Roundhouse Aquarium Earth Day 2021 Virtual Events!

6 days ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Roundhouse Aquarium Earth Day 2021 Virtual Events!

Celebrate Earth Day all month long at the Roundhouse Aquarium!

April 22, 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, and the Roundhouse Aquarium, managed by the Oceanographic Teaching Stations, is set to honor this milestone virtually with programs throughout the month of April. Sponsored by Chevron Corporation, The Port of Long Beach and Dive N’ Surf, the virtual celebration explores the magic of the ocean, its connection to humans and what people can do to protect it.

Celebrating Whales and Dolphins: Fantastic Flukes and Fins will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. This free Virtual Event will help you meet the largest animals ever to live on earth! You will meet many animals that swim in the sea, but breathe air like you and me. You will also be able to learn how to draw one of these amazing animals – so get paper and pencil ready.

The Ocean In Your Bathtub is a Virtual Reading Event that will take place on Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. This free Virtual Event will have award winning children’s book author Seth Fishman and the Roundhouse Aquarium partner together to bring ocean science programming for an Earth Day virtual reading program. Those in attendance will view a fun and engaging video reading of “The Ocean In Your Bathtub,” and have a chance to meet Seth Fishman and the Roundhouse Aquarium Scientist, Marissa Wu, who will answer your questions live.

Amazing Tide pools will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. This is a free Virtual Event and will let you join them at some local tide pools and explore what is hiding in the rocks. You can discover what amazing superpowers tide pool animals have to help them survive and live the tide pool life.

For more information and to register for these fun virtual events go to: https://roundhouseseaaquarium.org/earthmonth.

Photos courtesy of the Roundhouse Aquarium Earth Day Celebrations

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events May 2021

1 week ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Trails and Hikes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events May 2021

Special Events:

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is slowly beginning to allow participants to join its monthly outside activities. This is exciting because last year we were unable to enjoy outdoor volunteer opportunities that the Conservancy offers.

City Nature Challenge will take place from April 30 through May 3, 2021, with bioblitz fun as you help document wildlife on your smart phone in your area. Whether it be your backyard, or in one of the nature preserves, this is a way for the community to work together and find and document nature in the area. The event is designed to connect people and communities with nature, and collaborate with citizen and community scientists around the work documenting the biodiversity of our planet. This is an easy to do challenge. The Conservancy has all of the instructions, resources and activities for you; please visit www.pvplc.org/calendar/citynaturechallenge.

Q & A with Author Doug Tallamy will take place on Saturday, May 1st, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. You will join executive director Adrienne Mohan for a live zoom Q & A with Doug Tallamy, bestselling author of “Nature’s Best Hope,” who will answer your questions about how to help save the planet by adding native species to your backyard. For more information and the Zoom link go to https://pvplc.org/calendar. You can also have Doug sign a Mother’s Day gift of this best selling book “Nature’s Best Hope.” You can buy copies of the book by going to https://plplc.org/event/earthday.

Monthly Activities

Rapid Response Team will take place on Saturday’s, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. You will work alongside conservancy staff protecting important wildlife habitat by closing unauthorized trails. The tasks include trail maintenance, building fence, stalling signage and more. They will be working at various locations and you can volunteer by going to www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

To read my prior article on Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails, click here.

Photos courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Palos Verdes Local Summer Camps 2021!

2 weeks ago • Children's Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Local Summer Camps 2021!

Palos Verdes home owners are getting back to pre-covid times and are happy to hear that local summer camps will be opening this summer for their children to enjoy. Below are just a few of the activities and camps located here in the area to choose from.

PV Surf Camp is a local youth surf camp which has been in operation for 20 years and is for ages 6 to 15. The camp offers various programs depending on age and skill level. The programs vary for the participant who has never surfed and requires one to one support in the water at all times, to the intermediate surfer who wants to improve their skills (The ratio is never more than 4 to 1 instructor). The camp will be open from June 14 through August 20, 2021. The cost per session is $295 for the first week, and $240 for any additional weeks. The sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information go to www.pvsurfcamp.com, or call (310) 908-8164.

Peninsula Sports Camps have been offering children full and half day camps in Palos Verdes since 1972. These camps are held at Palos Verdes High School and Ryan Park. The great thing about these camps is the variety. Children can enjoy their favorite sport – baseball, basketball and soccer, and later enjoy a swim in the pool to cool off. At the end of their camp session, children will receive awards for their sports. The cost per child for full day camp is $275, and half day camps are $155. For more information on Peninsula Sports Camps or to register, go to www.peninsulasportscamps.com or call (310) 213-5433. Remember the camps fill up quickly so it is important to register soon.

Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center will be offering Camp Curtain Call again this summer for kids ages 5 to 11. Children will enjoy singing, dancing and acting classes for two weeks at beginning and intermediate levels, with a performance for friends and family at the end of the session. This year they will be showcasing The Lion King, Jungle Book, Beauty & The Beast and Aladdin. For more information on dates and times go to www.palosverdesperformingarts.com/camp-curtain-call.com.

BeachSports will be offering ocean safety, surfing, beach volleyball, skateboard, Junior Lifeguards and beach activities again this summer for ages 4 to 14. This camp is offered in Redondo Beach, and runs from June 14 to September 3, 2021. Camp hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon or 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information and to register go to www.beachsports.com, or call (310) 372-2202.

Chadwick School will be offering academic enrichment, swimming, art, strategies, computer lab, field sports, music, photography, dance, painting, drama, singing, writing and physical fitness this summer from June 21 to July 23, 2021. This program is for children from 4 to 16 years of age. For more information go to chadwickschool.org/summer or call (310) 377-1543.

Rolling Robots will be offering Coding, Buildbot, VEX robotics, Lego robotics, Minecraft, Roblox, and 3D Design. This program is for children ages 5 to 15 years of age. For more information go to rollingrobots.com, or call (424) 206-9466.

To view my previous article on Local Palos Verdes Summer Fun click here

Photo courtesy of Peninsula Sports Camp

Palos Verdes Whale Of A Day Virtual 2021 Celebration!

3 weeks ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Whale Of A Day Virtual 2021 Celebration!

The Whale Of A Day 2021 festival will be held virtually on Saturday, April 10, 2021. Last year because of the pandemic, this wonderful annual event was cancelled. This year, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in partnership with Los Serenos de Point Vicente will be having a VIRTUAL event! The event will showcase all the best that our community has to offer while continuing to educate us all about the migration of the Pacific gray whale.

This event will not be a live event and the content for the event will be free for viewing on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at www.whaleofaday.com. There is no registration or fee to participate. However, you will need to pre-register to pick up an activity bag by visiting apm.activecommunities.com/rpv. Activity bag pick up will take place at Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall located at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. during business hours between March 15 and April 2, 2021. The activity bag will contain educational materials, giveaways & components to assemble crafts that will be described at the event. (There will be a limited supply of activity bags).

The event content will be made available on the website on Saturday, April 10, 2021. The Virtual Event Details are as follows:

Debut of the new Point Vicente Interpretive Center Exhibits
Puppet Show “Guillermo goes to Mexico”
Abalone Cove Tide Pool Tour
Take part in the Silent Auction April 1 – 10, 2021
Native Plant Garden Tour
Whale Education
Story & Craft Demo (pick up in advance at RPV City Hall)
Learn about animal pelts and skulls
Entertainment and More

For more information about this year’s event, contact the Recreation and Parks Department at events@rpvca.gov or call (310) 544-5260.

To read my prior article on Whale of a Day click here.

Photo courtesy of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events April 2021

4 weeks ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Trails and Hikes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events April 2021

Special Events:

The Virtual Guided Nature Talk at the Alta Vicente Reserve will take place on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. You can join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for a virtual guided tour of the Alta Vicente Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes. You will be able to explore the beautiful native wildflowers, rare animals and discover the historic features of the area such as the Japanese farm lands and military sites along trails with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. This special edition is produced in partnership with the Palos Verdes Library Series “Pedal PV” and Palos Verdes Library District’s local history librarian, Monique Sugimoto, will join us for the live Q & A following the tour. RSVP for the Zoom Link at: pvplc.org/calendar/guided nature walks.

Earth Day Virtual Presentation will take place on Thursday, April 22, 2021. You will join the land conservancy, in partnership with the PV Library District and Friends of the Library, for a live Zoom event in celebration of Earth Day 2021. The event will explore what each of us can do to renew the Earth and how our impact here on the Peninsula will affect the rest of the planet and, at the same time, introduce David Tallamy’s “Nature’s Best Hope.” This book explores how and why all of us should help turn our neighborhoods into conservation corridors with native plants. A community reading of the book will lead up to a LIVE Zoom Q & A with the author, David Tallamy on May 1, 2021. For more information and the Zoom link, please visit www.pvplc.org/calendar.

Virtual Family Nature Club will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. This month, the special theme will be Celebrate Earth Day. There will be fun Earth Day themed family activities and you can learn about what your family can do to think globally and act locally to make an impact on the planet. RSVP at pvplc.org/calendar/family activities.

Monthly Activities

Outdoor Volunteer Day at Abalone Cove Reserve will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. At this site, they will be eradicating invasive weeds around the restored habitat. Abalone Cove Reserve is located at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information, sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Outdoor Volunteer Day at Alta Vicente Reserve will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This is a great opportunity to help restore habitat for wildlife like the rare CA gnatcatcher and cactus wren on the beautiful 55 acre nature reserve across from the Point Vicente Lighthouse. Alta Vicente Reserve is located at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information, sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Earth Day Plant Sale Pick Up and Volunteer Opportunity at the White Point Nature Preserve will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021. You can join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for Earth Day 2021 by “Renewing the Earth” by learning what you can do to restore the Earth by creating conservation corridors in your home garden with locally native plants. Volunteers get a first hand experience in native plant care. Native Plant Sale Pickup will be open for orders made in advance from April 13 to April 20, 2021, online at pvplc.org/plant-sales. RSVP requested for volunteers with space limited at https://pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

To read my prior article on Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails, click here.

Photo of outdoor volunteers courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Palos Verdes Easter 2021 At Terranea Resort!

1 month ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Easter 2021 At Terranea Resort!

The beautiful Terranea Resort will be offering some opportunities for Palos Verdes homes owners to enjoy wonderful restaurants, exquisite views and to-go opportunities for Easter on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Mar’sel will be serving a California coastal brunch with a four course menu showcasing traditional Easter specialties of lamb omelet, rack of lamb, halibut, brisket as well as vegetarian options. The restaurant will be serving from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bashi Restaurant will be offering a special menu including grilled Mongolian lamb lollipops with Asian slaw, Soju miso glazed lobster tail with hand-cut egg noodles, water chestnut, Chinese broccoli and garlic sauce, or their Kombujime salmon truffle roll. You can pair your meal with one of their signature international whiskey flights. They will be serving from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.

For more casual dining, Nelson’s will be offering their specialty menu items including lamb chop lollipops with a rhubarb puree and crispy Swiss chard from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Lobby Bar & Terrace will be serving their specialty offerings including a fizzy bunny mimosa, ambrosia strawberry mint truffle, and sweets from chef Perry’s Bake Shop from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.

Sea Beans Meals to Go will be offering their special menu with asparagus and parmesan soup with crispy shallots, pea & carrots spring salad, sugar snap peas, baby carrots and mint vinaigrette. Choice of house cured maple ham with apricot and Dijon glaze or herb roasted leg of lamb with rosemary Gremolata, mandarin glazed rainbow carrots with hazelnut cardamon granola, garlic & chive mashed potato and hot cross buns. For dessert is Chef Perry’s ricotta citrus tart with candied fruit, Tarragon. Order deadline is Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 12:00 noon.

Vegetarian Easter To-Go (also at Sea Beans) will include asparagus and parmesan soup with crispy shallots, pea & carrots spring salad, sugar snap peas, baby carrots and mint vinaigrette, Artichoke and olive tart fresh spring peas, lemon & cashew puree, puff pastry, mandarin glazed rainbow carrots with hazelnut cardamon granola, garlic and chive mashed potato and hot cross buns. Dessert is Chef Perry’s ricotta citrus tart with candied fruit, Tarragon.

These Easter dining opportunities will be filling up quickly due to Covid restrictions, so make your reservations as soon as possible. You can visit www.Terranea.com or call (310) 265-2861 for reservations and pricing. Terranea Resort is located at 6610 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes.

To read my prior article on Easter Dining at Terranea Resort click here.

Photo courtesy of Terranea Resort

South Coast Botanic Garden Presents SOAR Butterfly Experience!

1 month ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

South Coast Botanic Garden Presents SOAR Butterfly Experience!

Palos Verdes homes owners can enjoy some family fun by visiting the South Coast Botanic Garden for their SOAR exhibit from April 1, 2021, through July 31, 2021, featuring tropical butterflies in the newly built pavilion.

The SOAR ticket will allow you to enter the pavilion, but the whole experience will actually begin on the outside of the new garden area featuring a portion of the spring super bloom, butterfly attracting flowers, and other pollinators. Throughout the SOAR experience you will be able to see butterflies in every stage of their life cycle. Inside the pavilion, you will have the opportunity to watch them in their natural habitat and sometimes have a personal encounter with one of them.

Timed ticket reservations will be required for all visitors due to social distancing. (Members only will be allowed on April 1 – April 4, 2021). If you are not a member, the regular price for admission is $15/adult, $11/senior, $5/children over 5, and there is an additional charge of $5 for the butterfly pavilion. (Children 1 and younger are free). Advanced reservations are still required, so make sure you get them before they sell out. For more information or to purchase admission tickets click here.

The South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula. Due to the current situation, it is recommended that you contact the garden early to make your reservations as there are a limited number of tickets.

To read my prior article about the Garden click here.

Photo courtesy of the South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes Schools 2021 Spring Break Activities!

1 month ago • Children's Events, Community Events, School Information

Palos Verdes Schools 2021 Spring Break Activities!

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District will be taking their annual Spring Break for 2021 starting on Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2, 2021. Since we are still under some Covid restrictions, outside activities are limited for Palos Verdes homes owners who are looking for day camps for their children to enjoy.

AYSO Spring Soccer Camps are being offered from March 29, to April 2, 2021, at Highridge Park. Children 7 to 14 years of age can spend a half day learning and improving their soccer skills. The cost of the Half Day Camp is $149, and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. AYSO Tiny Tykes camps are for children 4 to 6 years of age and are being held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Highridge Park for the price of $149. For more camp information and/or to register click here.

Highridge Park is located at 28220 Highridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes.

To read my prior article on Spring Break click here.

Photo courtesy of AYSO

Palos Verdes 2021 Whale Watching Season!

2 months ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes 2021 Whale Watching Season!

The whale watching season has begun, but with Covid restrictions it looks different this year. The Point Vicente Interpretive Center has been counting whales for years, but this year they are unable to continue this practice. The Lighthouse and Center has been closed for months, however, the park and paths are open for all to enjoy while practicing safe distancing and wearing masks. Point Vicente Interpretive Center is located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes.

If you want to get a closer look at the whales, there is a local company that is still offering whale watching tours for a fee. Redondo Beach Whale Watch has begun their tours and tour times are 10:00 a.m., Monday – Friday, and 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday. The cost is $35 for adults and children 5 to 12 are $25. Children under 4 are free. Reservations are required for whale watching tours, and the boat must have at least 8 people signed up for that day. Redondo Beach Sport Fishing/Whale Watch is located at 140 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach. For more information, go to www.rbwhales.com or call (310) 372-2111 for reservations.

LA Waterfront Cruises is offering one hour harbor cruises at this time. The cruise will explore the amazing Port of Los Angeles, and you can learn history about the port as well as watch the sea lions playing in the harbor. You will also get to take a waterside look at the world famous battleship USS Iowa, and see container ships from all over the world. The cost for the tour is $15 per adult, $10 for children 5-11 and under four is free. San Pedro Spirit Cruises is located at 77 Berth, San Pedro. For more information and to make future reservations, go to www.lawaterfrontcruises.com or call (310) 547-9916.

To read my last article on Whale Watching click here.

Photo courtesy of Spirit Cruises

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events March 2021

2 months ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Trails and Hikes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events March 2021

Special Events:

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is slowly starting to allow participants to join in its monthly outside activities. This is exciting to hear because last year we were unable to enjoy outdoor volunteer opportunities that the Conservancy has to offer.

Virtual Family Nature Club will take place on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. This month the special theme will be Whales. They will be highlighting the children’s book Be Brave and Be Kind: the Story of Eleanor the Whale. There will be fun activities from the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for you to follow along with from home. This is a free family fun program but you need to advance register for zoom access by clicking here.

The Education Docent Zoom Orientation will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This is a great opportunity to become a Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Docent and share your love of nature with the community. The orientation will introduce you to the different opportunities available such as volunteering in the Nature Centers engaging with visitors, helping with native plant sales, supporting the new Nature Club for Families, and/or leading Nature Walks. Docents can also sign up to teach local 3rd graders about the natural history of the Peninsula. They will provide all the training, lesson activities, and materials. As a volunteer you can also enjoy enrichment activities as part of the friendly Docent Community. For more information sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Monthly Activities

Outdoor Volunteer Day at Alta Vicente Reserve will take place on Saturday, March 13, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Alta Vicente Reserve is located at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes. This is a great opportunity to help plant and restore the habitat. For more information ,sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Outdoor Volunteer Day at Abalone Cove Reserve will take place on Saturday’s March 20 & March 27, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. At this site they will be eradicating invasive weeds around the restored habitat. Abalone Cove Reserve is located at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information, sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

To read my prior article on Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails, click here.

Photo of outdoor volunteers courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Children’s Events

Palos Verdes 2021 Whale Watching Season!