SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Families across Santa Cruz County are invited to participate in Noon in the Park, a free, virtual program featuring community leaders singing, reading books and creating art.
Each day is different.
Kate Pavao and Aaron Lazenby, who run the Live Like Coco Foundation, will host Monday sessions. The couple sing, read books and lead nature activities.
Freedom Elementary School teacher David Guerrero on Tuesdays will lead the program by presenting stories in Spanish.
Wednesday features Joanna Zaccaria from Coastal Music Therapy, who plays guitar, sings, leads movement activities and reads.
On Thursdays, guest hosts lead activities, usually in Spanish.
Art Factory teacher, Yvette Contois, will provide a free art lesson on Friday.
“Our idea is to keep our community connected during Shelter in Place,” said Mariah Roberts, executive director of County Parks Friends. “Noon in the Park has proven a simple place for families to come together, get the latest updates and see friendly faces.”
Each session features three quick tips about what’s happening with Santa Cruz County parks, trails and beaches. Many of the stories presented are from the Young Writers Project’s Califas Legacy Project, a recently published work of writing by Shoreline Middle School students, and inspired by paintings of leading Latino artists.
Noon in the Park viewers also are invited to participate in the Great 2020 Challenges, a program of weekly activities designed to keep kids moving. They also get the opportunity to win prizes such as bubbles, books and even Amazon Kindle devices. Past challenges have asked kids to do jumping jacks, dance or walk through their own communities, snapping photos of wildflowers.
The prizes have been made possible with support from Omega Nu and Live Like Coco Foundation.
The Noon in the Park program can be found both live and on on-demand at www.facebook.com/countyparkfriends/. County Park Friends works to preserve, protect, improve and promote the use of Santa Cruz County parks and open spaces, focusing on inclusion and access to activate the power of public spaces. Information at countyparkfriends.org.
