The Isla Vista Recreation and Park District (IVRPD) is offering a free summer program for local children, focusing on outdoor recreation, arts, and educational activities. The program serves about 40 children through mid-August and includes structured sports activities, nature walks, and field trips.

Program Details

Program leaders emphasize the importance of getting children outdoors and exploring nature. Every Wednesday, the children participate in a nature walk throughout Isla Vista, and last week, they visited the beach for a scavenger hunt. The program also partners with the Goleta Union School District to provide free breakfast and lunch for participating children.

Children in the program have expressed their enjoyment of the various activities, including arts and crafts, sports, and outdoor games. The program also helps children develop important life skills, such as respecting others’ feelings. Additionally, the program offers several field trips, including visits to local museums, the beach, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Future Plans

District leaders are looking to the future, with plans to renovate Children’s Park, which faces a funding gap of about $1 million. The IVRPD is partnering with the Ventura Community Partner Foundation to address this shortfall.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.