Duck Pond at Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks

This is the largest duck pond that I'm aware of certainly in the Conejo Valley if not all of Ventura County. Conejo Creek Park North is a great park in Thousand Oaks with a creek running through it down to a pond full of duckies quacking around. There's also a pond at the top of the creek as the water recirculates. There must be a couple hundred ducks on hand at this park and they're pretty friendly.

You're really not supposed to be feeding the ducks but it is hard to resist. The problem though is that feeding bread to ducks is really bad for them because of all the refined sugar. They need cracked corn, oats and other grains. So while I do mention "feeding the ducks" in the video, if you're really interested in feeding them, stop by a feed store for some duck food if you want to do the right thing.  In any case, these ducks are cute and entertaining so go pay them as visit!

Rising Stars Tennis Academy in Thousand Oaks

Rising Stars Tennis Academy specializes in teaching tennis to children at locations in the Conejo Valley.

Visit risingstarsmtm.wordpress.com for more information.

Oxnard Police Activities League (PAL)

Oxnard Police Activities League (PAL) is a citywide, after-school crime prevention program that provides outreach to local youth, ages 4 to 18, to build positive relationships between youth, police officers and the community. PAL's mission is to divert youth away from gangs and other criminal activity by providing a wide variety of positive alternatives under the care and supervision of trained police officers, recreation staff and community volunteers. Membership at PAL is FREE and of all of PAL's programs are offered at low or no cost to participants.

A wide variety of programs are offered year-round, including athletics, enrichment (e.g. music, education), leadership, mentoring, community events and more. Visit www.oxnardpal.org for more information.

Brandon's Buddies Free Kids Club in Calabasas

Brandon's Buddies is a free kids club that meets every month at Brandon's Village at Gates Canyon Park located at 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Calabasas. This playground is the first fully-accessible playground in the region. The day may include integrated play, face painting, arts and crafts, entertainment and treats.  Feel free to bring a sack lunch.

All children with and without disabilities and their families who want to spend a great day playing in the sunshine and making friends are invited to participate!

Brandon's Buddies gives children with disabilities the opportunity to play with their typically-able peers, while giving their parents a chance to share experiences and advice with other parents/caregivers.  It gives children without disabilities the chance to get to know their peers and gain greater awareness and compassion.

For more information, visit The K.E.N. Project website at www.kenproject.com or call 818.222.8118.  Or visit the KEN Project calendar at www.kenproject.com/calendar. 

Note from Conejo Joe: The group meets USUALLY (some exceptions noted) the first Saturday of each month from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. But make sure to check in advance.  Or just show up.

Upcoming dates: TBA

2nd Saturday at the Adobe in Agoura Hills

2nd Saturday at The Adobe is a monthly family program for families with kids age 3 to 8. Hours are 1:30-3:30PM.

Stop by the Reyes Adobe Historical Site to participate in hands on activities and make art projects geared towards a monthly theme. Before your visit, have a lunch in the park, enjoy the playground, or bring games to play on the grass. Activities are geared towards kids ages 3-8 and are free with donations cheerfully accepted. Docent led tours of the historic museum are also available for all ages.

Call the Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center for specific activities at 818-597-7361 or check out the city’s quarterly recreation program guide at www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.

Location: Reyes Adobe Historical Site, 30400 Rainbow Crest Drive, Agoura Hills

Upcoming events: TBA

Serendipity Dance Company in Simi Valley

Serendipity Dance Company offers classes in jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theater, hip hop and tap. And birthday parties! Located at 1788 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley. Visit www.serendipitydanceco.com or call 805.583.2623 for more information.

Kids Club at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks

The Kids Club at The Lakes meets every Wednesday of the month from 10-11am on the lawn during most spring/summer months. Geared towards kids 10 and under.

Call 805.497.9861 for more information. Events are outdoors; rain generally cancels events but call first.

Events vary from puppet shows to storytellers to musicians, petting zoos, arts and crafts, etc. for preschoolers and their parents. These are outdoor events and are weather permitting. Contact The Lakes for more information at 805.497.9861 or www.shoplakes.com.

In addition to the kids club, The Lakes has a small playground area that is geared toward the younger kids, an expanse of grass and 2 beautiful lakes, waterfall, fountain, etc. This is a nice park-like setting that makes you forget the fact that you are looking straight out at Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Upcoming Events:

8/25/21: The Whacko Show

*RSVP at www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lakes-at-thousand-oaks-kids-club-tickets-150284465883

Simi Valley Aquatics

Simi Valley Aquatics opened the first indoor swim school in Simi Valley in July 2016. The facility offers year-round swim lessons with two 90 degree pools for all ages, baby to adult. Offering group lessons, private lessons, semi-private lessons, "Baby & Me" classes and private parties. Located at 1263 Simi Town Center Way. Visit www.SVaquatics.com or call 805.443.SWIM for more information.

Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts

The Camarillo Academy of Performing Arts (located at 2520-A Los Posas Road) has brought the performing arts to students since 1999. The Academy features a state-of-the-art facility featuring over 10,000 square feet of learning space and a professional faculty with vast teaching and performing experience. Ages three through adult. Classes offered in ballet, tap, pointe, acrobatics/tumbling, lyrical/contemporary, aerial, modern, hop hop and voice. All boys dances classes too!

For more information, visit www.camarilloacademy.com or call 805.383.6446.

Over 4 Dozen Community Parks in the Conejo Valley

The Conejo Recreation and Park District maintains over 4 dozen parks in the Conejo Valley. These parks contain over 20 tennis courts, close to 30 basketball courts, dozens of softball/soccer fields, nearly 150 swing sets, around 100 slides, dozens and dozens of play structures and jungle gym equipment and countless other fun things for the kids.

Most parks are open to the public from 7am to 10am, with the exception of Conejo Community Park and Lynn Oaks Park (7am-6pm Oct-Mar, 7am-8pm Apr-Sep), Conejo Creek North Park (7am-6pm Nov-Feb, 7am-7pm Mar & Oct, 7am-8pm Apr-Sep) and Conejo Creek Dog Park (7am-8:30pm).

CRPD maintains a list of parks it maintains at crpd.org/parkfac/parks/default.asp. Some additional observations below.

Pepper Tree Playfields has multiple playing fields for soccer, baseball, etc. and is a popular spot for local team sports.  The park is equipped with a decent sized play area and smaller kids' play area that was updated in 2008. There's also a .8 mile fitness trail course that runs around the perimeter of the park.

Conejo Creek Park - North in Thousand Oaks behind the Thousand Oaks Library is easily my kids' favorite park.  It is large, has nicely appointed play areas, plenty of restrooms and parking and two large duck ponds with a 720 foot creek joining them. The playground also has a NEOS, an interactive, electronic game with flashing lights, music and sound effects.

If you are a duck fan, Conejo Creek Park - North will not disappoint you.

Borchard Community Park in Newbury Park (Reino Road and Borchard Road) is another large park with multiple playing fields, restrooms, separate play areas for older and younger kids that are quite interesting and newly updated with a farm motif in Fall 2014, tennis courts and a community center where hundreds of CRPD classes are held each year.

Dos Vientos Community Park in Newbury Park (4801 Borchard Road) is also a large park that has multiple restrooms, numerous playing fields, separate play areas for large and small kids, a large, covered picnic table and BBQ area, lots of parking and is another active community hub with hundreds of CRPD classes taking place each year.

Thousand Oaks Community Park (2525 N. Moorpark Road) is a large park that holds numerous annual CRPD events (such as the extremely popular "Touch-a-Truck" event Father's Day weekend, Halloween events, etc.) and hundreds of CRPD community classes.  Nice playground there too, including the popular "Ant Hill."

Conejo Creek South Playfields at 1300 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks is primarily used for team/league sports, both day and night.  However, other events often take place there, such as Conejo Valley Days, Circus Vargas and various CRPD community events like an annual Easter egg hunt. Although there are no playground areas here, the Conejo Creek Bike Path runs through this park to the Thousand Oaks Library, making it a perfect place to take your young ones who are learning how to ride a bike!

The playhouse at the Kids' Adventure Garden at Conejo Community Park.

Conejo Community Park at Dover and Hendrix in Thousand Oaks is a nicely sized park that is well known for the extremely popular CRPD free summer concert series.  In November 2008, a new play area was completed between the community center and the Botanic Garden that includes a rock and rope climbing area along with a separate play area for the younger set.  There's also a creek that runs through the park and the Kids' Adventure Garden adjacent to the park open on Sundays only is a great activity for your younger set.

Rancho Conejo Playfields on North Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park has a large expanse of grass for soccer games and a baseball diamond.  There is a fun kids area there.  A fun place for the kids to run around.  Not a lot of fully grown trees at this park. Plenty of parking.

Old Meadows Park at 1600 Marview Drive in Thousand Oaks is hidden away off of Erbes Road in Thousand Oaks and is where the CRPD Therapeutic Recreation Unit is located.  Kind of a quiet, low key, fairly undeveloped park that is geared towards the local neighborhood and younger children. The park features the Rotary Dreamcatcher Playground geared towards children with special needs with a sensory interactive play area stimulating senses and abilities. But all kids are welcome!

Banyan Park at 3571 Erinlea Ave in Newbury Park is a small neighborhood park with restrooms, small covered picnic area and a small kids playground area.

Lang Ranch Community Park at 3287 Lang Ranch Parkway, Thousand Oaks has a large open space for baseball, soccer, etc., a nice playground, a basketball court, etc.  Right across the street from the Chumash Indian Museum and Oakbrook Regional Park.  Plenty of parking on the street and restrooms are available.

Stagecoach Inn Park at 51 S. Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park is a relatively small park with no restrooms and a small kids play area. There is one basketball court.  It is adjacent to the Stagecoach Inn Museum and parking is fairly limited.

Wildflower Playfield at Avenida de los Arboles at Canna Street, west of Lynn Road in Thousand Oakshas 19 acres, tons of grassy area for soccer and baseball, a nice playground area, 4 tennis courts, a basketball court, restrooms and more.

The 26 acre Del Prado Playfield in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park opened in January 2013, with a cool new playground, tennis and pickleball courts, restrooms, plenty of parking, playfields and nearby hiking.

The expansive Sapwi Trails Community Park opened in the fall of 2018. This 145 acre park is located in the open space between Erbes Road (at Scenicpark Street) on the west and Westlake Boulevard east, with Avenida de los Arboles on the north. The park has numerous features, including a disc golf course, trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, playground, beginners’ bike park, terraced areas with picnic benches and more.

And there's more...click here for a compilation of parks throughout Ventura County.