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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
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Indeed, fossil hunting is fun,
especially when you make a BIG discovery!
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"Local students from Tara Redwood School playing in a Santa Cruz Mountains creek last spring found a strange object that they suspected was a bone from a large animal. This bone was brought to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History where their Paleontology Collections Advisor, Wayne Thompson, recognized it as a fossil arm bone (left radius), likely belonging to an ancient sloth. Thompson called in fossil sloth experts who confirmed that this bone came from a Jefferson’s ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii), making this specimen the first reported fossil evidence for this species in Santa Cruz County."
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"Exciting discovery alert! Local students unearthed a fossil from an ancient sloth, the first ever evidence of this species in Santa Cruz County. Wayne Thompson, the Museum's Paleontology Advisor, called in fossil sloth experts who confirmed that this bone came from a Jefferson’s ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii), one of the very first fossils documented in North America.
This momentous find underscores the importance of natural history museums in inspiring curiosity and discovery. You can see this amazing specimen displayed during "The Art of Nature" exhibit from March 23-May 26, 2024. Stay tuned for more updates."
Read the full story https://loom.ly/746Dydg
If you and your children like treasure hunts, Kathleen Ashton, the collections manager at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, shares where and how to hunt fossil treasures responsibly. Enjoy!
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Have a joyful spring weekend with the children, Parmalee | |
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Wayne Thompson, Paleontology advisor
for the Museum’s collection, at the site
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Artwork
by Mason Schratter
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Fossil arm bone, likely belonging to an ancient sloth | |
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Pew Research has done some interesting research on what concerns parents in today's fast moving lifestyle and too often volatile environment. Pew Research's articles are thorough and some are lengthy, but interesting. The results may or may not match your family's concerns, however, awareness of trends could be interesting as a check-in for parents and educators, as a way to be informed and as a starting point for conversations.
There's a lot of parenting "advice" available these days, including references to different styles, like helicopter, free-range, gentle parenting, etc. Just remember: You get to choose and plan how to parent in your family. It's good to be consistent with your plans yet tweak parenting to meet your family's needs. It's okay to adjust for your children's unique personalities and changing ages. It's more than okay to seek help from our local professionals like Triple-P, KidPower, Positive Discipline, 5 Steps to Connect and Tilt Parenting.
Pew Research: Do you align or differ with their conclusions?
Parenting in America Today covers a range of topics, but mental health concerns top the list of worries for parents; most say being a parent is harder than they expected, by Rachel Minkin and Juliana Menasce Horowitz - Read the article > > >
Parents Differ Sharply by Party Over What Their K-12 Children Should Learn in School, but majorities of both Republican and Democratic parents are satisfied with the quality of their children’s education, by Juliana Menasce Horowitz - Read the article > > >
Key Facts about Moms in the U.S., by Katherine Schaeffer and Carolina Aragão, Read article > > >
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Fossil Hunting in Santa Cruz | |
by Kathleen Aston
Collections Manager at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
"Traces and remains of ancient creatures —from whale-ribs to a famous mastodon tooth— frequently surface on Santa Cruz beaches and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
"Santa Cruz is renowned for its biodiversity—not just above ground but also below. Watching for winter storms here can be about waiting to see what the wind, rain and waves expose.
On the beaches, fantastical looking skulls emerge from below the sand. In the mountains, clumps of extinct sand dollars and the age-worn edges of shark teeth tumble out of hillsides.
There are few things more magical than finding a fossil in your own backyard, whether it’s your actual yard or your favorite hiking spot. It’s a moment that evokes the triumphant joy of the scavenger hunt, the mind-boggling awareness of the depth of time, and the mysteriousness of even the most familiar places. This is especially true in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the local beaches, where finding a fossil most often means finding remains of ancient oceans on what is now land."
Read the rest of this article in Hilltromper > > >
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Choose
To Do Something Exhilarating
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I see you at the Arboretum, on the beaches, on woodland trails, in the parks, shopping, spending time with your children, doing ordinary things, playing, helping, learning, laughing, even handling meltdowns with love. The simplest excursions can make wonderful memories. These are moments to cherish. Watch this Steve Hartman video with his sons. It's inspiring.
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Parenting Workshops for inspiration, finding ways to help with parenting challenges, tweaking our skills and support from leaders & fellow travelers in this incredible and important journey....
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These schools invite you to visit!
Explore your options.
Visit websites.
Go to Open Houses & Tours
Make appointments to visit schools.
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Tales to Tails Downtown, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays , 4:30 – 6pm through June 25, Tales to Tails is a literacy program designed to help children improve their reading skills by providing them the opportunity to read aloud to certified therapy dogs. This program is for established readers struggling with reading aloud, not reading tutoring. Details
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Boardwalk Fun Run, Saturday, March 23, 6:30am, Swap out your flip flops for running shoes and join the fun with this family-friendly race through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! 1K- Ages 12 and Under; 5K- Ages 4 and Up, Rewards: Finisher medal; Boardwalk treats;Up to 2 hours of free-play in the Casino Arcade; $15 Off Ride Wristband for race day, Details
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Join the Capitola Village Easter Egg Hunt, March 23, 8am – March 31, 5pm, Find the eggs hidden at participating businesses. Once found, ask a staff person at the participating the business to stamp your GAME CARD. Fill up your GAME CARD for prizes. Details
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Scotts Valley Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza, Saturday, March 23, 10am – 2pm, Join us at Skypark in Scotts Valley for the first annual Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza. Egg hunts begin at 10am for ages 3+. There will be fun games, a photo booth, crafts, music and food & drinks for purchase. Details
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Roaring Camp's Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt, March 30 – 31, Join our Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp. Hop aboard the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain for an Easter Egg Hunt and participate in Easter activities in Town. Details
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Summer Camp Festival 2024, Saturday, March 23, 10am – 12:30pm, Join us at our Summer Camp Festival 2024 on a hunt for the perfect summer camp! Explore a wide range of summer camp booths from across Santa Cruz County. Details
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Youth Action Network Capitola for Teens 14 – 18, Saturday, March 23, 11am – 2:30pm, Do you know any students passionate about creating a positive change in our community?! Join us at the Capitola Community Center. This is a great opportunity to connect with local decision-makers and learn more about policy and decision-making across Santa Cruz County. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and make a difference! Details
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Festivals: Works by Granero, Schumann and Stravinsky,
Saturday, March 23, 7:30pm, Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz
Sunday, March 24, 2pm, Mello Center, Watsonville
Our Festivals concerts March 23/24 arrive just after the spring equinox—a significant turning point in the year. As rainy weather gives way to balmy days and light overturns darkness, Santa Cruz Symphony invites you to celebrate the renewal of warmth and the promise of spring. Join us as we experience festive, passionate, and occasionally explosive works by Granero, Schumann, and Stravinsky. Details
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CHP Start Smart Driving Education for Teens & their Parents, Thursday, March 28, 6-7pm, In an effort to prepare young drivers to drive responsibly, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is offering new driver education class for new drivers and their parents. Start Smart, presented by the CHP, addresses such topics as the safe driving practices, the rules of the road, and new driver license requirements. Details
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SORRY, SOLD OUT! Top Dog Film Festival, Saturday, March 23, 7pm, If I were you, I would email Rio Theatre and ask them to book more shows next year. | |
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Songs and Stories with Fairy Grace and Mr. David, Wednesday, March 30, 10:30 – 11am, Enjoy songs and stories with Fairy Grace and music and movement with Mr. David. This show consists of Fairy Grace performing songs from her album, Lovely (Positive Songs For Children) and a reading from her children’s book, My Heart Is Smart. Mr. David takes the second half of the show and performs movement and sing-along songs from his albums, The Great Adventures of Mr. David and Mr. David’s First Album.
Details
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West African kora presented by Sean Gaskell, Thursday, March 21, 4:30 – 5:30pm,
Performance and educational demonstration featuring the West African kora. Sean Gaskell features songs on the kora- a 21 stringed West African harp. Many songs featured on the kora preserve an 800 year history dating back to the founding of the Mande empire. Gaskell has presented adult, youth and family programs at over 350 libraries and a multitude of k-12 schools, colleges, universities and assisted living facilities in the United States and Canada. Details
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Qingming Festival: Craft and Learn, Friday, March 22, 10am-12pm
Join renowned author Sandy Lydon and community hero George Ow for a morning discussion and craft to learn about the Qingming Festiv., Registration is strongly recommended as craft supplies may run out.
Registration required Details
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Mamma Mia! Fridays & Saturdays, March 22-23, 7pm; Sundays, March 24, 2 – 4pm, Come take a trip down memory lane and down the aisle with us. Mamma Mia is a fun, family friendly musical. If you need a night of easy, fun musical theater then please join us.
The story takes place on a mythical Greek island in the present day, and centers around a young girl named Sophie who dreams of a white wedding, with her father giving her away at the altar. Details
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Look Ahead
Register or get tickets before they sell out!
April
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George O’Connor Reads ASGARDIANS: ODIN, Thursday, March 28, 5-6pm, Free, Bookshop welcomes bestselling author George O’Connor to the store for a reading and signing of his new graphic novel Asgardians: Odin, which Kirkus, in a starred review. George O’Connor’s highly kinetic illustrations bring these gritty and astonishing tales of war, betrayal, and the quest for enlightenment at any cost to vivid and startling life and provide the perfect companion to his Olympians series. Details
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The Odd Couple, Oscar & Felix ~ March 23, 24, 29, 30, April 6, 7, 12, 13, We promise you will laugh at the classic characters as a group of the guys assemble for cards in the messy apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. Recently separated Felix Unger arrives, fastidious and suicidal. After the clean freak and the slob decide to room together with hilarious results, Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind.
The Odd Couple, Female Version ~ March 22, 23, 30, 31, April 5, 6, 13, 14 ~ Instead of a poker party, messy Olive Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit, and fastidious Florence Unger comes to share the apartment. Simon brilliantly translates his original classic, re-imagining the familiar and hilarious situations for two women who can’t possibly coexist, but somehow manage to do just that. Details
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HERstory Celebration, Thursday, March 28, 5:30pm – 8pm, Join us in HERstory Celebration as we celebrate Women’s History Month by paying tribute to the stories of remarkable women who have left an indelible mark on our community and beyond. Reservations suggested, Details
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