Growing Up in Santa Cruz March Teen Issus by Growing Up in Santa Cruz

MAR 2022

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MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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Svea | Age 9 Editor's Note.......................................4 Ask Nicole...........................................5 Youth Opinion....................................6 Always Amused...................................9 Local News: Fentanyl Epidemic..........10 Education...........................................12 Teacher's Desk....................................13 MOD's Summer Camp Festival...........15 Parenting............................................16 What the Kids are Saying....................17 Local Artist.........................................19 Teen Resource Guide..........................20 Coloring.............................................26 Adventures in Momming...................27

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Patty Benson, Jesse Bridges, Lisa Catterall, Erik Chalhoub, Linda Cover, Steve Cross, Gaby Gilson, Ally Goetz, Jeanette Prather, Moises Mendez, Steven Rodrigues, Mikayla Shults, Lucille Tepperman, Suki Wessling, Narayan Wilder, Nicole M. Young AD REPRESENTATIVES

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MARCH 2022 | VOL. 25 NO. 3

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Autumn | Age 4 GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

Even small changes can make a BIG difference. Triple P is a scientifically-proven, world-renowned positive parenting program available to families in Santa Cruz County. Triple P strategies address a wide range of parenting challenges by providing a toolbox of easy-to-use tips. Find a full schedule of Triple P tips and classes at triplep.first5scc.org. This program is made possible through a partnership between First 5 Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (MHSA – Prop 63 funds) & Santa Cruz County Human Services Department.

I n f o r m at I o n : first 5 Santa Cruz County 831.465.2217 triplep@first5scc.org • triplep.first5scc.org

Editors’ Note We had a tragedy in the Growing Up in Santa Cruz family—the son of one of our longtime sales executives, Sophie Véniel, died of a fentanyl overdose. The incredibly dangerous and increasingly popular drug was secretly put on what looked like prescription medicine. It’s devastated us all. But in the tradition of journalism, it got us asking questions. Why is this happening? How often is it happening? What can we do about it? Writer Suki Wessling got answers and suggestions for help and you can read them in this issue. As a stepparent to two teens, it got me thinking. What should I do? I know that there are drugs and alcohol at the 18-yearold’s parties and it got me so nervous. Where are the kids getting the drugs, which apparently, for now, is marijuana, which Suki tells me isn’t being laced with fentanyl, but I worry that it could be. I told her that if she wants to experiment, come to me and I’ll buy the drug in a legal dispensary, even though that would be illegal. It seemed like a good idea until I talked to my friend, retired sheriff’s lieutenant Bob Pursley, who is now on the county’s drug task force. Don’t do it, he told me. It could end your career if something happened as a result of a drug you bought. He’d seen that happen to a police officer who did the same.

So, I’m in a quandary. Do I risk my livelihood and break the law to possibly save her life? Am I enabling her to do something dangerous or preventing something grave? Pursley suggests the just say no approach, but let’s face it, telling a college student not to indulge in something their peers are all doing is like telling a kid she can’t have candy on Halloween. I was a teen too and I know they are going to do what they want. I sought out some truly expert advice—I asked my Cabrillo journalism students for their suggestions and you can read them in this issue. They are some of the smartest people I know and they have honestly advised on this issue. It’s a must-read. I would love letters and suggestions from our readers. This whole thing makes my heart ache. People and kids are dying, including a 12-year-old girl in Gilroy. What should I do about teen drug use? What are you doing? We have them in all kinds of activities and they are good kids, but I know we usually don’t know the back story of what’s really going on. It’s part of the teen mentality. They like to rebel and have for as long as there have been teens. But what do you do if the rebellion can kill them? Please write us at editor@growingupsc.com

About the Cover Photographer My name is Noah Buscher, I am a web developer, designer, and photographer currently residing in beautiful Denver, Colorado. I split time between there and Portland, Oregon with my boyfriend.

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

When I'm not being a coding cowboy, you can probably catch me on the trail, at a shoot, or in the air. You can find Noah on IG @noahbuscher.

ASK NICOLE Ask Nicole: Healthy Screen Time Habits BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW

DEVELOP FAMILY AGREEMENTS FOR SCREEN TIME

Keep them realistic and straightforward. Consider setting weekly (versus daily) screen time limits, defining types of content or activities that are acceptable versus off-limits, and agreeing on rules about when and where screens can be used (e.g., “Put away phones while we eat,” or “Turn devices off by 10 p.m.”). Involve your teens in defining these agreements, how they will follow them, and what will happen if they ignore the rules. Remember that logical consequences, such as temporarily removing screen time privileges, are a teaching tool versus a punishment. Emphasize that the more your teens take responsibility for following the family agreements, the less you have to intervene to enforce the rules. Then focus on setting a good example with your screen time habits.

IDENTIFY OTHER INTERESTING ACTIVITIES

My family had one TV but no video games, Beta Max player, or VCR when I was young. When we weren’t doing chores, my siblings and I spent hours reading books, playing games, dancing to records, and building forts—always with lots of teasing, bickering, and laughter. Sometimes I wished my family could be more like my friends’ with fewer TV restrictions and more cool gadgets, but my younger self didn’t know I’d have plenty of time to get hooked on screens as an adult. Now, I’m thrilled when my kids—who don’t know life without screens—initiate a conversation, a family game night, or anything that doesn’t involve staring at a screen. We will always be a screen-loving family, but finding a healthy balance is a worthy goal. This monthly column provides tips for anyone helping raise children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole, Screen time helped my kids (14, 16) get through the pandemic. Texting, social media, and watching movies helped them stay connected to friends and preventing boredom. But now they’re on their devices all the time and we want to reinstate some limits. We’re worried they’ll think we’re being unfair or too restrictive. How can we bring up this topic with them? -Victor

Dear Victor,

You’re not alone! Parents and caregivers often have difficulty setting and following through on screen time limits. Still, it’s essential to teach children and teens to use screens (social media, video games, movies, etc.) in healthy, responsible ways. This leads them to self-regulation skills and prepares them for responsibilities later in life. Here are some tips to try:

Find out what sports, art, music, and other activities are available (and COVID-safe) at school or in the community. Encourage your kids to pick a non-screen activity they’re interested in, and that will fit your family’s schedule and budget. It could be an activity they do alone, together, or even as a family. Encourage behavior you want to

see more of. When your kids do other activities or follow the family agreements on their own, show interest and give your attention. It can be as simple as asking, “What music are you listening to?” or saying, “Thanks for putting away your phones. I really enjoy our dinnertime conversations.” This helps shift everyone’s attention to the things your teens are doing well instead of things you wish they would stop doing.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Teaching kids about healthy screen time limits is one way to help them become confident, competent individuals. And who knows…parents and caregivers could benefit, too!  Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 18 and 21, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, http://www. facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@ first5scc.org.

TALK WITH YOUR TEENS

Have a family meeting about screen time. Acknowledge that you’ve been lenient about screen time rules because of the pandemic. Let them know that was temporary, and now you’d like to create family agreements that provide a healthier balance.

UNDERSTAND THEIR SCREEN TIME HABITS Before discussing limits, ask questions to understand your teens’ screen time habits better. Remember that screen time isn’t always or is automatically harmful. For instance, watching a movie can be enjoyable and provide a break from schoolwork or other challenging tasks. And using technology to read, play active games or exercise, connect with peers, or create art, music, or videos can be beneficial and even help kids develop valuable skills for school and future jobs. But too much screen time can contribute to physical health problems (headaches, lack of sleep) and mental health concerns (depression, anxiety), especially if it increases social isolation, decreases physical activity, or exposes kids to bullying or other inappropriate content.

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

We asked Cabrillo journalism students to weigh in on whether parents should provide drugs for their kids in the wake of recent deaths from fentanyl overdoses caused by drugs bought on the street. Here are their answers. Send your comments to editor@growingupsc.com

Should I Buy My Kid Drugs? Cabrillo Students Voice Their Opinion ALLY GOETZ As a young adult myself, I’ve seen plenty of instances where people have done drugs irresponsibly. Whether on school property or at a job, students and teens alike smoked weed or hit a Juul in the bathrooms of several different areas. The smell alone made me decide never to do drugs, and to this day, I haven’t. As for some high school kids I knew, I know for a fact that they still do drugs to this day. Legal or not, there is no way to stop drugs from getting in or out of schools. University or high school, drugs are already on the market to these teens starting at a young age. Most of Gen Z has received marketing and peer pressure to try out drugs, and banning them will only lead teens to want drugs more. Cut off the supply, and you’ll get more demand. Like how campuses and hospitals in Santa Cruz have needle disposal areas, teens should be allowed to experiment in a safe environment. A room or a time to give students a safe space to educate and decide for themselves whether they want to do drugs or not, leaving the decision up to them and not the marketing campaigns that have only recently begun to put product warning labels on their drugs and harmful substances. If I had a child, I’d prefer to educate them myself and have them try at home rather than learning from a friend who could potentially be feeding my child misinformation. Purchasing drugs and being used safely at home can lower the risk of overdose or harm coming to a child. It’s not only about health. It’s about the education and opportunity we provide for our children to help them make informed decisions about their health and choices.

STEVE CROSS I suggest looking into the work of the CAHOOTS program in Oregon, dealing with problems resulting from laws that injured people they were designed to protect. They hired professional workers to perform some of the duties the police were forced to perform without training, such as relational counseling. This alleviated problems like “suicide by cop” by paying social workers to consult families after police

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

calls for domestic violence, rather than having the police do the counseling. The CAHOOTS program has had some success in eliminating unnecessary deaths, hospitalizations and crimes according to CASE STUDY: CAHOOTS https://www.vera.org/behavioral-healthcrisis-alternatives/cahoots I recommend total compliance with the law until a better solution is negotiated, while communicating your concerns to the community in open forums and public discussions.

GABY GILSON This is a tricky subject because we don't want to encourage teens or anyone to do drugs or smoke, especially do drugs because it's not healthy. Still, at the same time, they will do it if they want to just like when you tell a kid not to do something, most likely they will still do it, but I think yes, it's better to help your kids and find good weed instead of having something bad in it. I wouldn't encourage anyone to do drugs, so I don't think anyone should get their kids drugs or anyone drugs. I think the first thing is to try to educate them on the subject so they don't do it because there are people that don't do any of it. After all, they had a good education on it, but no, you shouldn't buy your kids drugs because even if it's clean, they can still overdose or become drug addicts. Drugs aren't good, so I think rather than asking if you should or shouldn't get it, inform them and educate them on the consequences and why they shouldn't do it if they do tell you and decide they want to experiment with something I think it is better to be safe and do it with someone trustworthy. Still, overall, they should be encouraged not to do any of it. As I mentioned above, some kids will still do it, but I think it's important to have a strong foundation, good education, and the right people around. If there are those things present and, for example, they want to smoke, then yeah, I say get them good weed, so there is nothing bad in it, but as for drugs, I don't think they should have it in any way. Either way, I'm opposed to kids or anyone, in general, having drugs or alcohol because those are all bad things. I think it's important to have good communication with your kids, have good values, and educate yourself on what can happen and all the bad things that it can bring.

MOISES MENDEZ In my opinion, it is much safer to provide (light) drugs from a trusted source such as a parent rather than a teenager to find it themselves on the street. The world is a lot more dangerous than we might think nowadays, and you never really know what drugs might be laced with. Teenagers are naturally curious and want to explore the world around them, including the world of drugs and drug use. With how much access to technology and easier communications we have today, it’s much easier for a teenager to find a drug dealer and make a purchase there, but you never know what those drugs would be laced with. I would prefer a trusted adult to obtain the substance they’re looking for. Obviously you’d want to stray away from any hard drugs, so if they’re going to use anything, I would encourage it to center around weed. At least in California, dispensaries are legal, making it much easier and specifically much safer to purchase weed for any kind of use. I would make a deal with my kid that I’m happy to provide weed to them as long as they stay away from any other drugs. If they’re using anything that I provided to them, it will be in the house, and I would try and encourage them not to give any to their friends just out of safety, but of course, they’re not always going to listen, so just keep any drug use within the house. Also, ensure that you have a long conversation about responsibility and addiction and that you’re always there for them and to help them with anything, fully judgment free.

STEVEN RODRIGUES Do something, even if it’s wrong?! Parents most likely will be poised with the subject of drugs and their children. To that, you may find your choice of parenting being the normative teaching versus action and reaction. The obvious suggestion is to accentuate awareness, education, and morality of right and wrong. Perhaps your situation may lead to action, such as providing parent-selected drugs versus your child’s pedestrian street purchasing. What to do? Foremost, set the proper tone and image and be law-abiding. Facing the

consequence of arrest may seriously impact the teaching path, let alone the embarrassment to parent and child. Control what you can control, treat this issue as a family management opportunity and keep that vigilant watch over your children. If so compelled to act, act at the ballot box, participate in related public forums, and participate in any school-specific education and prevention programs. Be proactive, be most favorable, and always maintain a primary parenting attribute; be your child’s role model.

JESSE BRIDGES I would recommend that you would buy the drugs for your stepdaughter. I have a little sister who is only 15 years old. I constantly worry about her doing drugs or something else. That way, I can at least make sure that she is using them safely. And that fact that I at least know what she is buying. Basically, the alternative would be to lock her down and not give her any freedom. . I have to find the line between willing to trust her and, at the same time, learning where to draw the line. Also, if I am buying them for her, I at least know that she is safe, and I hopefully know what I am buying her. I figure that if she is going to do drugs, at least I can be in a position to stop her before she gets out of control. Also, the fact that if I don’t get them to her, one of her friends who isn’t as trustworthy as me might get them for her. Also, I don’t like her friends. Another reason I should be the one buying them is that if my sister’s allowance runs out, she doesn’t have to resort to any criminal activities to get money.

NARAYAN WILDER With an overdose epidemic related to the lacing of various controlled substances with the far more deadly compound fentanyl, the question of how parents should deal with their children consuming and obtaining illegal substances has been circulating. If the goal of drug programs is harm prevention, then the first step is to make sure people don’t do drugs, and the best and only way to do that is (as with sex Ed) accurate education then easy access to the most proven clinical methods for harm reduction, like test kits, clean needles, responsive medical help. So if a young person is going to be partaking in controlled substances a way to make sure they are as safe as possible is to provide access to reliable non-tampered products as a form of harm prevention. This should be supported and seen as a valid way to keep your child out of harm’s way as much as is possible. Stigmatization and criminalization are two leading causes of extrinsic harm related to controlled substance use. They could be ostracized from their family and end up homeless. They could be harassed or detained by the police for acting like a “tweaker” the amount of harm that is assigned to an individual as part of a less dignified social class multiples the risk factor of their internal circumstances. That is why I support parents who feel comfortable providing their children with what they know to be accurate substances, so their child does not have to be exposed to the risks of interacting with criminal elements.

LUCILLE TEPPERMAN So, you think your teenager is a good kid? That they wouldn’t be the sort of kid to over-dose? that they don’t do drugs? Come on, marijuana is now legal, and we live in California, the land of experimentation and counselors pushing hallucinogenic therapy. Don’t you remember being a teen? You do your best as a parent or adult role model, but that doesn’t mean that teens will not experiment with drugs, that they won’t cede to peer pressure at a house party and pop the pill that is being handed to them. They don’t get depressed and think that a little mind-altering drug may be an escape. “It’s not my fault it was laced with Phetynol,” was my teenage nephew’s response when I expressed concern that he was using. For youth who are not in school or troubled, there should be a way to make free drug testing kits readily available to them. All parents should have one available in their home for their kids to use. This issue concerns us all; these are the youth, whether you have kids or don’t. We should protect them. We need to make this an open discussion, and the community should be addressing this on social media and in council meetings. Why is there no government campaign out there like we had when I was a kid, Take a Bite Out of Crime? As a modern developed nation, who are leaders in the world in medicine and science, with all this technology at our fingertips, we should protect the young people.

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

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MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

ALWAYS AMUSED Santa Cruz Natives Find Success at Boardwalk Seaside Park Promotes Two Long-Time Employees BY ERIK CHALHOUB The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk recently shared two success stories within its organization, highlighting the opportunities available for those who grow up in Santa Cruz. Two Santa Cruz natives and longtime Boardwalk leaders, Jessica Alfaro and Karley Pope, were promoted to new positions at the end of January. Alfaro was named Assistant General Manager/Director of Operations, while Pope was promoted to Director of Marketing and Sales. Alfaro, a graduate of Santa Cruz High School and Cabrillo College, began her career at the Boardwalk in 1996 as a game operator. Her work ethic was recognized by her managers, and she later became a supervisor in the Operations Office and eventually manager of Guest Services in 2011. She continued to rise through the ranks, and in 2016 was promoted to Director of Operations, where, according to the Boardwalk, she was tasked with day-to-day operations, employee training and improving the guest and employee experience. Alfaro and her husband Bernardo have two children, whom have both either currently or previously worked at the Boardwalk. Pope attended Aptos High School and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She began at the Boardwalk in 2003 as the Youth Sales Manager, and has filled a variety of roles, such as Promotions Director, where she helped expand the number of special events throughout the season. Prior to her promotion, Pope worked as Director of Sales. Both Alfaro and Pope have also served as leaders in the community, the Boardwalk noted in a press release, with Alfaro having served on the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County Board of Directors, and Pope previously on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters and currently serves on the board of Visit Santa Cruz County. “Jessica and Karley are amazing

members of our team,” said Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk President Karl Rice. “They are both great leaders who always find new and creative ways to improve the Boardwalk experience for guests and employees. I’m proud to call them colleagues and thankful for their dedication to our company.” Alfaro’s and Pope’s stories are a great inspiration for youngsters looking to get a jump-start on a career. The Boardwalk is always hiring for various positions, and is currently in a major hiring push as it gears up for the busy spring and summer seasons.

Positions open include game operator, ride operator, food service operator, park host, ticket sales representative, parking attendant and more. Depending on the position, candidates as young as 15 can apply, with wages ranging from $15-$18 an hour and full-time opportunities available from June to September.

A portion of the proceeds from registration fees will benefit Haven of Hope, which operates two Short- Term Residential Therapeutic Programs in Santa Cruz County for foster youth. Online registration runs through March 25 at beachboardwalk.com/FunRun. Onsite registration is also available on the day of the race from 6:30–8am at the Boardwalk’s Season Pass/Group Services Office.

SAVE THE DATES •

•

California’s Great America opens for the 2022 season on March 12, with a special season passholder event on March 11. Gilroy Gardens has not yet announced its opening date as of press time. Raging Waters in San Jose won’t be falling for the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having as of late, and is sticking to a May 21 opening date.

APRIL

Summer Activity Guide Kids Day Map

All Boardwalk employees receive free parking and discounts on season passes, food and merchandise. Benefits for full-time employees include medical, 401k, paid time off and more.

Interested in applying? Check out beachboardwalk.com/jobs.

FUN RUN RETURNS

The whole family is invited to a foot race through the Boardwalk when the Fun Run returns March 26. Open to all ages and abilities, the run features a 1k course for kids ages 12 and under, with a 5k option for everyone 4 and up. The 1k route begins at the Boardwalk Colonnade and out the Main Entrance, running adjacent to the park before wrapping around and finishing near the Pirate Ship. The 5k route is similar, but extends along the San Lorenzo River levee up to the Riverwalk Park before returning. Participants will receive a commemorative finisher medal, Boardwalk treats, up to three hours of post-race free play in the Boardwalk’s Casino Arcade and $15 off a Boardwalk Ride Wristband valid on race day.

EMAIL US TO ADVERTISE! Advertising@GrowingUpSC.com Jessica Alfaro: Assistant General Manager/ Director of Operations.

Karley Pope: Director of Marketing and Sales GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

BY SUKI WESSLING  Suki Wessling is a local writer and educator and the mother of two young adults. Read more and listen to her podcasts of interviews for Growing Up at The Babblery: www.babblery.com.

The Fentanyl Epidemic Hits Santa Cruz QUICK TRUE/FALSE QUIZ FOR PARENTS: Â

Fentanyl overdoses mainly happen to homeless drug addicts Fentanyl overdoses happen to people who knew they were taking a dangerous substance Opioid abuse isn’t as big a problem in Santa Cruz County as methamphetamines

If you answered “true” to any of those myths, it’s not surprising. Most parents in Santa Cruz have no idea of the crisis that has been happening quietly behind the front doors of homes from Pajaro to SLV. Most parents have no idea that while significant progress has been made with opioid addicts from the last wave (largely older adults who got hooked on legal prescription drugs), a new crisis has hit our younger population. Growing Up hopes that you will read this article and the accompanying resources to understand what is happening, and then take steps to protect those around you.

A SUDDEN, STEEP RISE Young people in Santa Cruz are dying in a wave of fentanyl-laced street drugs in never-before-seen numbers. Between Jan. 2020 and Sept. 2021, four teens and 10 people in their twenties died—mostly in private homes spread all around the county. Since September, families report several more teen/young adult deaths as yet uncompiled by the county. Though that number is still dwarfed by the

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

number of middle-aged, mostly white male victims, it is an alarming and steep rise from a time when fentanyl was only an issue for hardcore users. “When we started in 2015, the majority of the opioid epidemic was prescriptionrelated opioids, so that was somewhat of a more manageable problem,” says Rita Hewitt, Program Manager of SafeRx, which partners with the County to address addiction and treatment. Hewitt, who has lost four friends to the current epidemic, says that

“

“My son did not want to die, I know that,” Véniel says. “Most of the people who take it don’t want to die. They’re being murdered.”

methamphetamines were a bigger problem in the past, but epidemiologists saw the wave coming, and now that wave is cresting. The combination of isolation caused by the pandemic, inadequate mental health resources for young people, and sudden availability of cheap narcotics flooding in from Mexico is causing drug treatment whiplash for everyone involved in policy in our county, from the sheriff’s department to treatment counswelors.

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH OUR KIDS? The biggest drug use issues seen in kids are with what they perceive as prescription medications. They are often more casual about these drugs than they would be about a perceived street drug like heroin. They see their parents taking prescriptions, and know that doctors prescribe them. But recently the County of Sacramento found that 99% of the realistic-looking prescription meds for sale on the street were counterfeit, and 99% of them contained fentanyl no matter how they were marked.

Some young people have always sought out drugs as pleasure activities, but mental health professionals say that the pandemic has led to a rise in depression and anxiety that is going untreated. Without access to treatment, or because they are trying to hide it from their families, many of the young people harmed by fentanyl are seeking wellknown pharmaceuticals like Xanax. Sophie Véniel, whose young adult son died early this year, says that we need a change of language. “All the media are calling it an overdose,” she points out. “So [people think], it’s OK, this is a junkie, he got an overdose, he deserved it. He knew what he was getting into. But that’s not what’s going on. It’s poison that’s added.” Véniel’s son, who suffered from anxiety but was given inadequate care by his local health provider when he sought help, took half a Xanax that he bought from a dealer. The pill looked exactly like the official ones from the pharmacy. But it was laced with poison: a lethal dose of fentanyl. He died in his sleep, with no one to notice that he was unresponsive.

WHY ARE THEY KILLING THEIR CUSTOMERS? This is the question that everyone immediately asks about the Mexican drug cartels sending lethal drugs across the border. But the answer is, the deaths are only a byproduct of a marketing decision. Fentanyl is very cheap to make. It also creates an instant high and almost immediate addiction. And the doses are so small, one baggie of the drug is enough to kill every resident of Santa Cruz County. Last year the DEA seized enough fentanyl to kill every American. It is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine and a dose the size of a grain of sand can be fatal. It’s a cold-blooded business decision to spike pills with fentanyl: The customers who don’t die get hooked on a cheap and plentiful drug, and they want more.

WHAT ARE LOCAL AUTHORITIES DOING ABOUT IT? No one is sitting idly by, it turns out. Top on the list was to prevent deaths as quickly as possible, and that means that every first responder, along with many others from school nurses to pharmacies, are supplied with naloxone, the opioid reversal medication that can save lives with a squirt into the nose. “If it were not for Narcan, [the death rate] would be much higher,” says Joyce Blaschke of the Santa Cruz Police Department. “SCPD Officers, SCFD and medics have been able to reverse the overdose by administering naloxone.” The County Sheriff is most often the first responder, and they’ve been busy around the county not only saving lives, but coordinating with others to educate residents about the risks and the appropriate use of Narcan. County Health Services Agency reports 199 overdoses reversed using Narcan from January through August, 2021. “I’m working with the schools to get cases [of Narcan] on campus there,” says Hewit, of SafeRX. She hopes that soon students will be able to request the medication at school, but in the meantime, she says that SafeRx and she personally will get it to anyone who thinks they might need it. The state now requires that all pharmacies give out Narcan on request. On top of treatment, authorities are stepping up monitoring the pipelines getting the drugs into the community, and prosecuting more aggressively. If someone provides a substance containing fentanyl to someone who dies as a result, the provider can be charged with murder, as a teen was recently in San Jose.

WHAT ARE THE MYTHS WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR? Despite rumors, there are currently no documented cases of fentanyllaced marijuana sold to unsuspecting customers. Although there have been overdoses due to this mode of ingestion, they all appeared to be created by the consumer. There are no “safe sources” of drugs on the black market. Anti-anxiety and pain pill prescriptions should be filled only at pharmacies. You can’t build up a tolerance to lethal doses of fentanyl. Although committed opioid users do not suffer overdoses at the rate of new users, a lethal dose is lethal to anyone. Fentanyl test strips are highly unreliable and offer a false sense of security. Users should assume that any pill they take contains fentanyl and they are at risk of an overdose.

WHAT MORE CAN WE DO? Véniel, whose son William, 27, died several weeks ago, says that parents and educators need to open their eyes to how young people are finding out about and accessing these lethal drugs. They no longer have to go out to a dark street corner. “The deals are made on social media,” she says. “Somebody can show up at your door within 10 minutes. Parents find their child dead in their room.” Old-fashioned anti-drug programs, says Hewitt, are counterproductive. “I was a D.A.R.E. child in the nineties and we all know that wasn’t an effective method. I think it just comes down to open and honest communication.” That communication should include factual information presented not as scare tactics or shaming, and a family commitment to being open to questions and discussion. “We encourage [parents] to not only talk to [children] about the dangers, but come up with a game plan or response if they’re offered narcotics,” says Ashley Keehn of the County Sheriff’s Office. These days, “Just Say No” is nowhere near enough. “My son did not want to die, I know that,” Véniel says. “Most of the people who take it don’t want to die. They’re being murdered.”

RECOGNIZE AN OVERDOSE Drowsiness, unresponsive, blue lips and fingernails, clammy skin, decreased heart rate.

WHEN IN DOUBT, ADMINISTER NAXOLONE AND CALL 911.

PROTECTION STARTS WITH EDUCATION AND CONVERSATION Have some frank discussions with your children today. Research shows over and over that nonjudgmental, open conversation with children is the best way to keep them from harm. We parents have no trouble talking with our kids about the dangers of running into busy streets or eating junk food. But we have a lot more trouble having those same conversations about sensitive topics like sex and drugs. Unfortunately, we have to have those conversations. In age-appropriate ways, our children need to learn how to navigate the world they’re in, not the world we wish they were in.



SCARE TACTICS AND SHAMING ALWAYS BACKFIRE …Yet we all fall victim to it. Resist this impulse and if you do find yourself doing it, apologize to your children and explain what you did wrong.



Almost all street drugs now contain fentanyl. Always assume that a pill you didn’t pick up yourself from the pharmacy is not what it’s labeled to be.



Young people in Santa Cruz County are dying because they took a pill that contained fentanyl.

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It doesn’t matter if you know the person who gave it to you. All street drugs should be assumed to be lethal.



Fentanyl test strips sometimes work. But they often don’t, either because the drug maker changed the formula slightly or because the part of the pill being tested doesn’t contain the grain of fentanyl.

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NORMALIZE CONVERSATION Families who regularly talk about difficult topics have an easier time talking about difficult topics. Make a habit of bringing up important issues at times that make sense for your family, whether it’s a formal family meeting time or commute time in the car.

All households should have Narcan/ naloxone on hand, even if the whole family knows that they will never use it. Everyone in the household should know where it is stored, and know the warning signs of an opioid overdose. It will not hurt someone to administer Narcan if they have not overdosed. You should always call 911 immediately after administering Narcan because the person who overdosed is likely to relapse a short time after being revived.







ASK THEM QUESTIONS… AND LISTEN For all you know, your child has been wanting to tell you something but was frightened of your potential reaction. Perhaps they have already taken street drugs, or a friend did and they are concerned. Perhaps they heard a rumor and are confused but don’t know where to turn for good information. “What do you need from me?” is always a good place to start when your child expresses concern.



TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH Lying about or inflating dangers will lead your children not to trust you. Right now, the actual facts are scary enough.



If your children know others who are using street drugs or stealing their parents’ prescription opioids, they should carry Narcan and be ready to use it and call 911.



Anyone who uses street drugs should never do so alone. Do not leave someone who has taken or plans to take pills, no matter how small they believe the dose to be. Your children should consider themselves ambassadors of trustworthy information.

RESOURCES: https://www.songforcharlie.org/

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF YOU ARE IN OVER YOUR HEAD If you know or fear that your child is buying street drugs and you feel unable to help them, get help for yourself. Call one of the resources in our list, enlist the help of a friend or your own medical professional, and don’t feel that you have to suffer alone.

Song for Charlie is a family-run nonprofit charity dedicated to raising awareness about ‘fentapills’ — fake pills made of fentanyl. The website offers parent educational materials.

FACTS TO SHARE WITH YOUR CHILDREN

http://www.communitypreventionpartners.com/

  

There is no safe dose of fentanyl that is administered outside of a hospital. It is never safe to use medication prescribed for someone else. A grain of fentanyl the size of a poppyseed can kill you.

https://www.santacruzhealth.org/ HSAHome/HSADivisions/BehavioralHealth/ SubstanceUseDisordersServices/ YouthTreatmentCoordination.aspx County Health’s list of tips for considering whether an adolescent has a problem with alcohol or other drugs. Community Prevention Partners addresses youth and community safety through sustainable alcohol and drug prevention efforts. https://www.hipscc.org/saferx SafeRx Santa Cruz County offers support for prevention, increased treatment access, and evidence-based harm reduction practices, to improve community well-being and save lives.

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

EDUCATION Schools Look at New Forms of Discipline BY SUKI WESSLING

“

Once they looked through the lens of equity, they realized that school discipline had to be reformed—now.

When you say “discipline,” most people imagine punishment. When you say “suspension,” people imagine kids being sent home. When you say “behavior,” people imagine bad behavior rather than behavioral health.

Santa Cruz’s County Office of Education is trying to turn all these suppositions on their heads, and it all started with the numbers.

“We started asking the question, are we treating students differently based on their ethnicity?” said County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah. “We have been gathering data from a variety of places and looking at it through an equity lens.” Sabbah and the others quoted in this article presented the COE’s new approach to discipline to community members at an Inside Education meeting last fall. Once they looked through the lens of equity, they realized that school discipline had to be reformed—now. The statistics for Aptos High offered astounding clarity. Sabbah says that even though 40 percent of the students on campus were Latinx, 100 percent of students in detention were Latinx. “We started looking at the data and we found that every student there had received the consequences for something serious, but we found another group of students who had participated in the same behavior and were given community service. It was so tied to ethnicity—it was such an obvious example of inequity—we were able to dismantle it right away.” The worst systems of the past have been dismantled in California. Corporal punishment is illegal. Staff receive antibias training and are more diverse than in the past. But persistent attitudes about the purpose of discipline and how to enforce it reinforce the inequity that we see in our schools. Local educators are taking a hard look at ‘the infamous K’—ed code 4900K, which allows students to be suspended as punishment for any distraction or willful defiance. “We want our school to be just, not manifestations of inequity that exists in society at large,” Sabbah explains. A lot of student discipline is in response to substance abuse. Brenda Armstrong, Prevention Program Manager for the County, gives an example of how meting out punishment in response to substance abuse has the opposite of the intended consequence. One student she worked with had been bound for college until his suspension. “After he got suspended, the schools

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

offering scholarships backed out. I was so disillusioned that this was the process we were using. Why did we react with punishment rather than addressing the root cause?” COE is responding by changing their suspension model. In the past, students were disciplined by sending them home. This could have a variety of unintended consequences, such as the fight that sent Sarah Emmert’s son home from middle school. “The students got suspended. The other student was our neighbor, so the boys just played together the whole day they were out of school!” Emmert is Director of Community Impact at United Way, which is deeply involved in helping COE refocus student discipline on “restorative practice” which is “trauma-informed.” As much as these terms might sound like liberal buzzwords, they’re actually quite practical. A new focus on “in-

school suspension,” where a student doesn’t “get away with” misbehavior but does get the guidance of caring adults and reintegration into their school environment when possible, works much better than the old model. Rather than staying home and playing video games, students stay in school and work with staff to get to the root of their problems at school and return to classes. That’s where trauma comes in. As child behavior expert Dr. Ross Greene says, “kids do well if they can.” Adults often look past the trauma that underlies misbehavior, treating the behavior rather than the root cause. COE is working to change that. In some cases, in-school suspension is not appropriate, and students can’t be reintegrated back into their mainstream school. That’s where the system of small, alternative schools comes into play. These schools are small by design so that staff can get to know each and every student. Students who feel lost, bullied, or threatened in large schools find that the staff at these schools are dedicated to helping them integrate into a community. “Being trauma-informed starts with relationships, having that routine and

predictability that provides a sense of safety,” explains Cristal Renteria, site administrator at Sequoia Schools. “We have no idea what students are carrying with them.” Dollar for dollar, this new approach to helping students who act out at school is more effective. But more importantly, it’s a more equitable system that focuses on helping students become functional adults, rather than funneling them into the “school-to-prison pipeline.” Denise Sony Sanson, Executive Director of Career Advancement Charter, a small school for students in their late teens who need direct intervention, remembers one new student in particular. “I asked her, ‘what do you like about this school?’ [I was] trying to have openended questions, engage in dialogue,” Sanson remembers. “She shared with me, ‘I feel safe here’.” Students who feel safe, who feel noticed and appreciated—that’s what educators hope will come out the other end of this new, supportive pipeline they are building for our at-risk youth.  Suki Wessling is a local writer and educator. Read more at BABBLERY.COM.

TEACHER'S DESK Roots and Wings BY LISA CATTERALL

Children make your life important. — Erma Bombeck

I’m staring at a dresser covered with dirty glasses. They have rings of dried and yellowed milk, encrusted smoothie droplets, and they are sitting on top of a stack of plates, some with pizza crusts hanging out. All that goes through my mind this time is a meme my best friend sent me. It said “If you don’t like their messy room, wait until their room is empty…” My best friend has always been one academic year ahead of me in the parenting game, from the time our kids met at age nine months (mine) and 18 months (hers). Now mine is a senior who just got into college and hers is away at his first year of college. I feel so many different emotions right now. It’s like I’m baking banana bread and I’ve thrown all the ingredients in, and the mixer is just starting to churn different things to the surface. My feelings are in the bowl of my stomach, and sometimes what surfaces is sugar, sometimes it’s salt, and sometimes it’s rotten bananas. I used to teach seniors. About this time of year, I’d start to get really miffed about how unfocused they were on my awesome curriculum. Here they were, as capable as they would ever be in my hands, and they just didn’t seem to be doing anything. Now I have a view from the other side, and I know that they are doing so very much. Everything they have known and depended on seems to be quickly approaching a cliff. There is an end date to their friendships which are the most important thing in the world for them. They are trying to detach, yet trying to fully inhabit all the days they have left with those friends. They want every ritual and rite of passage to its utmost, they need to know that they are experiencing the best of every event they’ve been expecting, but sometimes they are too scared about their world changing to be present when those rituals are happening. At the same time, they are wondering if they will get into college, or into their favorite college, and they often think this is the balancing point of their entire future. This year in particular, they are

scared about succeeding because they feel a learning gap from the pandemic, and they wonder if everyone else does too. Meanwhile, their parents are grieving. It is not named as such in our society, so parents don’t know to approach it that way. We are expecting to feel triumphant and proud to have shepherded this human from birth through all of these accomplishments that occur this year, and most certainly,

that is how we will appear on social media:. so proud and happy about my newly minted grown-up! Hello world, behold the beauty and accomplishment! Inside, though, grief makes us do funny things. We cling too tight to our seniors or we brush them off too quickly. In my case, I suddenly freeze and become utterly incapable of doing anything simple like packing a lunch, then alternately move

into constant unnecessary motion and find myself doing way too much, as if to make up for everything I wish I’d done. As my senior was taking a bow in his very last high school play, I had a Hollywood-style flashback of so many moments in his life, the most memorable of which was holding him one minute after he was born. I want him to stay my baby forever, but I also want him to seize his future. In the 940 Saturdays that happen between birth and leaving for college, did I take every chance to lean into the privilege of being part of his life? There are 25 left now. How will I make sure those are all perfect? These are the ridiculous questions that go through my mind. The truth is it’s all been perfect, and it will all continue to be perfect. My child has roots that grew into wings this year. It’s humbling, shocking, frightening, gratifying and beautiful, all at the same time.  Lisa Catterall teaches STEAM, math, science, and art at Mount Madonna School and is a senior associate of the Centers for Research on Creativity. She lectures and trains teachers and administrators on innovation in education in Beijing, China. Lisa has five children and lives in Santa Cruz County.

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

Experience Empowerment be-the-epicenter.org/classes

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Presented by

Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery Sponsored by

Growing Up In Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery wants to invite local families to our 2022 Summer Camp Festival. This event is FREE to the public and sponsored by Growing Up in Santa Cruz. We're hosting a wide variety of camps that will be offering

so much fun in the sun for your kids this summer. You won't want to miss this event as many of the participating camps will be showcasing their offerings for the first time, and camps can fill up fast. We can't wait to see you there!

Summer Camp Bingo HOW TO PLAY SUMMER CAMP BINGO

Write down your camper's name. Cross off weeks you don't need a camp (family vacation, etc.). Visit different summer camps to find matches for your camper's age, interests, and availability. Register for that camp (or record the registration date) and mark off that week on our bingo card. Make sure and identify backup choices!

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

JUNE 6 - JUNE 10

JUNE 13 - JUNE 17

JUNE 20 - JUNE 24

JUNE 27 - JULY 1

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

JULY 4 - JULY 8

JULY 11 - JULY 15

JULY 18 - JULY 22

JULY 25 - JULY 29

WEEK 9

WEEK 10

WEEK 11

WEEK 12

AUG 1 - AUG 5

AUG 8 - AUG 12

AUG 5 - AUG 19

AUG 22 - AUG 26

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

PARENTING Summer Jobs for High Schoolers BY JEANETTE PRATHER There are the classic high school summer jobs that might include a smaller retail position, tutoring, babysitting and the food industry. However, in the questionable times we’re living in with ongoing employee shortages, less willing capable workers and more ample excuses, creative options are a must… for everyone. Most summer jobs for teens range between $10 and $25 per hour, according to Indeed.com. Indeed suggests grocery store cart attendant, movie clerk, cashier, lifeguard, housekeeper, automotive detailer, stocking associate, delivery person, lawn care specialist, dog walker and swim instructor as plausible high school summer jobs.

CONVENTIONAL-ISH SANTA CRUZ JOBS

Almost everyone from Santa Cruz has had an encounter with working at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, usually through the Seaside Company and/or Whiting’s Foods. One local high school student, Ayla Ferrell, is among those who say she had a “wonderful experience at the Boardwalk!” They offer an array of experience and opportunities, all available at Beachboardwalk.com/jobs/

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La Posada Retirement Community, offers local 14-year-olds a first-time job experience in the dining hall as a busser and/or room delivery staff (depending on your rotation for the evening). Back in 1999, when the minimum wage was $5.75, this was a thrilling prospect. Now, with California at a $14 minimum (federal government still at $7.25) it’s at least up with the times for a more lucrative option to high school students. More information about La Posada hiring procedures is available at laposadaretirementcommunity.com/ contact-us. The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery has an array of job opportunities at sccmod.org/job-opps. The Teen Trail Maintenance Aide Program, and the Sports Division are other great resources for students, according to Amanda Ares, the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Coordinator. For info about the trail maintenance contact Blake Woessner at bwoessner@cityofsantacruz.com and for sports positions, contact

Daniel Lawson-Thomas at dlawsonthomas@cityofsantacruz.com.”

CAMP COUNSELOR POSITIONS

HOW TO REGISTER: Text VBC2022 to 94000 or use the QR Code below

June 27th - July 1st 9:30am - 12:15pm Kinder - 5th Grade

VBS SUMMER 2022! Join us for a week of fun!

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Four Points Youth Camp is hiring five counselor positions, all ranging between $16 and $17 per hour. The positions include arts and crafts, S.T.E.M., games, sports and support counselors. For details: fourpointsyouthcamp.com/ joinourteam. The City’s Junior Leader Program is open to teens 16-18 who want to volunteer at its Summer Camps programs to learn job skills and gain confidence in a workplace setting while having fun. Many of the volunteer Junior Leaders become paid staff when they reach an eligible age. For more info search Santa Cruz Junior Leader Program The City’s summer camp programs hire paid staff starting at 15.5 years of age. Some positions stretch year round. Three camps are hiring, not only for summer but during outdoor science camp, as well. The coordinator is MJ (cabinleaderinfo@santacruzcoe. org). The other two are YMCA of the Redwoods at Camp Campbell and Exploring New Horizons at the Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center. The contacts for these positions are Sasha Gonzalez (cabinleader@ymcasv. org) and Danny Beutler (daniel@ exploringnewhorizons.org), respectively.

SANTA CRUZ TEEN CENTER

“Santa Cruz Teen Center put on job

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

fairs for teens before the pandemic,” said local mom, Melissa Boose. “My son received his first job at 14 after applying to the Boardwalk during one of the fairs.” The Teen Center will be putting on the fair April 20, 2-5 pm in Laurel Park. It includes resume reviews, job applications and computers to do online applications..

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR TEENS

The Summer Teen Intern Program, through the City of Santa Cruz, offers teens a paid internship through a city department. “In the past, we have had interns placed in PD, Fire, Water, Public Works, The Civic, London Nelson Community Center, The DeLaVeaga Golf Course, City Manager’s Office, Parks & Recreation, etc.” said Ares. “Teen Interns also participate in staff training and bi-weekly staff meetings which also double as education sessions on professionalism, interview skills, résumé creation or updating, etc. Some of our Summer Teen Interns have even gone on to secure year-round temporary positions within the City.”

More Resources for High School Students & Families

Santa Cruz City Schools offers a step-by-step guide for students and parents seeking more support on how to prepare and where to find jobs through a downloadable employment packet, application resources, interview tips and job offer responses. This employmentseeking resource is available at sccs.net/ parents___students/star_works. More of the entrepreneurial mindset? One great website is howtostartanllc. com/young-entrepreneur-resources.

Bridger

BY MIKAYLA SHULTS

 My two favorite things are vintage clothes and being an activist; in that order. You can find me reading on the beach or just staring at the same page for an hour. While I’m not doing that, I’m a junior at Oasis.

Are you in high school and want to take Cabrillo courses? Maybe you didn’t even know that was an option. I spoke to people in high school and college to see if they knew what was being offered to them. The people included in this page were less than half of the originally interviewed people. So many high schoolers have no idea that they could be taking college courses or don’t understand how they could benefit from it. The good thing is everyone knew that they could attend Cabrillo for FREE after high school. So let’s get this straight. If you are in any high school in Santa Cruz county, you can be taking Cabrillo classes. If you go to a regular public school, talk to your counselor and check out the Cabrillo website. You can even take summer courses! If you are interested in taking as many courses as possible, independent studies could be the perfect thing for you. At a school like Oasis, located on the Cabrillo campus, you can take up to 12 credits of college courses.

Whichever path you choose, classes will be free. If you need to fulfill a requirement but your school doesn’t offer any classes that you would enjoy, explore all of your options at Cabrillo. Say you need to take a science class but it’s only three credits at Cabrillo. When that class is put on your transcript, it will turn into ten credits! Now you have extra credits than required. What can that lead to? Early graduation. You don’t need to be the most intelligent person in your grade or even your friend group to try out a Cabrillo course. You’ll find that it’s not much different than a high school class. The only difference is that you will be meeting new people and earning extra credits. I’ve taken short, four-week courses over the summer and semester-long courses. They have both been favorable compared to any other class at high school. Here are some dual enrollment experiences from teenagers all over the county.

Reese

Junior | Coast Redwood High School

Junior | Oasis High School

Dual enrollment is when you’re in high school, taking a class/semester at a college (like Cabrillo). A semester at Cabrillo is worth one year of high school. I’m not currently enrolled in a college, but I imagine it is infinitely helpful to grasp college and future education. Dual enrollment is your go-to if you want to get into a four-year right out of high school. I would recommend it to myself and my friends and everyone. I would love to see my friends succeed and exceed, and this might be the way. I heard you need at least a 3.5 GPA in high school to get into Cabrillo free afterward. I don’t know for sure.

I am dual enrolled and so far it has been a really positive experience. All of my professors have been really great and I love how I can do classes that my high school does not offer. I took cultural anthropology last semester and it was recommended by another teacher. I was a little wary at first but I ended up loving that class and it was so much fun! I had no clue what anthropology was before taking that class and now I might even want to study it in college. I am super interested in it so this semester I am taking a biological anthropology class.I would definitely recommend dual enrollment to my friends. I enjoy doing college classes so I would hope they would too. I have been told that it is free after graduating and it’s also free to high school students doing less than 12 credits.

Come Find Your Future The Cabrillo Promise eliminates financial barriers to higher education, making a college degree a reality. We provide for 2 free years of tuition to any graduating senior from the Cabrillo College District Service area.

Promise Program

Kyla

Senior | Scotts Valley High School I have heard about dual enrollment but I don’t know much about it. Although I did hear that if you take a Cabrillo class during high school then it doesn’t apply, but I don’t know if that’s true or not. (It’s not true! Any course you take at Cabrillo counts for high school and college at the same time.).

Nicole

Cabrillo College

The Cabrillo Dual Enrollment Program, allows high school students to jumpstart their college education by attending classes at Cabrillo for free and earn credit toward a college degree or certificate.

Dual Enrollment

learn more  ScanTo the QR Codes 

I knew about dual enrollment in high school but did not take any college classes. I would recommend dual enrollment to my friends.

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

How much do you know about

Musical Instruments

Which percussion instrument is named after its shape?

CIRCLE

SQUARE

5.3%

TRIANGLE HEXAGON

94%

How many strings does a violin have?

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

5.3%

94%

How many strings does a regular guitar have?

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

15.8%

78.9%

How many holes are in a flute?

FIVE

TEN

ELEVEN

SIXTEEN

10.5%

26.3%

10%

What do you call saxophone buttons?

BELL KEYS HOB NOBS HOLE PLUG BUTTONS

52.6%

21.1%

EXPERT

INTERMEDIATE

BEGINNER

52.6%

21.1%

SPONSORED BY Readers took our online quiz for a chance to win tickets to the Santa Cruz Symphony's Family Concert! These are the results.

26.3%

MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL ARTIST Linda Cover Happy Spring! My name is Linda Cover, I am a teaching artist, living and working at the Tannery Arts Center. Because I love exploring new ideas and ways of creating, it is hard to define what kind of art I do. Most of my work involves photography and traditional and digital playfulness. My Images frequently capture nature and local icons from which I make prints, bags, shirts and pillows for everyday use. What is in our lives every day is part of who we are, it should offer beauty and inspiration. In addition to my personal art, I take great joy in working with young artists. I have small afterschool classes where

young artists get together, outside, to draw animals in their habitats. We make books and zines too! We just published “Creatures in and around Monterey Bay”, inspired by the Sea Walls mural project, and “Artists for Oceans. We are working on “Redwood Forests and their Creatures” in the spring session. I am the founder/ director of Camp Tannery Arts, connecting Tannery artists with young artists, and also, Art Outside Camp, a fun, small nature art intensive camp. You can check my art and offerings on my website lindacover.org

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

TEEN RESOURCE GUIDE SCHOOLS Gateway School K-8

Santa Cruz, CA 831.423.0341 GatewaySC.org

Located on the westside of Santa Cruz, Gateway School provides students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade with an exemplary education. Our Middle School offers a dynamic, challenging education that prepares teens for the fast-changing world by focusing on scholarship, citizenship, and compassion. The Kindergarten through 8th-grade model allows students to become leaders and engage in age-appropriate activities which leads to higher levels of self-esteem and academic achievement. Our graduates have an inquiring spirit, are confident, act with grace and courtesy, and stand up for those who need help. If you’d like to learn more, we invite you to visit our website or schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer! Kirby School

Grades 6 through 12 425 Encinal St, Santa Cruz 831.423.0658 Kirby.org

Kirby School empowers students to shape their futures with confidence. Our independent middle and high school has been preparing students for college for over 25 years. In classes averaging 12 students, teachers are attuned to each learner’s strengths and interests. Our rigorous academic and arts curriculum, intensive study paths, and inspiring faculty challenge each student based on their interests and readiness, rather than grade level. Ranked one of the top STEM schools in the nation by Newsweek. Kirby graduates attend excellent four-year colleges and universities. Mount Madonna School

Preschool-12th grade 491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna 408.847.2717 MountMadonnaSchool.org

Mount Madonna School (MMS) prioritizes the social, emotional and physical well-being of its students, while emphasizing academic excellence, positive character development and creative self-expression. MMS strives to prepare well-rounded human beings who succeed in college, value collaboration, form meaningful relationships and engage with their communities, nation and the world. Now enrolling for fall 2022. Financial aid and transportation available, with bus stops throughout Santa Cruz County. MMS does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender identity or gender expression.

20 MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Montessori

Ages 18 months – 14 years Main Campus (Primary and Elementary) 6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos 831.476.1646 scms.org Winston Campus (Young Children’s Community and Jr. High) 244 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel

Established in 1964, Santa Cruz Montessori is a non-profit school serving children 18 months to 14 years. Our beautiful classrooms and outdoor environments engage the children’s senses as they learn. Based on a deep understanding of child through adolescent development, our programs meet the interests and needs of our students, engaging and challenging them to do their best. Our Junior High program, Wavecrest, supports 7th and 8th grade students to develop self-discipline, confidence and peer connections through collaborative learning and community involvement. Students work weekly at Live Earth Farm and develop an understanding of their personal vision through community involvement and a challenging academic experience. Now accepting applications for Fall 2022 SLVUSD Charter School 325 Marion Ave, Ben Lomond 831-335-0932 charter.slvusd.org/ Since 1993, San Lorenzo Valley School District’s SLV Charter School has offered a range of programs that support a variety of learners. Active learning, parent involvement, and student voice are key components of our programs. In addition to supporting all academic areas, charter programs foster student creativity, social-emotional development, and the pursuit of individual student passions. Built on a foundation of strong ongoing teacher, student, and parent connection, SLV Charter boasts a wide variety of program structures including one 5-day a week program (6-8), six 2-4 day a week homeschool-hybrid programs (K-12), and an independent studies program (K-12).

ENRICHMENT, HEALTH, RECREATION Adventure Sports Unlimited

303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com

We teach infants through adults the joy of water through our Swim School. Our Ocean programs introduce families to our marine environments through the Seafood Foraging, and Kelp Pickling. Explore the world-renown

It’s here! Every spring Growing Up in Santa Cruz publishes an annual guide to resources available to teens (and their parents) in the Santa Cruz County area. Our goal is to provide an accessible, helpful list of resources to help teens and families navigate the complex needs of teens in ways that promote healthy avenues for growth, exploration and development. The resources in this guide offer support for dealing with academic, peer pressure and relationship issues, as well as recreational, job training and volunteer opportunities. We encourage you to share this guide with your teen and post a copy up in your house so your teen has easy access to the resource list. As some topics may be difficult for teens to request support with, we also suggest giving a copy of this guide, and especially of the phone and text hotlines at the end of the guide, to your teen.

underwater landscape of our local bays through our Open Water Scuba courses. It starts in our custom-built aquatics facility. Be Natural Music

740 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 515-8369 BeNaturalMusic.Live

Learn and perform Jazz, Rock, Reggae, Motown, Pop & more at our two locations: Santa Cruz and Cupertino. We offer ongoing private Music Lessons, Real Rock Band classes for teens, & young adults, Workshops, and Summer Music Camps. We offer lessons on voice, piano/ keyboard, guitar, bass, drums & percussion, saxophone, clarinet, ukulele, harp, theory and composition. Summer camps, kid & teen musicians showcase their talent & creativity as they compose original music, script music videos, and record their song on stage! The final high-quality music video is posted on our YouTube Channel to jump-start your kid’s career. Community Boating Center, UCSC

790 Mariner Park Way Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-425-1164 Recreation.ucsc.edu/youth/juniorsailing/ index.html

The UCSC Community Boating Center has been teaching local juniors how to sail for over 30 years. All classes are hands-on, co-ed classes, ages 8-16 and are taught in RS Quests, RS Visions, and Lasers. Students learn the basics in the protected Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor and progress to the beautiful Monterey Bay. Enjoy sailing in a safe, fun, and supportive environment with knowledgeable, experienced staff. Sign up today! (Adult classes are also available!) Diversity Center

1117 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, Ca diversitycenter.org info@diversitycenter.org

Each year, The Diversity Center reaches approximately 10,000 individuals through our onsite programs, outreach and education events, our work with schoolbased Gay/Straight Alliances, and our Triangle Speakers program. We fulfill our mission to advocate for, support, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community by: Developing LGBTQ+ youth leaders in local middle and high schools, who help teach acceptance and promote positive LGBTQ+ messages to their peers; Creating connections, building community, and reducing isolation among LGBTQ+ seniors, veterans, youth, and the Latinx communit; Teaching acceptance and providing support for transgender individual; Educating the community at-large about key legislative issues that impact LGBTQ+ rights and equality

Happy Giving Hands

FB @ HappyGivingHandss IG @Happy.Giving.Hands HappyGivingHands.sc@gmail.com

Santa Cruz youth fighting period poverty with education, donation, and love. Local period product shelf at SLV tri-campus, near the cafeteria. Do you need period products, want to get involved in community service? Send us a message! Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for information on our next period product collection drive! Mountain Music School

(Formerly known as B Sharp) 216-A Mt. Herman Rd, Scotts Valley (831)201-9605 (text or call) MountainMusicSchoolSV.com

Mountain Music School offers lessons in piano, guitar, drums, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, and more! Our students and their families enjoy an enthusiastic, lighthearted atmosphere brought by our qualified instructors. Our philosophy is that lessons should be fun, and foster a lifelong love of music! Monarch Services

WATSONVILLE OFFICE 233 East Lake Avenue Watsonville, CA 95076 (831) 722-4532 SANTA CRUZ OFFICE 550 Water Street Suite J-3 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 425-4030 monarchscc.org

All of our crisis intervention and prevention services are available in Spanish and English and are culturally sensitive. Printed materials are also available in both languages. Our outreach efforts have concentrated on poor Latino neighborhoods with residents that have several barriers to seeking services, including language, literacy and legal status issues, and cultural biases. We are extremely proud of our success in serving this special population.Empowering individuals, families and our communities to take action against violence and abuse. Redwood Music Teen Camp

Community Music School CommunityMusicSchool.org info@communitymusicschool.org

Weeklong overnight camp for teen musicians ages 12-18 begins June 13th. This fullimmersion Celtic music experience is for players of violin, viola, flute, pennywhistle, pipes, recorder, harp, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, small keyboards, and cello. Students practice and perform in instrument-specific groups, with the entire ensemble, and in lots of informal jam sessions. Other activities include crafts, ping pong, movie night, Scottish dancing, a talent show, and a final concert. Information,

COVID precautions, and registration online at CommunityMusicSchool.org. Planned Parenthood

schoolwork, find a great read, and just have some fun. Survivors Healing Center

1119 Pacific Ave., Suite 200, Santa Cruz 831.426.5550 398 South Green Valley Rd, Watsonville 831.724.7525 24-hour Facts-of-life Hotline 1.800.711.9848

831-423-7601 survivorshealingcenter.org

Planned Parenthood also provides educational services through schools and community agencies and has a peer education program. Planned Parenthood also sponsors support groups. For more information about any of our programs, please call (831) 758-8902, ext. 213. A 24hour Facts of Life Hotline, 1-800-711-9848, and our Teen Wire website, www.teenwire. com, also provide general information regarding reproductive health and birth control methods. Pregnancy Resource Center of Santa Cruz County

1570 Soquel Dr. Ste 3, Santa Cruz 95065 or 138B Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 95060 831.475.2200 or 831-454-8481 SantaCruzPRC.org

Pregnancy Resource Center was founded in 1983 and continues to serve the women, families and students of Santa Cruz County with competent, compassionate FREE medical care. Our services include abortion options, pregnancy tests, ultrasound, counseling, parenting classes, material assistance, housing, post-abortion recovery, to name only a few. Salud Para La Gente

204 East Beach St., Watsonville 831.728.0222

A primary health care network with 12 clinic sites, including 7 school-based clinics in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. It also offers Gay and Proud, a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth that provides a safe environment to socialize, develop self-esteem and leadership skills, and share information about identity and relationships. This program involves mostly monolingual Spanish speaking youth ages 14-19. The clinics also provide confidential pregnancy and HIV testing. Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition

1070 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz 831.454.4141

The Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition offers many opportunities for community members interested in smoking and other tobacco issues that impact our county. The Coalition also has lots of information on how to quit smoking. Call to request educational brochures or a list of classes in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz Public Libraries

224 Church St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-427-7713 SantaCruzPL.org

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries support teens throughout the County with safe spaces after school, bilingual homework help, reading comprehension tutoring with certified teachers, project-based learning, free WiFi, and lendable laptops and hotspots. Programs include JavaScript coding, Dungeons and Dragons, Chess Clubs, Teen Zine Club, Minecraft, and Afternoon STEAM. Teens can develop as leaders, steer library programs and spaces, and earn volunteer credits with our Advisory Council of Teens (ACT), which meets monthly in Capitola and in Felton. Of course, there’s print and online resources to help with

Survivors Healing Center is a safe and confidential place for survivors of child sexual abuse. Our goal is to empower those victimized by sexual abuse and to prevent sexual abuse of children and youth in our community. We provide a safe and supportive healing environment Shifting from sexual violence to a trauma informed culture based on safety, trust, collaboration and empowerment. Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center

303 Walnut Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831- 426-3062 wafwc.org

Warriors Group provides youth aged 12-18 with the support they need during their teen years. We provide a safe space for youth to build their self-esteem, learn skills to form healthy relationships, interact with positive role models, and learn to problem-solve around challenges they experience in their life. Through informational workshops, games, and discussions we explore healthy relationships, communication, and self-care while having fun. Once a month, we also host a dance class, movie night, and a culture night! Warriors youth group meets weekly at the Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center in Santa Cruz from 5:30 – 7:00 PM. YMCA of Watsonville

27 Sudden St., Watsonville 831.728.9622

The YMCA offers a variety of programs for young people that combine fitness, education and entertainment while focusing on developing positive self-images and leadership skills. These programs include aquatics and karate classes, Night Hoops basketball league. YouthSERVE

1740 17th Ave, Santa Cruz 831.427.5066 ys@scvolunteercenter.org

YouthSERVE is dedicated to connecting youth, ages 11-17, with rewarding community service projects across the Santa Cruz County. Under the direction of adult volunteer leaders, YouthSERVE volunteers contribute their talents to making positive change in our community. Youth Services

709 Mission St., Santa Cruz 831.429.8350 241 East Lake Ave, Watsonville 831.688.8856 scccc.org/youthservices

Youth Services is a component of Encompass Community Services that serves families and adolescents by helping them find positive solutions to the wide range of challenges facing youth today. They offer numerous programs at their two locations, some at no cost and others on a sliding scale. There are weekly therapy groups as well as a one-time use program. Youth Services works closely with the juvenile justice system as well as city schools and various community service agencies. Many more services and programs are available, please call or visit the website for more information.

CRISIS PHONE NUMBERS AIDS Hotline 1.800.367.2437

California Youth Crisis 24-Hour Hotline 1.800.843.5200 Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline 1.800.799.SAFE 1.800.799.7233

National Runaway Safeline 24-hour hotline-will relay messages

1.800.RUNAWAY 1.800.786.2929

Parental Stress Hotline 831.724.2879 831.426.7322

Sexual Assault 24-Hour Hotline 1.800.656.HOPE 1.800.656.4673

Teen Line : Teens Helping Teens 1.800.852.8336 Text TEEN to 839863

Quit Smoking 1.800.766.2888

Suicide Prevention Services 831.458.5300 1.877.663.5433  This is by no means a complete list of all the teen resources and programs in Santa Cruz County. GUiSC is not responsible for any errors or omissions, nor does inclusion in this listing constitute our endorsement of a program. Please call to verify the information listed.

GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

ALL MONTH

WEDNESDAY 2 National Read Across America Day World Teen Mental Wellness Day Ash Wednesday American Citizenship Day Gateway School Tours 9:00 AM-12:00 Come and learn how Gateway School inspires children’s innate curiosity and sense of wonder through daily exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences. Visit www.gatewaysc.org and schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer!

this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: Common causes and signs of depression and anxiety in children and teens; What to do if you think your child or teen is depressed or has anxiety; Tips for helping children and teens develop healthy coping skills. Presented in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English on Zoom by Sandra Rodelo, Community Bridges – La Manzana Community Resources. Register to get the Zoom meeting link https://bit.ly/DepresionAnsiedad-3Marzo Got questions? Contact Sandra Rodelo at (831) 724-2997 x211 or sandrar@cbridges.org

credits, obtain job skills, develop leadership abilities, and acquire college extracurricular experience. Questions? Contact Sandi Imperio (imperios@santacruzpl.org) Meetings: 1st Sunday of the month, 2:004:00p at the Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

FRIDAY 4

TUESDAY 8

Independence Movement Day National Pancake Day Free Tuesday at UCSC Arboretum 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum, free admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9 am-5 pm. Come explore the biodiversity of our gardens, great bird watching or simply come relax on a bench in the shade. Gateway School Tours 9:00 AM-12:00 PM Come and learn how Gateway School inspires children’s innate curiosity and sense of wonder through daily exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences. Visit www.gatewaysc.org and schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer! Recycling Boot Camp - City of Santa Cruz 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Confused about recycling? There have been many changes to the recycling industry since China stopped taking most material from the West a few years ago. Is recycling still worth it? We just have to learn to “recycle right.” Join us for an in-depth look at the world of recycling — materials management on a global scale all the way down to our own region here in Santa Cruz. You will find out if you are “wish-cycling” and how to stop, what we recycle, how we recycle and where the items we collect end up.

22 MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County Workforce Collaborative 4:30 PM-6:00 PM Hey Teens! (12 to 18 years) Interested in learning about different jobs? And what it takes to achieve your dream career? Look no further, the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, in collaboration with Your Future is Our Business, are gathering four local professionals to speak and discuss about their respective job sector. https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8814298

THURSDAY 3 Taller: Ayudando a los niños y adolescentes a tratar con la depresión y la ansiedad 9:00 AM11:00 AM Asista a este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender: Causas y señales comunes de la depresión y la ansiedad en los niños y adolescentes; Qué hacer si usted cree que su niño/a o adolescente está deprimido o tiene ansiedad; Consejos para desarrollar habilidades saludables en los niños y adolescentes. Presentado EN ESPAÑOL con interpretación simultanea al inglés por Zoom. Inscríbase para conseguir la información para participar en este taller por Zoom https://bit.ly/DepresionAnsiedad-3Marzo ¿Necesita ayuda? Comuníquese con Sandra Rodelo al (831) 724-2997 x211 o sandrar@cbridges.org Workshop: Helping Children and Teens Cope with Depression and Anxiety 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Attend

Alexander Graham Bell Day Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized how we communicate when he invented the telephone.

National Sons Day Molding our sons into responsible men can either be seen as a

National Women’s History Month During the month of March, we give a little extra attention to all of the amazing accomplishments of strong, determined women. Since 1987, the United States has formally recognized March as National Women’s History Month. Every woman has a story to tell and gifts to share with the world. So get ready, because this month is about honoring magnificent ladies, and we are ready to celebrate it to the fullest. Photo: Mary Church Terrell

TUESDAY 1

MONDAY 7

perilous journey or an opportunity to grow as a human being. First Friday Santa Cruz 5:00 PM-9:00 PM Plan your First Friday night and visit participating venues in Downtown, the Tannery Arts Center, Midtown, Westside, Eastside, Felton, and Ben Lomond! Get out and support the arts! First Friday is a free event and is perfect for enthusiastic Art Goers or those just looking to have a fun and enjoyable evening checking out the art scene is Santa Cruz. We are pleased to provide this opportunity and promote this event for the many talented Santa Cruz Artists exhibiting their work.

SATURDAY 5 Reel Film Day Are you old enough to remember the time when movies were made on reels?

SUNDAY 6 Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) @ Capitola Library 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) is the SCPL young adult advisory group. ACT is open to all Santa Cruz County young adults, ages 1218. The main focus of the ACT is young adult services, including programs, events, spaces, and policies. This is a good opportunity for students to fulfill community service

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also observed in support of taking action against gender inequality around the world. We all know the world couldn’t run without women Homework Help @ Downtown Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Aptos/Capitola Youth Chess Club @ Capitola Library 3:30 PM-4:30 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Capitola Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Felton Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ La Selva Beach Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15 PM See Mar 01. Workshop: How to Handle Fighting and Aggression 5:30 PM-7:00 PM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: Common reasons why children fight or become aggressive; How to teach your children to cooperate with others and solve problems; What to do if your children are fighting or aggressive towards other children. Presented in English on Zoom by Cori Burt, Community Bridges – Mountain Community Resources. Register to get the information to participate in this Brief Group on Zoom https://bit.ly/FightingAggression-March8 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt at (831) 335-6660 x6605 or corib@cbridges.org

MARCH CALENDAR WEDNESDAY 9 National Get Over It Day Let’s get over what’s weighing us down, and leave the past in the past.

THURSDAY 10 Popcorn Lover’s Day Afterschool STEAM @ La Selva Beach 4:00 PM-5:30 PM See Mar 03. Taller: Cómo criar niños y adolescentes resilientes 9:00 AM11:00 AM Asista a este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender cómo: Ayudar a sus niños y adolescentes a expresar sentimientos de manera adecuada; Desarrollar una perspectiva positiva en sus niños y adolescentes; Enseñar a sus niños y adolescentes a manejar situaciones estresantes de la vida. Presentado EN ESPAÑOL con interpretación simultanea al inglés por Zoom. Inscríbase para conseguir la información para participar en este taller por Zoom https://bit.ly/Resilientes10Marzo ¿Necesita ayuda? Comuníquese con Sandra Rodelo al (831) 724-2997 x211 o sandrar@cbridges.org Workshop: Raising Resilient Children and Teens 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn how to: Help children and teens express feelings appropriately; Build a positive outlook about life in children and teens; Teach children and teens how to manage stressful life events. Presented in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English on Zoom by Sandra Rodelo, Community Bridges – La Manzana Community Resources. Register to get the Zoom meeting link https://bit.ly/Resilientes10Marzo Got questions? Contact Sandra Rodelo at (831) 724-2997 x211 or sandrar@ cbridges.org

FRIDAY 11

National Promposal Day Get ready to ask your boo to prom in a super elaborate way. Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM See Mar 04. West Cliff Food Truck Series 4:00 PM-8:00 PM Join us at the West Cliff

Lighthouse parking lot and enjoy the beautiful view and local food trucks! It’s a great chance to get outside and soak in the sunshine. This is becoming a locals favorite and tourists love it as well. The parking lot is close to many wonderful picnic areas where you can relax and take in the scenery. Admission is FREE!

SATURDAY 12

Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire 9:00 AM-5:00 PM The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 8am-5pm. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles, LP’s, clothing, furniture, memorabilia, home décor and more! North County, Advisory Council for Teens (ACT) @ Felton 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) is the SCPL young adult advisory group. ACT is open to all San Lorenzo Valley young adults, ages 12-18. The main focus of the ACT is young adult services, including programs, events, spaces, and policies. This is a good opportunity for students to fulfill community service credits, obtain job skills, develop leadership abilities, and acquire college extracurricular experience. Also, ACT is a great outlet to meet great friends and most importantly, have fun with other like minded individuals. Questions? Contact Ivan T. Llamas (llamasi@ santacruzpl.org)

MONDAY 14

National Girl Scout Day National Girl Scout Day commemorates the anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting in 1912. Aztec New Year . It signifies the start of the New Year according to the Aztec calendar. We often imagine time as a linear concept — a straight line running from point A to B. The Aztecs took a radically different view. Time was a force. It provided energy and change. Time was often a harbinger of miracles. The Aztecs viewed it through a lens of continual creation, destruction, and regeneration. Given the ebb and flow of life itself, we think they were spot on. Aztec New Year celebrates an ancient culture whose ideas still find resonance today. Family Fun: Birding at Struve Slough! 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for this month’s free Family Fun event exploring the birds pf Struve Slough in Watsonville! Educators from the Bird School Project will provide binoculars and lead families on a guided tour of the Slough. Polar Plunge for Special Olympics 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Jump in and make a splash with this family-friendly fundraiser benefiting local Special Olympics athletes! Special Olympics Northern California is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing year-round sport, health, and leadership programs to individuals with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuous opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9:00 AM See Mar 05.

SUNDAY 13 National Good Samaritan Day

National Write Your Story Day National Pi Day Channel your inner math geek and prepare to eat and celebrate everybody's favorite never-ending number. Taller: Estrategias para ayudar a los adolescentes a manejar la ansiedad 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Asista a este taller Triple P virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender: Causas comunes y señales de ansiedad en los adolescentes; Qué hacer si su adolescente es ansioso; Consejos para ayudar a los adolescentes a desarrollar habilidades saludables para sobrellevar la ansiedad. Presentado EN ESPAÑOL por Zoom. Inscríbase para conseguir la información para participar en este taller por Zoom https://bit.ly/AdolescentesAnsiedad-14Marzo ¿Tiene preguntas? Comuníquese con Gladys Gómez al (831) 724-2997 ext 220 o gladysg@cbridges.org

TUESDAY 15

International Day Against Police Brutality Police brutality refers to the wanton use of excessive force by a police officer. It is one of the most prevalent forms of police misconduct and violence. Police brutality is widespread in many countries, and activists have been working tirelessly in demanding reforms in police conduct. Rallies and awareness programs are also organized to observe the day. Homework Help @ Downtown Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Aptos/Capitola Youth Chess Club @ Capitola Library 3:30 PM-4:30 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Capitola Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Felton Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ La Selva Beach Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15 PM See Mar 01.

WEDNESDAY 16

National Vaccination Day Thanks to vaccination and immunization drives, many diseases are virtually unknown to us. Meet the Doulas (virtual) 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Meet and talk with doulas as you learn how birth and postpartum doulas are helping families during COVID-19. Birth Network of Santa Cruz County presents this free event open to anyone planning home or hospital birth in Santa Cruz and surrounding counties. Studies show a Doula care: results in a shorter, smoother labor, creates a more positive birth experience, reduces need for medical interventions such as pain medications and epidurals, reduces postpartum depression, results in greater success in breastfeeding. mtd2022.eventbrite.com Registration required for login information.

THURSDAY 17 World Social Work Day Get more people inspired to do good and observe World Social Work Day. World Consumer Rights DayToday, we’re discovering the real power of consumers and our consumer rights!

St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in more countries around the world than any other single-day national festival, largely due to America’s enthusiasm for what many consider a holiday, although it is not an official holiday in America. (Cont'd on Page 24 GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

MARCH CALENDAR FRIDAY 18

MONDAY 21

Awkward Moments Day Global Recycling Day Upcycle your trash and see how recycling can affect our planet and your pocket! Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM See Mar 04.

SATURDAY 19 National Corn Dog Day Certified Nurses Day National Let’s Laugh Day Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9:00 AM See Mar 05. Workshop: What To Do When Your Child Has a Hard Time Separating From You 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Attend d time separating from their parents & caregivers; How to help your child feel comfortable and secure when you are away from them; Tips for helping your child (and you) stay calm when it’s time to say goodbye. Presented in English on Zoom by Sandra Rodelo, Community Bridges – La Manzana Community Resources. Register to get the link for this Zoom workshop https://bit.ly/ Separation-Problems-Mar19 Got questions? Contact Sandra Rodelo at (831) 724-2997 x211 or sandrar@cbridges.org

SUNDAY 20 World Storytelling Day

National Single Parent Day Single parents get to take a break from constantly holding down the fort! World Down Syndrome Day Raise public awareness, promote inclusivity, and support the wellbeing of those living with Down Syndrome. Workshop: Balancing Work & Family During Covid-19 6:00 PM-7:30 PM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: Common challenges with balancing work and family responsibilities; Tools to help prevent workrelated stress from affecting your home life; Tips for setting healthy boundaries between work life and home life. Presented in English on Zoom by Gladys Gómez, Community Bridges – La Manzana Community Resources. Register to get the Zoom meeting link for this virtual workshop https://bit.ly/Work-Family-Mar21 Got questions? Contact Gladys Gómez at (831) 724-2997 x220 or gladysg@cbridges.org

Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15 PM See Mar 01. Workshop: Being Part of the Community 3:00 PM-4:30 PM Get tips for going shopping together; handling situations where your child wanders away from you; traveling together; making haircuts a positive experience. Offered in English by Stepping Stones Triple P Practitioner Stella Lauerman. Simultaneous interpretation into Spanish will be available. Register for Triple P workshop: https:// santacruz.k12oms.org/1284-202106 Workshop: Strategies to Help Teens Manage Anxiety 6:00 PM-7:30 PM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: Common causes and signs of anxiety in teens; What to do if your teen is anxious; Tips for helping teens develop healthy coping skills. 0Presented in English on Zoom by Cori Burt, Community Bridges – Mountain Community Resources. Register to get the link for this Zoom workshop https://bit.ly/Teen-AnxietyMarch22 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt (831) 335-6660 Ext 6605 or corib@ cbridges.org

Spring Equinox The equinox is when the sun sits vertically above the equator, making day and night equal across the planet. Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Come on out for some fresh air and crafty goodness! 10am-5pm on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St in Downtown Santa Cruz. This market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! You can find some of your favorite Santa Cruz makers here AND brand new makers...the variety of work at the market is AMAZING! Check out our website www.scmmakersmarket.com for the full list of participating vendors! Located on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants. Friendly leashed pups are welcome!

24 MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

FRIDAY 25

WEDNESDAY 23 International Waffle Day Plug in your waffle maker and tuck into some mouthwatering treats. Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM See Mar 04.

SATURDAY 26

TUESDAY 22 World Water Day World Water Day aims to bring water aide to people who truly need it across borders. Homework Help @ Downtown Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Aptos/Capitola Youth Chess Club @ Capitola Library 3:30 PM-4:30 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Capitola Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Felton Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ La Selva Beach Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Taller: Formar parte de la comunidad 3:00 PM-4:30 PM Taller virtual GRATIS para familias que crían a niños con necesidades especiales. Reciba consejos para ir de compras juntos; manejar situaciones cuando los niños se alejan de sus padres; viajar juntos; hacer de los cortes de pelo una experiencia positiva. Presentado en inglés por Proveedora de Triple P Paso a Paso Stella Lauerman. Habrá interpretación simultánea al español. Inscríbase para el taller de padres: https://santacruz.k12oms.org/1284-202106

while digging into groundbreaking research about how lizards communicate (and explore the world) in wavelengths of color invisible to the human eye. From gila monsters to the common fence lizard of your backyard, the world of reptiles and amphibians will come alive during this online presentation.

World Meteorological Day With today’s technology, it’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t know what the weather was going to be like. Instead of having a five-day forecast right on your weather app, you had to read wind patterns for weeks if you wanted to know whether you needed a rain jacket or a light sweater. That’s why, on March 23, we celebrate the World Meteorological Organization, an international organization that collects data from all over the world to help us better understand the weather and its impact on our lives. National Ag Day Everything we eat, use, or wear every day is provided by agriculture.

THURSDAY 24 Afterschool STEAM @ La Selva Beach 4:00 PM-5:30 PM See Mar 03. Reptiles and Amphibians of the West 6:00 PM-7:00 PM California is home to almost eighty species of “herps” — reptiles and amphibians. Get to know some of our common and uncommon neighbors,

Make Up Your Own Holiday Day Epilepsy Awareness / Purple Day Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Fun Run 6:30 AM-12:00 PM Lace up your shoes and join the fun with this familyfriendly race through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! 1K- Ages 12 and Under, 5K- Ages 4 and Up, CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH: Finisher medal, Boardwalk treats, Up to 3 hours of free-play in the Casino Arcade, $15 Off Ride Wristband for race day. Continue the fun after the race is over and go on rides, play games and enjoy the beach! Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9:00 AM See Mar 05. Taller: Que hacer cuando su hijo tiene dificultad en separarse de usted 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Asista a este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender: Por qué a los niños les cuesta separarse de sus padres y cuidadores; Cómo ayudar a su hijo a sentirse tranquilo y seguro cuando usted está lejos de él; Consejos para ayudar a su hijo (y a usted) a mantener la calma cuando es tiempo de decir adiós. Presentado EN ESPAÑOL por Zoom. Inscríbase para conseguir el enlace de la reunión por Zoom https:// bit.ly/Dificultad-Separarse-Mar26 ¿Tiene preguntas? Comuníquese con Sandra Rodelo al (831) 724-2997 x211 o sandrar@ cbridges.org

SUNDAY 27 World Theatre Day Santa Cruz Symphony: Family Concert 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program introduces students to the orchestra by helping them to become a part of it. Through this highly participatory program, students learn to sing and play an instrument in the classroom and perform with a professional orchestra from their seats at a culminating concert. “Swing” is many things. It’s a distinctive rhythmic feel; a musical era dominated by big band jazz; a style of dance that grew alongside the music; and that elusive but unmistakable feeling that results when musicians are deeply tuned into each other and playing in sync, or “in the pocket.”

MONDAY 28

Homework Help @ Felton Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ La Selva Beach Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15 PM See Mar 01.

WEDNESDAY 30 Take a Walk in the Park Day All you have to do is wear some comfortable shoes, find a walking partner (or not), and go for a peaceful walk in one of your preferred parks. Doctors' Day An annual observance aimed at appreciating physicians who help save our lives everywhere.

THURSDAY 31

National Black Forest Cake Day National Something On a Stick Day Gateway School K-8 TUE & WED | MAR 1 & 2 | 9AM - 12PM 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz (831) 423-0341 | admissions@gatewaysc.org Come and learn how Gateway School inspires children's innate curiosity and sense of wonder through daily exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences. VisitGatewaySC.org and schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer!

MOD's 2022 Summer Camp Festival SAT | MAR 26 | 10AM - 1PM 1855 41st Ave C-10, Capitola sccmod.org The Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery will be hosting a wide variety of camps who will be offering so much fun in the sun for your little ones this summer. This event is FREE to the public and sponsored by Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

CALENDAR National Farm Workers Day The labor force on a farm plays a pivotal role in bringing crops to fruition. National Weed Appreciation Day Some weeds are actually beneficial for us and our ecosystem.

TUESDAY 29 World Piano Day National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day Homework Help @ Downtown Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01. Aptos/Capitola Youth Chess Club @ Capitola Library 3:30 PM-4:30 PM See Mar 01. Homework Help @ Capitola Library 3:00 PM-5:00 PM See Mar 01.

Transgender Day of Visibility dedicated to recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender community. On this day, we celebrate the trans people amongst us, raise awareness about the struggles that they face, and advocate for more protected rights for them in a bid to reform society and empower this community — as it so rightfully deserves. Let’s join hands together with the trans community to celebrate not ‘fitting in’ when we all yearn to stand out! World Backup Day We’re fortunate enough to have access to the most powerful computers to date, but what would you do if you lost everything on your computer? Crashes happen more often than you think, data recovery can cost you hundreds of dollars, and recovering everything you’ve stored on your computer is not guaranteed Afterschool STEAM @ La Selva Beach 4:00 PM-5:30 PM See Mar 03.

GUiSC will attempt to update the calendar listings as needed; however, it is the responsibility of the organization listed to provide updated information. GUiSC assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Readers are encouraged to check the accuracy of the information provided. Events that are free or cost less than $10 can be submitted for inclusion in the calendar. GUiSC does not guarantee that a submitted event will automatically be included. Preference is given for events of interest to children and/or parents. Calendar entries must be received by the 15th of the month prior to the month of the event. Calendar entries and photos will be selected by the Calendar Editor. Please email visit our website to fill out the calendar form here growingupsc.com/submissions

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Additional Sources: NationalToday.com GrowingUpSC.com | MARCH 2022

COLORING PAGE

Submit your coloring entry to editor@growingupsc.com for a chance to be in our next issue! You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Submissions due by March 15.

26 MARCH 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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YOUR Afterschool Destination

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Your partner for success in school and beyond.

• Reading Comprehension • Homework Help • Lendable Tech • • JavaScript • Zine Club • Chess Clubs • Afterschool Project Based Learning • • Teen Advisory Committee in North and South County •

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DISCOVER THE JOY OF LEARNING AT KIRBY SCHOOL.

Kirby School is an independent college preparatory school for grades 6-12. Individual attention and social and emotional well-being are vital to student success. Our caring team is committed to ensuring your child thrives. Now enrolling for 2022-23. Join us at one of our upcoming in-person or virtual admission events. We offer a test-free application process and Tuition Assistance. Visit KIRBY.ORG to learn more. 425 Encinal St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-0658 kirby.org

425 ENCINAL ST. | SANTA CRUZ 95060 | KIRBY.ORG

Growing Up in Santa Cruz March Teen Issus

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MOD's Summer Camp Festival

Always Amused

Local News: Fentanyl Epidemic

Editor's Note

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