  Keep Kids Learning This Summer
Research suggests that there is a "summer learning loss" among children and that "at best, students showed little or no academic growth
over summer. At worst, students lost one to three months of learning."
The folks over at the Family Education Network have some suggetions on how to "stop the summer brain drain," as well as other ideas for summer learning. |
 Eating Outdoors, Handling Food Safely
With the summer picnic season upon us, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers advice on protecting your family from foodborne illnesses at warm weather events.
Visit their web site for tips on safe food handling when eating outdoors. |
 Livescan Services
Valley Oak Children's Services is now offering Livescan Services.
Livescan Services are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Please call (800) 315-4507 to schedule an appointment, or visit L-1 Identity Solutions to schedule an appointment on-line.
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 Did You Know?
Valley Oak Children's Services has children's bike helmets and life vests available for infant/toddler through school age children.
Please call 895-3572 for more information or to schedule a fitting. |
 Search The Web And Support Valley Oak
GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50 percent of its sponsored search revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers - the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!
Every time you search the Internet at GoodSearch.com, your charity or school earns money and the more you search, the more they make. Add up the money generated from all your searches and those done by other people who we hope will use GoodSearch, and we can make a real difference to the people and causes that need funds most.
Please consider using Goodsearch as your Internet search engine, and choosing Valley Oak Children's Services as one of your charities. |
 Community Resources And Events
Valley Oak Children's Services Mobile Toy and Resource Van is coming to the Butte County Library's Story Times. Come visit the van and find community resources and check out educational toys and children's play equipment for a one month period. The July schedule is:
- Paradise Library, 5922 Clark Road, Friday, July 13th, 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
- Oroville Library, 1820 Mitchell Avenue, Wednesday, July 18th, 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
- Gridley Library, 299 Spruce Street, Friday, July 20th, 10:000 - 11:00 A.M.
 Please contact Siobhan O'Neil, VOCS Toy Librarian, at 899-4902 for additional information.
Chico's Fourth of July Celebration happens July 4th at One Mile Recreation Area. Events include a pancake breakfast, a 5K run, a pie eating contest, and music. See the complete schedule here.
Cultivating Community is presenting two Hands-On Canning Classes. Come learn how to preserve your summer bounty by using the water bath method of canning. The classes are Saturday, July 7th, 9:00 - 10:30 A.M., or Monday July 9th, 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. at the Cocina Cortes, 1110 Dayton Road in Chico. Register at their web site or call 588-0585.
Opt for Healthy Living is offering a two week-long summer camp featuring nutrition education lessons, physical activities, and swimming. Camp is the week of July 9 - 13 for ages 7 - 13. More information here, or call 345-0678.
Every Friday in July Rowell Family Empowerment is holding a Summer Art Program for children with diverse abilities ages 5 - 12. The program is free and takes place at 3075 Cohasset Road, Suite 2, in Chico from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. For more information call 899-8801.
The Growing Up Chico Fair takes place July 19th in Chico's City Plaza from 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. The fair features free activities for kids, resources for parents, music, and dance performances.
The Chico Area Recreation District hosts a Family Night Out at DeGarmo Park on July 21st beginning at 6:00 P.M. There will be music and a movie. Details here.
 Chico Unified School Distrcit is offering a community summer food program serving breakfast and lunch at several schools and parks. Children 18 and younger eat for free! Come have a meal at any one of the following sites:
- Chapman Elementary School
- Citrus Elementary School
- Parkview Elementary School
- Chico Jr. High School
- Bidwell Jr. High School
- 20th Street Community Park (lunch only)
- Hooker Oak Park (lunch only)
Breakfast is 7:30 - 9:00 A.M., and lunch 11:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. More details here.
Northern Valley Catholic Social Service is offering Nurturing Parenting classes in Gridley. Classes will be held in Spanish. The classes will be open (anyone can join at any time). Classes are free and open to anyone interested and meet Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. at 995 Spruce Street in Gridley. Come share your experiences and challenges with other parents in a safe and nurturing environment as you gain new parenting skills. For more information please contact Yoselin Ortiz-Luna at 345-1600, extension 2112.
The Northern Valley Talk-line is a "warm line" available for all Butte County residents. It is a consumer and family member run, non-emergency, non-crisis mental health support line for individuals in need of an empathetic listener, peer support, or referral to support services. The Talk-line is available toll free 7 days a week, 4:30-9:30 PM at 1-855-582-5554 (1-855-5-talk-line).
 Enloe's Mother & Baby Education Center wants to help you and your family prepare for a new baby. They offer a range of classes for before and after the baby is born that promote healthy living for babies and families. Many of the classes are free. For more information and class schedules click here.
The Butte County Library offers Story Time at many of its branches for many ages and in several languages. This flyer will give you all the details.
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Greetings!
We hope you find our newsletter helpful and informative. Please feel free to forward it to others who may find it useful and feel free to stop by our Chico office, located at 287 Rio Lindo Avenue, to meet our friendly staff and discover all the programs and resources VOCS has to offer. As always, you may