Our Approach

Nature Literacy
through exploration & curiosity

Leadership
as a daily practice

Child-Led Learning
builds confidence & responsibility

Mistakes welcomed
as growth

Play with purpose
outdoors, hands-on, imaginative

Schedule

Venture Free Children’s Recreation Center (VFCR) is our 5 day a week, home-base camp located at Kings Mountain Elementary School in the Cabrillo Unified School District. Our children’s center allows our campers to drop-in as needed after school.

We're open 2:10 pm - 6:00 pm, every operational school day of the CUSD calendar. VFCR opens at 1:00 pm on early release days.

Drop-ins welcome!

Activities

Though every day might be different, you can always expect a positive outdoor focused environment, free from technology.
Where the kids know that FUN and safety are both our priorities.

(FYI - We never require anyone to take part in an activity, but we will strongly encourage each one of our campers to try new things, to communicate with each other, and to always
Respect; Yourself, Each other, and our Environment (in all sense of the word)

Flexibility

When your child attends the Venture Free Recreation program, their afterschool hours may be spent immersed in a variety of activities. While we aim to incorporate nature interaction into our pedagogy, the real heart of our program lies in the interests of our campers!

A little bit 'makerspace.' A little bit 'summer camp.' A little bit 'a whole lotta' fun!' We want our kids to follow what excites them. We work hard to provide a free flowing space that encourages and teaches our campers to work and play and explore, unstructured.

They might get creative in the dirt, constructuing intricate bug houses. Or tunnel systems. Or searching for buried treasure.

They might want to earn allowance by helping with chores like the fish tank or the compost. Some kids will rather build with blocks. Or play with the doll house. Or kickball. They might want to create potions. Or read. They may choose to turn cardboard boxes into houses, armor, masks, mailboxes, shoes, planes. They might want to build forts, play hangman, or make hot chocolate.

And when it gets really hot, they might even want the water guns to come out! :)