District Tours - West Coast College Tours

At District Tours, we offer a firsthand opportunity to tour different colleges and universities along the East and West Coast, plus a series of personal statement and college planning workshops. Combined, these all- inclusive experiences help to alleviate the anxiety associated with the college application process. The tours emphasize a step-by-step approach to admissions, financial aid, the personal statement, and campus housing. We are a company HS parents continue to trust.

LePort Schools
Parent Education Event: LePort's Elementary Program
Irvine
February 2, 2012
6:00pm - 7:30pm

Open to all parents, held at our Irvine - San Marino Campus

Join us to understand LePort's 1st - 8th grade program, and to meet your child's potential teachers. Lead educators from our Lower Elementary programs and our Upper Elementary/Junior High program will discuss how we make learning come alive at LePort and what children will learn in our programs. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions, and to learn more about the new LePort school in the Irvine Spectrum area. Location:

LOCATION:
1055 San Marino
Irvine

LePort Schools Open House
Huntington Beach & Irvine
February 11, 2012
10:00am - 12:00pm

Visit our classrooms, and discover the playgrounds with your child. Meet teachers and other LePort staff. Learn about the Montessori Method, as teachers explain how they make the magic happen in their classrooms. Get your questions answered, and leave with a lot of food for thought as you research preschool or elementary school programs for your child. Location:

LOCATIONS:

Huntington Beach Campus
16081 Waikiki Lane
Huntington Beach

Orchard Hills Campus
3983 Portola Parkway
Irvine

Carden Academy - Huntington Beach - Huntington Beach
February 12, 2012
10 am - 12 noon

Carden Academic program: Building a Foundation for Life - preschool - 8th Grade. Safe, nurturing environment, small classes, dedicated teachers.

WASC accredited. 33 years at Huntington Beach.

LOCATION:
Carden Academy - Huntington Beach
721 Utica Avenue

INFORMATION:
714.536.1441

Orange County Great Park Stargazing Series - Irvine
January 27, February 24, March 30, April 13 & April 27, 2012

Star light, star bright, come out to see the stars at night! Explore the solar system and be introduced to the world of astronomy. Astronomy4U will offer high powered telescopes to view the moon, stars and planets, along with informational star maps to serve as a guide.

Free Parking & Admission. Recommended ages: 9+

LOCATION:
Orange County Great Park
Marine Way and Sand Canyon
Irvine, CA

INFORMATION:
(949) 724-7420

Get Outdoors! OC at Upper Newport Bay - Newport Beach
Saturday, January 28, 2012
12 - 3 pm

Bring your family to experience some of the same hands-on environmental education activities that you have enjoyed with the Inside the Outdoors Field Trips! Hike trails with an experienced Naturalist, participate in bird watching and join in educational activities about the estuary.

Cost: Free (This program is generously sponsored by a grant.)

LOCATION:
Meet their staff at the Muth Interpretive Center
2301 University Dr.
Newport Beach, CA

INFORMATION:
(714) 708-3885

Star WarsTM: Where Science Meets Imagination at Discovery Science Center - Santa Ana
November 18, 2011 - April 15, 2012

Imagine a world with humanoid robots translating languages, landspeeders whizzing down the highway, and X-wing Starfighters protecting the skies. Could these technologies, limited only to the fantasy worlds of Star Wars™, actually become a reality? Find out as Discovery Science Center hosts an out-of-this-world exhibit, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination, presented by Bose Corporation.

LOCATION:
Discovery Science Center
2500 N. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92705

INFORMATION:
714-542-2823

Starr Ranch Sanctuary - After School with Starr Ranch Biologists
Located in Trabuco Canyon
Thursdays Feb 9, 16, & 23, 2012
OR Fridays, Feb 10, 17 & 24, 2012
3:30 - 5 pm

The staff at Audubon’s Starr Ranch Sanctuary invite kids ages 8 – 12 to come visit the Ranch after school over three days this winter to learn how our biologists conduct research on wild animals and their habitats. Starr Ranch protects 4000 acres of wildlands in southeast Orange County. The cost is $30 for the three-day session and reservations are required. Wear clothes for outdoor walking. Rain dates by arrangement.

LOCATION:
Starr Ranch Sanctuary
100 Bell Canyon Road
Trabuco Canyon

RESERVATIONS OR INFORMATION:
Reservations: 949-858-0131 or online at www.starr-ranch.org. Questions: 949-858-0309.

Get Outdoors! OC at O’Neill Regional Park - Trabuco Canyon
February 25, 2012
12 - 3 pm

Happier, Healthier, Smarter…Join us for outdoor activities geared to inspire your family to spend time outside. Easy Naturalist led hikes, nature crafts, and more! Each Get Outdoors event is at a different location with various games and activities depending on the park. Feel free to drop in for all or part of this free event.

Cost: Free (This program is generously sponsored by a grant.)

LOCATION:
O’Neill Regional Park
Trabuco Canyon

INFORMATION:
(714) 708-3885

Astronomy Night - Silverado
March 9, 2012
6:30 - 8:30 pm

Spend an evening under the stars in the canyons away from city lights. We will take a sunset hike, peer at the night sky through telescopes and hear ancient legends about how the constellations were named.

Cost: $5 per person/ $25 per family* Advance registration required.

LOCATION:
Rancho Soñado
Silverado, CA 92676

INFORMATION:
(714) 708-3885

Visitor Night at UCI Observatory
March 10, 2012
7-9 pm

UCI Observatory is open to the general public, approximately 5 times per year. Visitor Nights are free of charge, although a donation per family is suggested to defray the costs, and there is a campus parking fee.

Highlights are Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Orion Nebula, Eskimo Nebula, the Pleiades and other star clusters. Moon is 88% illuminated but doesn't rise until 9 pm. Lecture: “Tiny Galaxies and Dark Matter”, Erik Tollerud (Graduate Student)

Please check their website before attending. Weather conditions may cause the event to be canceled.

LOCATION:
The Observatory
University of California, Irvine

Pumpkin Patch School Field Trip and Tours
Ongoing

Irvine Park Railroad – located inside of beautiful and historic Irvine Regional Park - offers Pumpkin Patch school and group tours. You can choose a package that’s best suited for your class or group. Activities vary by package and can include a train ride, hay ride and moon bounce. Free activities include a hay maze, picture stands and child-friendly haunted house. All children who participate in this school field trip / tour will receive a free pumpkin and bottle of water. A minimum of 25 paid children per group is required for group pricing. Teachers are FREE. Schedule your school or group ahead of time and you can have access to a Party Pavilion in this great park at no additional cost to enjoy a sack lunch and other activities. Irvine Park Railroad is centrally-located in Orange County.

LOCATION:
Irvine Regional Park
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA 92869

INFORMATION:
For complete Pumpkin Patch activities, or to make a class or group reservation, call Irvine Park Railroad at (714) 997-3968.

LePort Schools Mommy & Me - Huntington Beach & Irvine

Mommy & Me Montessori is a program designed for 18 to 36-month-old children with their parents or caregiver.

Each 8-week session meets once a week for 90 minutes. During that time, you and your child will explore the many Montessori activities on the classroom shelves, join other parents and children for snack, sing songs, hear stories and play together on our beautiful playground. Snacks are provided for the children. Dads, grandparents and nannies are welcome too!

LOCATIONS:
Mommy & Me Huntington Beach
16081 Waikiki Lane, Huntington Beach, 714-377-6035

Tuesdays, Jan 24 - March 13, 9:00am - 10:30am
Wednesdays, Jan 25 - March 14, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Saturdays, Jan 28 - March 17, 9:00am - 10:30am

Mommy & Me Irvine (San Marino Campus)
1055 San Marino, Irvine, 949-833-8474

Wednesdays, Jan 25 - March 14, 3:45pm - 5:15pm
Thursdays, Jan 26 - March 15, 3:45pm - 5:15pm
Saturdays, Jan 28 - March 17, 9:00am - 10:30am

Mommy & Me Irvine (Orchard Hills Campus)
3983 Portola Parkway, Irvine

Tuesdays, Jan 24 - March 13, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Wednesdays, Jan 25 - March 14, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Saturdays, Jan 28 - March 17, 9:00am - 10:30am & 10:45am - 12:15pm

Mission Montessori
Mission Viejo

The "Montessori Parent & Child" program is offered for families with children from 18-36 months in age. Children will participate in age appropriate hands-on activities in a nurturing and stimulating classroom and outdoor environment. This is a wonderful way to nurture your child's budding independence and prepare the child for preschool. Parents will gain hands-on experience with Montessori-inspired activities that can be easily embedded into your daily routine.

INFORMATION:
Call 949.582.3956 and schedule a tour or explore our website to learn more.

MOPs

Run by Coast Hills Community Church.

Coast Hills’ traditional MOPS group is a special place where you can meet other mothers also passing through this unique stage of life.

Ambassadors of the Environment

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Jean-Michel Cousteau partner to bring you eco-adventures that promise to open your eyes to Southern California’s unique ecosystems. Led by expert naturalists with 15 different excursions, these eco-tours, become a natural classroom and living laboratory in which adults, families and kids learn while having so much fun, they’ll never imagine these Laguna activities are educational.

Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari

Your guide, Coast Guard licensed Captain Dave Anderson, is a marine naturalist. He'll teach you about Dana Point, the whales who visit and the many dolphin who live here, as well as introduce you to a few of our other local marine friends like our California Sea Lions, brown pelicans and the flock of seagulls that come when Captain Dave whistles!

Cool Critters & Animal Presentations

A professional performance that is both fun and educational for children of all ages, Cool Critters is a traveling reptile and exotic insect zoo for birthday parties, corporate events and classrooms. Your guests will have an opportunity to touch or hold most of the twenty exotic animals that are showcased. Book a show today and create memories for your children that will last a lifetime!

Heritage Museum of Orange County

Heritage Museum offers an exciting line-up of educational field trip programs. Programs offered include a hands-on tour of the historic 1898 Kellogg house where students learn what life was like in the 1890s by playing with vintage toys, doing laundry, making butter, dressing up in Victorian costumes, and participating in other activities. Other programs included are 'Great Grandpa's House' for the youngest students, 'First Californians' & 'Gold Rush'.

Inside the Outdoors

Inside the Outdoors® is Orange County Department of Education’s environmental education program and has been providing hands-on, interactive outdoor experiences for Southern California students since 1974. We are passionate about sharing the love of nature and science with students. We offer full and half day field trip programs to educate students from Kindergarten to 7th grade at 13 different sites around Orange County. Our Traveling Scientist programs bring hands-on science education into the classroom. We also offer week long programs for 5th and 6th graders at 6 different Outdoor Science School sites in the San Bernardino mountains. Inside the Outdoors school programs are aligned with the California Science and Social Science Content Standards, providing optimal connectivity with what your students are learning in the classroom.
(714) 708-3885

Pacific Marine Mammal Center

A non-profit, volunteer organization and education center. They rescue, rehabilitate, and release sick and injured seals and sea lions. Programs include a guided tour of the animal care facility and exhibit room, a slide presentation and observation of the animals. The also offer a range of educational programs for groups of all ages.

Starr Ranch Sanctuary
Located in Trabuco Canyon

Starr Ranch Sanctuary offers educational and research opportunities for ages 7 and up through their Ecology Programs, Starr Ranch Junior Biologists, Ranch Research, Family Nature Workshops, and Starr Ranch Bird Observatory.

For more information on programs and how to schedule a group call Sandy at 949-858-0309

UCI Center for Educational Partnerships' Gifted Students Academy (GSA)
2 age levels - Grades 1-4 & 5-8

The Gifted Students Academy for grades 5-8 is an intensive summer program for gifted middle school students. Participants select courses in each of the major subject areas of math, science, language arts, social studies and the arts. Students may attend as a commuter student or reside on campus in the UCI residence halls. The Gifted Students Network Exploratorium for 1st through 4th graders is an all day innovative program for gifted and talented students. The Exploratorium is an integrated program of art, creative writing, computers, math and science. Sessions begin in June. A Saturday Academy is also offered year round.

Young Chefs® Academy

Young Chefs® Academy offers a variety of fun from field trips for schools, scout groups and Mom groups, to seasonal workshops & Open Houses and so much more! Our field trips are a great opportunity for "young chefs" to explore their culinary curiosities in a fun, safe environment. Call us today to schedule your private group visit to our cool kitchens! 949.679.8390

College Tutors: FREE SAT PRACTICE TEST!
January 28, 2012
9 am - 1 pm

Attention: Sophomores and Juniors: Prepare yourself to achieve the highest score you can... Take our free sat practice test!

Space is Limited! Registration is Required!
Must arrive 15 minutes prior to the test.

LOCATION:
Concordia University
Irvine Founders Hall 201

INFORMATION/RESERVATIONS:
Call 949-933-2965 or e-mail

The Princeton Review Presents - FREE Practice PSAT and Scoresback

The Princeton Review is offering a Free Practice PSAT. Students will be able to take a full-length practice PSAT under actual test conditions. This is a great opportunity to find out your strengths and weaknesses on the PSAT without affecting your official scores.

To find an event near you, visit the Princeton Review Free Event Search page, or contact Princeton Review at
1-800-2Review