Don’t Say There’s Nothing To Do
Here is a listing of some of the more popular or unique recreation activities available in each Ventura County city and countywide:
City By City
CAMARILLO
* Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District
482-1996
Offers a variety of courses and sporting activities, including summer softball and basketball leagues, junior golf lessons, cartoon drawing and swing dance classes.
* Paint Pals Clubhouse
383-7176
A hands-on arts center that offers ceramic painting, sand bottle art, spin art, karaoke, puzzles, games and a black-light room.
* Ventura County Gymnastics Center
482-1187
Varying degrees of lessons and competitive teams, tumbling and cheerleading classes.
* Camarillo Youth Theater
388-5716
Summer program made up completely--from producer to cast--of local artists under 21.
* Camarillo Girls Softball Assn.
484-5501
Tournaments and league play.
* Camarillo Fishing Club
482-4390
Organizes fishing trips to different lakes throughout California, as well as deep-sea expeditions.
FILLMORE
* Recreation Department
524-4253
Offers dance, arts and crafts, and self-defense classes, tennis lessons and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
* Fillmore Little League
524-5565
The league, which had 26 teams last season, is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 15.
* Fillmore Swim Team
Anyone can join. Works out at Fillmore High School. Call Fillmore Recreation Department for information.
* Lake Piru
521-1500
Camping, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing.
* Short Line Enterprises
524-2546
Runs steam and diesel trains from Fillmore to Santa Paula. Barbecues and live music.
* Fillmore Bobby Sox
524-5125
Had 15 girls softball teams last season for ages 5 to 18.
MOORPARK
* Recreation Department
529-6864 or 531-9100
Offers classes on activities ranging from drawing to karate, sponsors excursions, camps and concerts.
* Moorpark College
378-1441
The college’s Exotic Animals Training and Management Program offers wildlife education shows on weekends. Also offers summer camps in science and other fields.
* Moorpark Melodrama
529-1212
Holds children’s theater workshop.
* Fieldstone Riding Club
529-9474
Offers horseback riding lessons.
* Moorpark Little League
529-2931
About 650 boys and girls ages 5 to 16 took part in the league last year.
OJAI
* Recreation Department
646-1872
Holds dances, offers tennis lessons, clinics and tournaments, Irish dance classes, art classes, gymnastics, karate, girls softball, summer day camps.
* Living Treasures
646-9590
Mentor group appoints Ojai celebrities and professionals to hold workshops and introduce local young people to their area of expertise.
* Ojai Illusions Theater
649-2324
Outdoor theater casts many young people in its productions.
* Ojai Valley Inn & Country Club
646-5511
Horseback riding lessons and guided trail rides on 800-acre ranch.
* Lake Casitas Recreation
649-2233
Camping, fishing.
* Ojai Valley Racquet Club
646-7213
Offers personalized fitness programs, tennis lessons, aerobics.
OXNARD
* Recreation Department
385-7992
Offers courses in cooking, cheerleading, singing, youth flag football and volleyball, boxing and other activities.
* Oxnard Stars
488-2578
Youth track group for boys and girls age 6 and up, with several levels of competition.
* Channel Islands Aquatics
488-5372
Currently at old Oxnard High School site, the club has competitive programs for boys and girls ages 5 to 20, and also runs a summer swimming lesson program for less experienced swimmers.
* Oxnard Tennis Center
483-2600
Classes, private lessons, team tennis leagues.
* Mackinnon Dance Co.
485-0115
Offers jazz, ballet, tap and Scottish highland dancing lessons for ages 3 and up. Three performing groups: the Macdancers (8 to 11), Pure Joy Moving Company (13 to 24) and Mackinnon Highlanders (all ages).
PORT HUENEME
* Hueneme Recreation Department
986-6555
Offers modern jazz classes, junior lifeguard program, ballet, tumbling and tennis.
* Walter Moody School of Tennis
986-6584
Offers tennis clinics and competitions.
* Tae Ryong Tae Kwon Do School
986-8425
Various levels of classes and competition. Home to teen-age martial arts sensation Debbie Chan.
* CBC Baseball
483-8115
Winter league for ages 8 to 12.
* Port Hueneme Pier
488-0083
Fishing, biking and in-line skating.
SANTA PAULA
* Recreation Department
933-4226
Courses in Polynesian dance, painting and cartooning, tennis and guitar. Four drop-in playground programs in summer.
* Santa Paula Youth in Action
525-1250
Runs popular lowrider bicycle club, as well as camping expeditions and graffiti paint-overs.
* 100 Hats Theater
645-5376
Drama courses, summer drama camp, teen workshop and also puts on performances, mostly by teen-agers.
* Santa Paula Little League
933-9944
Boys and girls ages 8 to 15.
* Santa Paula Blazers Youth Track Club
525-1008
Boys and girls ages 6 to 16, racing categories by age.
* Santa Paula Bobby Sox
525-2314
Softball tournaments and league play for girls 7 to 18. Summer and winter leagues.
SIMI VALLEY
* Rancho Simi
Recreation and Park District
584-4400
Offers a variety of arts and sporting activities, and coordinates teen-oriented entertainment events such as a summer series of “Punk in the Park” concerts.
* Easy Street Arena
520-7465
Ice-skating rink offers figure and hockey skating lessons and teams.
* Rosalie’s School of Dance
581-4423
Teaches ballet, jazz, hip-hop and tap dancing, and also has teen performing groups.
* Brunswick Bowl
584-2695
Offers bowling lessons and leagues for more experienced players.
* Creative Sewing
579-9356
Sewing classes for boys and girls ages 6 to 12.
* Simi Youth Baseball
583-4103
About 400 boys and girls ages 5 to 15 took part in this league last year.
THOUSAND OAKS
* Conejo Recreation and Park District
495-6471
Named top parks and recreation district in California last year. Offers courses and programs in music, theater, arts and sports as well as special teen events.
* Young Artists Ensemble
499-4355
More than 250 participate in this theater troupe’s productions every year. The ensemble recently performed “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Civic Arts Plaza.
* The Roller Dome
493-8800
Skating rink holds a roller hockey league for ages 5 to adult and family skating. Members-only club.
* Thousand Oaks Flyers Track Club
495-7363
A track team for boys and girls ages 7 to 14 offers various levels of competition.
* Thousand Oaks Cricket
498-6964
Non-structured cricket play, lessons and coaching.
* Daland Swim School
495-5210
Offers swim lessons, swim teams and water aerobics.
VENTURA
* Recreation Department
658-4726
Offers more than 100 cultural arts classes each season of the year. Also dozens of classes in such sports as tennis, golf, soccer and basketball.
* Tri-Valley Girls Softball
644-9210
More than 500 girls ages 5 to 15 play in this fast-pitch softball league.
* Golf N’ Stuff
644-7131
Bumper boats, go-carts, video games and miniature-golf courses.
* The Performance Studio
643-5701
Classes and performances in modern dance, ballet and improvisational theater.
* Ventura County Junior Tennis Assn.
648-3876
Holds 37 tournaments for novice and experienced boys and girls 6 to 18. Singles and doubles play.
* Sorisio Performance Studio
643-9427
A vocal studio with a mostly teen-age clientele where professional musicians offer private vocal lessons in classical, gospel, pop and theatrical singing. Also puts on performances throughout county.
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COUNTYWIDE
GROUP ACTIVITIES
* Boy Scouts of America, Ventura County Council
482-8938
With 280 Cub and Boy Scout troops and 7,100 members, the Boy Scouts are extremely active in Ventura County, organizing camping and hiking expeditions throughout California and beyond.
* Girl Scouts of the USA, Tres Condados Council
649-9363
About 6,000 Ventura County girls participate in the Girl Scouts, planting trees, helping senior citizens--and yes, selling cookies.
* 4-H Youth Program
645-1470
The University of California’s 4-H Youth Program allows youngsters to join small community clubs, where they can choose from more than 125 educational projects ranging from astronomy to zoology. A waiver is available for those who cannot afford the $10 membership fee.
* Camp Fire Boys and Girls Inc., Ventura County Council
485-3417
Provides year-round after-school programs for youngsters, including arts, crafts, music, games and outdoor activities.
* El Concilio del Condado de Ventura
983-2336
Offers recreation, counseling and cultural awareness programs for at-risk youths
* New West Symphony
643-8646
Has two youth symphonies, one in the Conejo Valley and another in the west county.
* Ventura County Master Chorale
983-0913
Offers children’s choir for ages 9 to 14.
* Youth for Christ
983-3636
Holds breakfast clubs for children where sketches are put on and morality is discussed.
Interface Children Family Services of Ventura County. 485-6114
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS
Although programs vary at each location, the Boys & Girls Clubs offer game rooms, after-school programs to help with homework, arts, crafts and cooking classes, and drop-in sports activities as well as leagues. Some also have free lunch programs, and most sponsor frequent trips to Raging Waters, Magic Mountain and other entertainment areas.
Camarillo: 482-8113
Fillmore-Piru: 524-0456
Moorpark: 529-1140
Oxnard: 483-6577
Port Hueneme: 488-3719
Santa Paula: 525-7910
Simi Valley: 527-4437
Ventura: 641-5599, 641-5588
YOUTH SOCCER
With more than 18,000 participants, the American Youth Soccer Organization is Ventura County’s largest sports league, offering soccer to boys and girls ages 4 to 18.
Camarillo: 484-9982
Fillmore: 524-6933
Moorpark: 523-8518
Newbury Park: 498-7284
Ojai: 649-1800
Oxnard: 988-1633
Port Hueneme / South Oxnard: 985-6987
Santa Paula: 525-9439
Simi Valley: 526-6547
Thousand Oaks: 492-0853
Ventura: 658-2976
Ventura County Soccer, a large league of about 70 teams, is prominent in the west county, primarily among Latinos. About half of the players are teen-agers. 486-9270
YOUTH BASKETBALL
Boys and girls basketball is also popular in Ventura County, with a variety of city and countywide leagues, most of which have varying degrees of competition.
Camarillo Youth Basketball Assn. 482-7256
Conejo Youth Basketball Assn. 492-6475
Fillmore Youth Basketball Assn. 524-2472
Moorpark Youth Basketball Assn. 529-7992
Newbury Park Athletic Assn. Youth Basketball. 498-5920
Santa Paula Youth Basketball League. 933-4217
Simi Valley Youth Basketball Assn. 584-4400
Ventura Youth Basketball Assn. 658-4749
*
Ventura County Youth Basketball Conference. An eight-team all-star league for boys and girls ages 8 to 13 where the cities’ best players compete for county hoops supremacy.
Agoura Youth Basketball. (818) 707-3157
Camarillo Youth Basketball. 482-3019
Conejo Youth Basketball. 493-1487
Newbury Park Panthers. 499-2739
Simi Valley Vikings. 526-6962
Ventura Force. 658-4749
Oxnard Breakers. 658-4749
Moorpark Youth Basketball 529-7913
YOUTH FOOTBALL
The Pacific Youth Football League, one of California’s largest sporting organizations, has a vibrant regional chapter that includes 14 Ventura County teams for boys 8 to 14.
Agoura / Oak Park Chargers: (818) 991-4874
Camarillo Roadrunners: 987-9539
Channel Islands Warriors: 983-2009
Conejo Cowboys: 584-0842
Fillmore Raiders: 524-4705
Moorpark Packers: 523-0705
Newbury Park Steelers: 498-5443
Ojai Eagles: 646-0910
Port Hueneme Rhinos: 486-1053
Santa Paula Junior Cardinals: 525-0156
Simi Valley Vikings: 522-2293
Ventura Packers: 647-5481
Westlake Braves: 494-6568
Gold Coast 49ers (Oxnard / Port Hueneme): 483-3673
YMCA
Swimming, racquetball, weight training. Also provides summer camps, fitness classes, non-competitive sport programs and parent-child events to promote togetherness.
Camarillo Family YMCA. 484-0423
Conejo Valley YMCA. 523-7613
Simi Valley Family YMCA. 583-5338
Ventura Family YMCA. 642-2131
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Compiled by MIGUEL BUSTILLO; digital imaging by ED TISHER.