Santa Cruz Life Enrichment Programs and Schedule

Call us at: 831-458-9766

Visit us at: 1509 Seabright Ave, Suite B1, Santa Cruz CA 95062

Business Hours: 9:00 A.M - 4:00 P.M Monday - Wednesday

*Note: Vista Center is closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day

Resource Spotlight - In Person

Description: Resource Spotlight connects you with local community resources through guest speakers who share up-to-date information on services, eligibility, and contacts in an interactive, welcoming setting. Held at Vista Center’s Conference Room, each session covers topics like health and safety, nutrition, legal and support services, transportation, and more!

Date: August 5 (First Wednesday of each month)

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Location: Vista Center Conference Room

Registration: Not required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

Topic: Join us for an engaging Resource Spotlight featuring special guests from Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB)! We are excited to welcome Mikhaila, Field Service Manager for the Santa Cruz Puppy Raisers, who will provide an inside look at the Guide Dogs for the Blind program, including the puppy raising process, guide dog training, and how dogs are matched with their handlers. We'll also hear from Siobhan, a GDB graduate, who will share her personal experiences working with a guide dog and how it has impacted her independence and daily life. As a special treat, guide dogs in training will be on site during the presentation, giving attendees the opportunity to meet these remarkable future service dogs and learn more about their journey. Whether you're curious about guide dogs, considering applying for one, or simply interested in learning more, this is a presentation you won't want to miss!

Tech It Out With Vista - Virtual

Description: Industry speakers present the latest accessibility technology devices and trends. Check out previous discussions on our Youtube Channel!

Date: August 7 (First Friday of each month)

Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Location: Zoom

Registration: Required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

Speakers: Nathan Deutsch (Chief Operating Officer)

About: TAMI is an assistive mobility eyewear device designed and engineered for people who are blind or visually impaired. It aims to enhance users’ confidence, spatial awareness, and mobility by sensing obstacles at up to 8.5’ in the upper body zone, an area unprotected by the white cane. Information is relayed to the user with tactile feedback, keeping ears free and offering insights into both the location and proximity of potential hazards. TAMI is available in 2 sizes and 3 fashionable colors. It is waterproof rated IP55, provides 4 hours of active use per charge, and accepts prescription lenses or filters.

Book Club - Virtual

Description: Join the virtual book club for fun and spirited discussions about the book choice of the month and favorite reads!

Date: August 10 (Second Monday of each month)

Time: 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Location: Zoom

Registration: Required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

Topic: "The Searcher" by Tana French (DB100859) and "Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke (DB137558).

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Walk - In Person

Description: Join us for a casual 1-2 mile walk in the community and practice your Orientation and Mobility skills! Enjoy the sounds of nature as you learn pointers and tips of safe travelling.

Date: August 13 (Second Thursday of each month)

Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Arana Gulch / Santa Cruz Harbor. Meet at Santa Cruz Bible Church, 440 Fredrick St. Santa Cruz. ParaCruz return pickup any time after 12:00.

Registration: Required

Trail Details:

We will walk approximately 2.5 miles on a paved multi-use path. The Arana Gulch Multi-Use Trail, which connects Arana Gulch to the Santa Cruz Harbor, is generally considered an easy route with a grade that is mostly gentle (5% or less).

However, the trail does have a steeper section where the path descends down to the harbor, an elevation change of approximately 75 feet over 0.2 miles.

Arana Gulch: A Serene Urban Escape

Once part of the 19th‑century Hagemann “Live Oak Ranch” and dairy land, Arana Gulch follows a creek flowing from the Santa Cruz Mountains into the Harbor.

Rustic benches, interpretive signs, and occasional grazing cattle that help manage invasive growth and support native plant recovery highlight conservation efforts.

The Path to the Harbor

Emerging from Arana Gulch, the trail leads southward to the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor and on to the Walton lighthouse, opening onto an entirely different coastal panorama.This easy, scenic walk offers beautiful water and vessel views, with chance sightings of sea birds, otters, and seals from the shore or docks.

Please register below or contact Holli Clark if you would like to join us!

Game Day - In Person

Description: Come join the fun as we play engaging (and often competitive) tactile and accessible games, such as Uno, Yahtzee, dominoes, mancala, Left Right Center, and more!

Date: August 19 (Third Wednesday of each month)

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Vista Center Conference Room

Registration: Not required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

Tips & Tricks - Hybrid

Description: Join our popular peer-to-peer information series to learn helpful strategies to make life easier as someone with a visual impairment. Each month, the group will explore an in-depth how to topic, such as tips for accessible cooking, organizing your home, traveling, and using smarthome devices. If you would like to check out our Tips & Tricks audio recordings on our YouTube channel, visit Vista Center's YouTube channel

Date: August 26 (Fourth Wednesday of each month)

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Vista Center Conference Room

Registration: Not required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

Topic: Join us for a practical Tips and Tricks session designed to help clients learn to navigate Vista Center's newsletter and website. Participants will practice completing the newsletter’s reCAPTCHA “I’m not a robot” verification process. Also, clients who use VoiceOver on an iPhone or JAWS on a Windows computer will get to practice navigating the Vista Center newsletter and website using headings, links, edit to navigate fields, buttons, and other common webpage elements. This session is an excellent opportunity for graduates of the iPhone VoiceOver class to review their touch gestures and apply their skills in a practical, real-world setting. Participants are encouraged to bring their preferred device.

Braille at Your Pace - In Person

Description: Led by experienced instructor Tiffany Thomas, this in-person course will cover both reading and writing Braille in personalized, one-hour sessions. Whether you’re just beginning with Grade 1 or ready to tackle Grade 2, this flexible class is designed to support you at every stage of your Braille journey.

Date: Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Time: Appointment Only

Location: Vista Center

Registration: Required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

Peer Mentor Support Groups - Virtual

Description: Only those with vision loss can fully understand the experience. Find support, understanding, and friendship with members of the Vista community.

Date: Every Tuesday

Time: Varies by group

Location: Zoom

Registration: Required

Fee: None, donations appreciated

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Your gift supports critical services and programs that restore hope,

promote independence, create opportunities,

and transform the lives of more than 3,700 blind or visually impaired individuals.