Space in Preschools and Childcare Centers is tight. Parents preparing to go back to work are finding themselves on wait lists. We asked Sita Moon, Coordinator for the county Child Development Resource Center, to share with us information on the status of available space. She gives us background and good advice. Thorough research and patience are needed as parents negotiate this latest challenge from Covid19. Scroll down.

Our museums are opening up, albeit cautiously. Soon we can visit! The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has an exciting citizen science project you can do as a family! You can make a reservation to visit the MAH. The Children's Museum Of Discovery is opening for small group, timed visits on April 2. Check out the San Lorenzo Valley Museum. Scroll down for details.

If you have wonderful, lively, challenging, high-spirited children, join this March 30th talk with child psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Ross Greene on Raising Human Beings! https://santacruzparent.com/event/raising-human-beings/

Camp Directors are making summer plans. We are compiling our Camp Guide and downloadable PDF of camps. Tell your friends to register for our newsletter so you all get camp information coming out next week. They will thank you for sending this signup link! https://tinyurl.com/w9btgxd

Have a great weekend with your families, Parmalee

by Sita Moon, Coordinator, Child Development Resource Center

For those not familiar with the Child Development Resource Center, we are here to help families looking for child care or a preschool program.

Funded by the State of California our free services have been available for more than 40 years as we maintain the list of all licensed programs in Santa Cruz County and offer support to families and providers.

A quick phone call or a visit to our website can help you begin the child care referral process. https://cdrc4info.org/. Our experienced referral counselors will offer information about programs in your search area as well as information on choosing a child care program and how to recognize indicators of quality and safety.

Now, more than ever, this invaluable assistance is needed. As families navigate the uncertain territory of returning to work and children returning to school how can we be comfortable with the idea of letting our little ones enter into a child care setting? And what’s happening with child care and preschool anyway? Are they even open? Is it safe?

Our child care system in Santa Cruz County, as in other places across the country, has really gone through some tough changes due to the pandemic. While the number of child care centers remained consistent over the past 10 years, (around 110 centers serving families county-wide), the number of licensed family child care homes has seen a steady decline.

Read the entire article by Sita who shares more information and offers sound advice for those seeking preschools and/or childcare > > >

The area impacted by the CZU Lightning Complex Fires hosts a slew of rare plants. As we enter spring, the season of new growth, botanists will be paying close attention to these rare plants, but they’re not the only ones.

A “community scientist” is anyone who makes and shares observations in an effort to contribute to scientific understanding — and we hope you will help us bring community science to the burn zone.

During this online training hosted by the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with Amy Patten, Rare Plant Treasure Hunt Manager for the California Native Plant Society, you’ll learn how you can search for and document rare plants as a community science volunteer.

We’ll go over some of the fascinating and beautiful rare plants you can see in the burn area, as well as online tools you can use for survey efforts as part of the CZU Lightning Complex and Community Science Project.

Free Zoom Webinar | Register for Link

Dr. Ross Greene

Ross W. Greene, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of the influential books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost and Found, and Raising Human Beings. As a clinical psychologist, he’s been working with children and families for over 40 years. His influential work is widely known throughout the world.

Join Dr Greene to learn and discuss:

Tuesday, March 30, 4:00 pm ~ Online: us02web.zoom.us