card today and brighten someone’s holiday with endless possibilities

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
831.420-6115
[email protected]
www.santacruzmuseum.org/camp
Discover the wonders of the natural world at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History’s seasonal day camps. Through hands-on exploration, outdoor adventures, and creative science activities, campers build curiosity, confidence, and a deeper connection to nature. This winter, students will investigate seasonal changes, learn about local wildlife, and uncover the science behind weather. In spring, young nature detectives will enjoy crafting, games, and guided discovery as they learn how the environment transforms with the seasons. Our camps nurture academic growth while inspiring stewardship and joy in the natural world.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare

501 Upper Park Rd, Santa Cruz
831-460-6399
[email protected]
santacruzshakespeare.org
Featuring professional actors from around the country and inspired by deep local roots that go back more than 40 years, Santa Cruz Shakespeare stages bold productions of the plays of Shakespeare and other great playwrights that stimulate audiences’ senses and spark their imagination. Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s season includes performances in the summer and fall at The Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga. And an annual holiday show at the Veteran’s Hall in Downtown Santa Cruz. For more information about SCS, visit santacruzshakespeare.org, Facebook and Instagram.

Seven Directions Creative Learning Center

831.713.9392
sevendirections.org
[email protected]
Seven Directions is Santa Cruz’s premiere creative center for kids and teens. Offering classes and camps in art, science and more in a lively studio with over 30 live exotic animals, we are committed to nurturing students’ self-esteem, building lasting friendships and empowering them as artists, learners and creative thinkers.

Rooted In Connection

[email protected]
831.291.3865
Give the gift of connection this holiday season! Rooted In Connection helps neurodivergent children and their families thrive with trauma-informed, somatic, and brain–body based practices. In-home sessions support trust, emotional regulation, and resilience, helping families enjoy more ease, joy, and meaningful connection together.

HEALTH

Alison K. Jackson, DDS

Children’s Dentistry
7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos
831.662.2900
santacruzkidsdentist.com
We provide comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children of all ages. We are preventive-dentistry oriented and very thorough in our evaluations and consultations. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and are able to treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably under a general anesthesia. We have a 24-hour emergency service available for all of our patients.

Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital

1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz
831.462.7700
DignityHealth.org/SantaCruz
Expert and compassionate care for you and your family. This Open Enrollment, choose access to Dignity Health. When comparing health plans, consider the advantages of a plan connected to Dignity Health, the largest physician network in Santa Cruz County, with more than 200 primary and specialty care providers in over 100 locations. Dominican Hospital offers nationally recognized programs in heart, cancer, obstetrics and other specialties. Learn more at DignityHealth.org/SantaCruz.

First 5 Santa Cruz County

831.465.2217
First5scc.org
First 5 Santa Cruz County promotes the healthy development of children from birth to age five. Parents and caregivers of newborns can receive a free “Kit for New Parents” with videos, books and local resources. First 5 also offers parenting support through the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, which strengthens families by building positive relationships. Find Triple P classes and tips at triplep.first5scc.org or facebook.com/triplepscc.

SCHOOLS

Gateway School, K-8th grade

255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz
831.423.0341
gatewaysc.org
Located on the west side of Santa Cruz, Gateway School provides students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade with an exemplary education. Small class sizes and programs in Art and Technology, Music, Spanish, and Life Lab complement a robust academic curriculum grounded in Social Emotional Learning. We value collaboration, creativity, and a love of learning, and encourage our students to become compassionate and responsible citizens. Gateway School is the only K-8 school in Santa Cruz accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Its mission is to inspire children to lead lives of purpose and compassion through scholarship and citizenship, and all are welcome. Learn more by visiting gateways.org.

Mount Madonna School

Preschool–12th Grade
491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna
408.847.2717
MountMadonnaSchool.org
Mount Madonna School is a diverse, inspired and academically vibrant learning community. Students form meaningful relationships, value collaboration and engage with the wider world. The school offers a Montessori-influenced preschool and kindergarten, environmental education, performing and visual arts, life skills and strong academics. Transportation is available with stops throughout Santa Cruz County.

Orchard School K-6

2288 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos
831.688.1074
orchardschoolaptos.org
Orchard School, established over 30 years ago, provides a unique, yet comprehensive K-6 education. At Orchard, we weave together the magic of an extraordinary faculty, a 14-acre campus and a down to earth philosophy that nourishes and honors the natural growth and development of children. Small class sizes, an organic garden and an animal farm create enriching “whole child” learning experiences that are hands-on and individualized. We provide Strong Core Academics, Lab-Based Science Curriculum, Art, Music, Physical Theater/Circus Arts, Electives, Ceramics, Archery, Leadership, Field Trips, Drama Productions, and more.

Santa Cruz City Schools

Sam Rolens
[email protected]
831.419.2927
sccs.net/enroll
Santa Cruz City Schools helps students find belonging, exploration and high expectations. Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten focus on play and curiosity. In elementary grades, learning happens in classrooms, gardens, kitchens, art studios and through enrichment programs. Middle school supports independence and emotional growth. High school offers more AP classes, athletics, arts, performance, leadership and community connections to help students launch into college or career.

Santa Cruz Montessori

Ages 18 months–14 years
Main Campus: 6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos
Winston Campus: 244 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel
831.476.1646
scms.org
Established in 1964, Santa Cruz Montessori is a nonprofit school serving children 18 months to 14 years in beautiful indoor and outdoor environments. Programs meet the developmental needs of each age group and challenge students to do their best. The curriculum includes humanities, math, sciences and the arts. The mission: to inspire lifelong learning and a more peaceful world by nurturing the natural development of each child.

Santa Cruz Waldorf School, PreK–8

2190 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz
831.425.0519
santacruzwaldorf.org
Santa Cruz Waldorf School nurtures the whole human being—head, heart and hands. The curriculum integrates intellectual and artistic development, with specialty teachers providing language, movement, music, arts, games and gardening. The rural redwood campus is warm and joyful. The school supports each individual, respects nature and cultivates self-directed, empathetic and free-thinking individuals prepared to serve an evolving world.