Kids Club at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks

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

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

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

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

https://shoplakes.com/events/kids-club-in-collaboration-with-appletv

Open Gym at Conejo Recreation & Park District Facilities

The Conejo Recreation & Park District has several facilities offering not only paid programs and classes but free access to indoor gymnasium facilities during designated hours.

The Thousand Oaks Community Center offers free "open gym" times throughout the month, with access to indoor basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickleball. Located at 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. For open gym times, visit www.crpd.org/facilities/thousand-oaks-center/thousand-oaks-community-center or call 805.381.2793.

The Borchard Community Center at 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park also offers free "open gym" access during designated time frames for drop-in basketball, volleyball and badminton. Visit www.crpd.org/facilities/borchard-center/borchard-center-calendar.

The Dos Vientos Community Center at 4801 Borchard Road, Newbury Park also offers free open gym access during designated time frames for volleyball (currently Fridays from 4:30-6:30pm and Sundays from noon to 2:30pm) and badminton (currently Wednesdays from 6:45-9:15pm). Visit www.crpd.org/facilities/dos-vientos-center/dos-vientos-center or call 805.375.1003.

The Thousand Oaks Teen Center at 1375 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks offers free drop-in recreation to any local teen (grades 7 to 12) during daily operational hours, including game room, gym and computer lab. Visit www.crpd.org/programs-sports/teens or www.thousandoaksteencenter.com or call 805.494.5156.

Gates Canyon Park / Brandon's Village - Calabasas

The 7 acre Gates Canyon Park at 25801 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Calabasas includes picnic areas with barbeques, fitness course, children's play area, basketball court, tennis courts and plenty of open grass area.  The park is north of the 101 freeway and east of Las Virgenes.

Brandon’s Village at Gates Canyon Park originally opened in October 2006 as a universally accessible playground. It was completely renovated in 2024 with a million dollar upgrade and the theme “Above the Tree Line.” This 15,000 sq ft all-inclusive playground has play structures for ages 2-5 and 5-12. There is also a new sand area and trike zone for creative play.

Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-facilities for more information.

Photo of a portion of the original Brandon’s Village play structure that was remodeled in 2024.

'ololkoy Beach Park (Oxnard Beach Park)

The ‘ololkoy Beach Park* (formerly Oxnard Beach Park) is located on South Harbor Boulevard, South of Wooley Road and next to the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel and Resort in Oxnard.  The park has a large pirate-themed play area. There is a larger structure for 5 to 12 year olds and a smaller one for younger kids.

*Renamed after the Chumash word for dolphin in 2023.

This park is just a short walk to the beach, where you and the kids can spend time digging holes, building sand castles and running from the waves. The park is also in close vicinity to Channel Islands Harbor. 

The park has a large grassy area, restrooms, BBQ grills, bike paths, etc.  There is a parking fee at this park; just $1/hour or $5/day.

For more information, visit visitoxnard.com/directory/oxnard-beach-park.

Kids Club at The Collection at RiverPark on Designated Wednesdays in the Summer

The Collection at Riverpark is offering free, family-friendly fun at Kids Club, sponsored by Sunny Smiles Dentistry for Children and Young Adults. Kids Club events are open to all children and families. Don’t give the little ones a chance to say they’re bored this summer!
 
Kids Club will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the grass at Collection Park and take place on the following Wednesdays: June 12, 26, July 10, 24 and August 7.
 
Bring the kids and a picnic blanket to the grass at Collection Park for a fun-filled morning of entertainment, crafts and fun surprises.

Face painting 10AM – 12PM
Character performances 10:30AM – 11:00AM
Character meet & greet 11:00AM – 12PM
 
thecollectionrp.com/portfolio/summer-kids-club-series

Kids Fun Zone and Outdoor Play Area at Janss Marketplace

Janss Marketplace announces the themes for the 2024 FREE Kids Fun Zone, held from 12 – 2 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month from April through October. Each month children, ages 12 and younger, who are accompanied by an adult, are invited to enjoy free shows, crafts, music and dance at the Kids Fun Zone at Janss Marketplace, located at 275 North Moorpark Road East in Thousand Oaks, just off the 101 Freeway at Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive. Register NOW for one, or all Kids Fun Zone events at eventbrite.com.  

Kids Fun Zone upcoming dates and themes: TBA for 2025

Visit janssmarketplace.com for more information about the monthly Kids Fun Zone and other free community events.

The playground area at Janss Marketplace.

Lakeshore Learning Saturday Crafts for Kids - Ventura

Lakeshore Learning stores have free crafts for kids twice a month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For upcoming events, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/stores/events. Lakeshore Learning is a great store for educational games, toys and materials.

The Ventura store is located at 4705 Telephone Road.  Phone 805.289.1550 or visit www.lakeshorelearning.com.

Kids' Adventure Garden in Thousand Oaks

The Kids' Adventure Garden (KAG) at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden is open every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The KAG is a fun place for children to learn about nature and gardening.  The garden features a tree house, pirate's cave, zoo garden, hydroponic pod and much more. Free admission (though donations are welcome). Enter at W. Gainsborough Road at Jeaunine Drive. between Lynn Road and Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks.

Kids love running around the KAG and exploring the nearby trails and stream.  Additionally, Conejo Community Park is next to the garden, with a nice playground area, expansive grass and picnic areas.

Visit www.conejovalleybotanicgarden.com/collections for more information and pictures. Additionally, a Native Plant Nursery is open at this location on Sundays.

Links to Hundreds of Parks In and Around Ventura County

Click the image for a list of links to parks throughout Ventura County.

Alameda Park in Santa Barbara

Ranking high up on the list of parks with cool play areas around town is Alameda Park, located at the corner of Garden Street and E. Micheltorena Street in Santa Barbara. Alameda Park has an 8,000 sq ft mostly wooden play structure that was built by local residents.

Your kids will fall in love with the nooks, crannies, steps, bridges and places to hide in this play structure. There are also swings and things to climb on. The park itself is 2 blocks long and one of the oldest parks in Santa Barbara. It is next door to the beautiful Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Plenty of grass, spectacular, large shade trees and much more make this a perfect picnic lunch stop when you're in town.

More information at www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/parks/features/horticulture/alameda.asp.