Hands-On Display Lets Kids Transform into Drop of Water

Visitors to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center can experience the cycle of a single drop of water when they take part in Water’s Extreme Journey, a hands-on, interactive maze designed by Minotaur Mazes now through the end of the year.

Water’s Extreme Journey maze takes visitors on a wild role-playing adventure where they are transformed into a raindrop and challenged to stay clean. Visitors are sent on a journey through mountains, streams and even their own backyards, where everyday decisions impact their chance of staying clean and reaching a healthy ocean.

The maze also will highlight water research happening at UC Santa Cruz and in the greater community, and encourage people to support clean water initiatives. Features within the maze have been tailored to represent Santa Cruz County water issues.

Exploring the maze is included with admission to the Seymour Center, located at 100 McAllister Way in Santa Cruz. The Seymour Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

Gifts for Care Facility Residents

Become a Holiday Helper by giving to the often forgotten care facility residents in Santa Cruz County. It’s the time of the year when our community comes together to ensure that all have a special and memorable holiday season. Please help us to make the holiday special for our seniors and let them know they are remembered!

Holiday Helpers is now accepting donations and wrapped gifts and will do so through December 7th. Gifts suggestions include new lap blankets, scarves, slippers, slipper sox, socks, shirts, lotions, calendars, crossword puzzles, word search, adult coloring books, etc. Please mark packages male or female, with sizes, ready for delivery to the care facility residents. It’s nice seeing the smile on their faces when they open up their gifts! Cards as well as cash donations are appreciated.

Please drop off all gifts between 9am and noon, Monday through Friday, through Dec. 7. For further information and drop off options at 831.459.8917, Ext. [email protected].
www.fsa-cc.org.

CDRC Mapping Tool Identifies Child Care in Santa Cruz County

The Child Development Resource Center, a program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, is a one-stop source for Santa Cruz County families seeking child care. Recently expanded resources now include two interactive mapping tools that show the location of licensed child care centers and family child care homes. One tool, MyChildCarePlan.org is now a statewide source of child care information.

These maps not only enable families to easily find and connect with their local providers, they help to highlight opportunities to add new providers to better meet families’ needs for accessible child care.

Provides are encouraged to list their business for free with the Child Development Resource Center, which then allows families to be referred to their programs. Providers also can receive help becoming licensed and get connected with resources like health and safety raining, professional development, community connections and more. Child care providers can visit the Child Development Resource Center’s new website to add or update their business listing. They also can tap into resources and reach out to staff with questions.

Visit childcare.santacruzcoe.org or call 831.466.5820.

Group Raises Money for Preservation of Castle Beach

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks announced a community-driven effort is underway to share the history of Castle Beach, an earlier name for what is now part of Seabright State Beach.

Perched above the entrance to Seabright Beach across from Mott Avenue was the Scholl-Mar Castle, which was built in 1929. The castle welcomed visitors for almost 40 years, offering beach fun with everything from volleyball, umbrellas and a snack bar to oceanview dining and hot saltwater baths.

Friends, in partnership with the Seabright Neighbors Association, California State Parks and generous donors, is working to tell the story of this beloved beach’s history through the placement of beautiful, informative, bilingual signs, as well as replacing the unique castle-shaped gate at the park’s entrance.

“We’re proud to be part of this community project to tell such a uniquely Santa Cruz story,” Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Executive Director Bonny Hawley said.

The goal is to fabricate and install the new gate and two signs, one English and one Spanish, at Seabright Beach next spring. To fund the effort, Friends working to raise $19,000 by year-end 2022.

Supporters can make a donation to support the project at www.thatsmypark.org/castlebeachproject.