Enriching XTRA programs for junior and senior high school students in the Ojai Valley that support student interests and skills outside the classroom. These programs are community led and in partnership with local adults and organizations in order to foster a better and healthier Ojai community for all.
About
Founded in 1997, the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation has introduced hundreds of young people to the core values of personal development built on the principles of INTEGRITY, LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCY, CHARITY, and most importantly FRIENDSHIP.
The Ojai Valley Youth Foundation connects young people to educational programming and mentors to help develop their life skills building self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem.
Currently, the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation is providing after-school programming for junior high and high school students at Nordhoff School. (See the Programs Tab for more information regarding the many enriching programs being offered this year)
News
This past year, the Youth Foundation added two more interesting programs to its lineup. One of the new classes is Introduction to Flying where students are taught the basics of flying on a flight similator by professional flight instructors in the Youth Foundation classroom. The other new class is Raptors, Birds of Prey which is taught by experts from the Ojai Raptor Center. See the Programs Page to learn about many of the other programs being offered this year by the Youth Foundation.
The Youth Foundation has also partnered with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum to offer students a field trip each semester led by their marine biologists. This Fall, the students will be going over to Santa Cruz Island to learn about the island's unique habitat.
Each Spring, the Youth Foundation hosts its LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. Students have met with the Ojai Chief of Police, visited the Ventura County Humane Society's facility, worked with Ojai's C.R.E.W. on a environmental land restoration project, took a hike above the Ojai Valley and many more experiences.
The Youth Foundation also participates in Ojai's annual 4th of July parade! Everyone always has so much fun together.
The annual fundraiser has been a special country music concert.
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Leadership
Community Involvement
Executive Director
Jamie Fleming
Kelly Ammerman - Asst. to Exec. Dir.
Executive Board
Franci Nelson - President
Suzanne Feldman - Vice President
Erik Wilde - Secretary / Treasurer
Advisory Board
Maurice Chasse
Tom Krause
Nathan Wallace
Youth Foundation Guild
Wendy Dio
Cathy Cluff
Mike Gaidano
Asunta Fleming
Community Advisors
Dr. Sherrill Knox –
Superintendent, OUSD
Jim Halverson - OUSD School Board
Dave Monson – Principal, Nordhoff
Junior High and High School
Jim Bailey - Headmaster, Rock Tree Sky
Lyndon Thomas
Stephen Wagner
Robert Munic
Jayn Walter - Co-Executive Director,
Help of Ojai
Barbara Haskins – Board President,
Ojai Chamber of Commerce
Fabian Padro - Executive Director,
Narconon Ojai
Operations
Alex Mooney - Creative Director
Connor Schryver – Bookkeeper
Abigail Sucsy - Fundraising/Grant Writer
Programs
Youth Foundation Programs
Leadership Program
Raptors, Birds of Prey (Jaclyn DeSantis)
Car Design (Sean Scott)
Thrive (Tessa MaGill)
Ripples Program - (Margaret Bungard)
Cooking Intro - (chef Sandra Jones),
Marine Robotics & Ocean Exploration
(Tyler Buckingham)
Introduction To Flying
Space Exploration - Rock Tree Sky School
(Jim Bailey)
Auto Mechanics - Ojai Valley Imports
(JR & Rita Luna)
Improv - (Robert Munic)
Ojai Mandala Program (River Sauvageau)
Life Skills
Loud School of Rock (Nate Arling)
MLK Day Celebration (Kate Russell)
YES – Youth Employment Service
(Franci Nelson)
Entrepreneurship
Art of Filmmaking (Robert Munic,
Josh Gobbell)
Youth Program Alliances
Rock Tree Sky School (Jim Bailey)
Casitas Rowing (Wendy Gillett)
Art – Ojai Studio Artists
Green Valley Youth Program (Tara Fay)
Ojai Police Department -
Explorers Program
Ventura Actors Studio (Ojai) (Gina Nemo)
Surfclass (Chip & Kelly Bell)
Chess (Surya)