Parents Resources

The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum was founded by train enthusiasts in 1956 with the goal of educating people in railroad history and lore.

On Sundays the museum opens up to the public (weather permitting), inviting train enthusiasts for a rare treat aboard its unique, seven and a half gauge model trains. Extensive layouts of smaller gauge trains are also on display.

All displays and trains are built by members of the LALSRM, right down to planting the trees and the grass. Maintenance is supported by the donations requested for a ride on the train.

Passengers must be at least 34" in height and weigh under 350 lbs. to ride.

Children Helping Poor and Homeless People (CHPHP) is an educational outreach program conducted by children and teens with adult advisors. Ongoing CHPHP programs include Routes for Homeless People, Outreach for People in Need, Adopt a Family Program, Adopt a Teen Program, Rent Supplement Program, Fund For People in Need, Animal Outreach, Thanksgiving In A Box Program, Theater Program, Transitional Counseling, The Speaker's Bureau, and Community Picnic and Softball Games.

The Conejo Valley Botanic Garden covers 33 acres of unique terrain in Thousand Oaks. A significant portion of the Garden’s acreage is preserved as a natural habitat for birds and small animals, while the developed areas of the Garden include several specialty gardens.

The Nature Trail is three quarters of a mile long and meanders above the creek through oaks and willows. Sturdy shoes and bottled water are suggested. The Garden is closed during rainy weather.

The Kids Adventure Garden is open every Sunday from 11am to 3pm. The garden features a tree house, a zoo garden, a carnivorous plant bog, as well as periodic events and activities in the summer months.

It's never too soon to start teaching your children about fire safety, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is more than willing to help.

Firefighters regularly host school groups, and appear at neighborhood fairs; they've even been known to make surprise visits to local playgrounds to meet the children and give rides on the hook-and-ladder truck.

Another great way to give your toddlers a thrill they'll remember for months - and teach them some important lessons - is by visiting your local fire station. As firefighters are quick to point out, they exist through our tax dollars, and part of their service is to show kids around the station, and maybe help younger children deal with some fears they might have about fire.

Just shaking hands with a firefighter is excitement enough for the average three-year-old, but the firefighters - if they can - will also give free tours, answer questions, and demonstrate equipment to small groups of children, when accompanied by an adult.

A few pointers: Call first! Of course firefighters can't possibly predict when they'll be called to a fire, but they'll appreciate the gesture anyway, and sometimes there is a good reason why it's not the best day for a visit.

Be sure to tell your kids what firefighters do, and why speed can be so important to the job. Urge them to show respect to these hardworking heroes by using all their best manners, and - here's the most important one - by getting out of the way, quickly and quietly, if that alarm bell starts ringing during your visit!

It's never too soon to start teaching your children about fire safety, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is more than willing to help.

Firefighters regularly host school groups, and appear at neighborhood fairs; they've even been known to make surprise visits to local playgrounds to meet the children and give rides on the hook-and-ladder truck.

Another great way to give your toddlers a thrill they'll remember for months - and teach them some important lessons - is by visiting your local fire station. As firefighters are quick to point out, they exist through our tax dollars, and part of their service is to show kids around the station, and maybe help younger children deal with some fears they might have about fire.

Just shaking hands with a firefighter is excitement enough for the average three-year-old, but the firefighters - if they can - will also give free tours, answer questions, and demonstrate equipment to small groups of children, when accompanied by an adult.

A few pointers: Call first! Of course firefighters can't possibly predict when they'll be called to a fire, but they'll appreciate the gesture anyway, and sometimes there is a good reason why it's not the best day for a visit.

Be sure to tell your kids what firefighters do, and why speed can be so important to the job. Urge them to show respect to these hardworking heroes by using all their best manners, and - here's the most important one - by getting out of the way, quickly and quietly, if that alarm bell starts ringing during your visit!

It's never too soon to start teaching your children about fire safety, and the Los Angeles Fire Department is more than willing to help.

Firefighters regularly host school groups, and appear at neighborhood fairs; they've even been known to make surprise visits to local playgrounds to meet the children and give rides on the hook-and-ladder truck.

Another great way to give your toddlers a thrill they'll remember for months - and teach them some important lessons - is by visiting your local fire station. As firefighters are quick to point out, they exist through our tax dollars, and part of their service is to show kids around the station, and maybe help younger children deal with some fears they might have about fire.

Just shaking hands with a firefighter is excitement enough for the average three-year-old, but the firefighters - if they can - will also give free tours, answer questions, and demonstrate equipment to small groups of children, when accompanied by an adult.

A few pointers: Call first! Of course firefighters can't possibly predict when they'll be called to a fire, but they'll appreciate the gesture anyway, and sometimes there is a good reason why it's not the best day for a visit.

Be sure to tell your kids what firefighters do, and why speed can be so important to the job. Urge them to show respect to these hardworking heroes by using all their best manners, and - here's the most important one - by getting out of the way, quickly and quietly, if that alarm bell starts ringing during your visit!

Axia Learning provides academic skills and learning behavior assessments, indiviualized curriculum development, academic planning, and in-home tutoring to kids.

The center also offers a host of other academic and education related consultation and services.

Children ages 10 months to 12 years can learn English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Hebrew, Farsi, Russian, or Chinese through music, songs, games, creative movement, and arts & crafts projects.

WorldSpeak also offers a trilingual pre-school alternative program (English, Spanish, French) and welcomes homeschoolers. Camps are also available.

Cosmikids is a combination enrichment program, indoor play space, discovery center, and party space. Programs include music, yoga, and acting classes, parenting support workshops and groups, parent and child activities, and a homeschooling club.