Briefly In Education
Club hosts couch-free Saturdays
The Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach is encouraging kids to get off the couch and move by transforming the facility into a skate park every Saturday beginning Oct. 23, where local thrashers will have an opportunity to show off their skills and score a chance to win a signed Tony Hawk skateboard.
The Club recently acquired two quarter-pipes that can be adjusted to make a half pipe, and a fun box equipped with a grind rail. The ramps were designed and built by pro-skater Chad Shetler, ensuring a fun ride, according to club organizers.
The main event for our Couch Free Saturday is a skate competition at 1 p.m., where three judges will hand out prizes from Hobie Surf Shop for free-style skating in age brackets 10 and younger; 11 to 13; and 14 and older.
The first place winner will walk away with a signed Tony Hawk skateboard.
The event is free to anyone who wants to skate; registration forms can be accessed at bgclagunabeach.org or filled out the day of the event.
Open mic planned
The Club will also offer a Collective Sound open mic event for local talent to showcase their skills, whether it is poetry, singing or the spoken word, and to ensure that all of Laguna’s youth gets active.
A fully equipped band set-up will be provided to give local bands the opportunity to jam, as well as provide an audience, without the hassle of transporting and setting up your gear.
Emily Murray, the Club’s art director, will provide a free tie-dye workshop where anyone who wants can make a tie-dye T-shirt for free. Youth are encouraged to bring their own white clothes if they wish to tie-dye them.
The Ocean Institute will provide their traveling classroom to entertain and educate younger siblings while their older siblings tear it up. A ping-pong tournament will also be organized for players of all ages (including the up and coming ping-pong stars who play at the senior center).
“I liked the fact that the event is so organic,” Hobie President Mark Christy said. “If something is too organized, teens tend to shy away, but the eclectic mix of cool stuff including the skate contest for all ages, the band and their many walk on guests, Element’s outdoor display, art, and ping pong makes it an event that teens enjoy.”
Fore more information, visit the website or call (949) 494-2535 ext. 106.
Little ghouls and goblins on parade
The Laguna Beach Parents Club will hold its annual Halloween costume parade at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Main Beach. The brief celebration will include a children’s costume parade down the boardwalk and treats and beverages.
All kids from the community are invited to join in the fun. There will be plenty of photo opportunities, so bring your cameras.
Boo Blast 2010 coming
The community is invited to El Morro Elementary’s annual Halloween Boo Blast from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, where kids and parents can enjoy treats for all of their senses.
The event will offer rides, a variety of carnival games and yummy food including dessert crepes and a Meat House barbecue.
Enter the costume contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes (no scary costumes, please), or dance your way around the Cake Walk and win a sweet treat.
Ghoulish sheriffs will be roaming the carnival, ready to lock up your friends and foes in the haunted Wild West Jail. This is one place you won’t need to escape from to have a great time.
There will also be a rock climbing wall and giant fire engine and mega slides to keep everyone moving.
New this year are Sawdust Festival icons Star Shields doing face paining and temporary tattoos and April the Balloon Diva making whimsical treats. The new Craft Shack will let little ones use their Halloween creativity to create boo-tiful keepsakes.
Sponsored by the PTA, the carnival is the largest fundraiser for the school each year.
“Last year’s Boo Blast had more than 1,100 attendees and raised $29,000 for the school,” Bolette Albertsen, the 2010 Boo Blast Chairwoman, said. “With the support of the community and our sponsors, we’re aiming to surpass that. So many parents and community members volunteer for this event—it really does take a village to create an event of this size.”
Each class at El Morro put together gift baskets for the silent auction, including two massages at the Spa at Pelican Hill, a round of golf for four at the Newport Beach Country Club, a Brazilian Blow Out and a Scooter’s Jungle party.
Halloween jewelry and accessories along with this year’s Boo Blast T-shirt, featuring winning art by El Morro student Jade Nicoletti and courtesy of Volcom, will be available for sale.
All proceeds go to the PTA, and benefit the students’ education.
Parking is free and easier than ever this year—park at Reef Point (ocean side of Coast Highway at the light at Trader Joe’s) or Crystal Cove State Park (ocean side of highway at Newport Coast) where shuttles will run to and from the carnival.
Admission is free. Tickets are $1; rides and attractions are 1 to 4 tickets each. Meal tickets are $8 and include the barbecue, chips and a drink. Advance ticket and meals can be purchased on https://www.ElMorroPTA.info prior to the event.