Animal Planet Recap

We have just wrapped up an amazing summer here at Via West, and we went out with a roar during Animal Planet. We made cream cheese penguins, watermelon hedgehogs, sparkle turtles, 3D bird pictures, zebra puppets, rainforests, birds' nests, and bobble head pigs.

We took field trips to the San Francisco Zoo and the McLellan Ranch to get up close and personal with our wildlife friends. Back on campus we enjoyed a relaxing movie night with Madagascar 3.

We went on an animal safari and a scavenger hunt, played the animal name game, animal bingo, and an animal memory game.

We also learned with iPads, had a visit from Bay Area Wild, rode horses, and we splashed around in the Via West pool. To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

Nickelodeon Days Recap

Are you ready to get slimed? Our participants for Nickelodeon Days certainly were! We made our own Nickelodeon slime, take home Dora brownies, and Dora microphones.

We took a field trip to Golfland where we put our mini golf skills to the test and we also enjoyed the arcade and water park.

We went on a hike around Campus to find things using Spanish words that Dora taught us, and we also made our own iCarly videos. We had a Power Rangers competition, played some Spongebob games, and we ran through a Double Dare obstacle course.

We also learned with iPads, had a visit from some creepy crawlers, and partied it up at the Via West Choice Awards. To see more pictures from this week, please visit our Facebook page.

Superheroes Week Recap

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Via West Superparticipants! Superheroes Week has concluded and we learned a lot about what it takes to be a real hero. We made signs illustrating superhero core values, learned the importance of healthy eating by making Incredible Hulk green smoothies, and we put our strength to the test in the Superhero Training Village.

We felt the exhilaration of flying during our field trip to the Sky High Sports Trampoline Park, and we made superhero capes to keep us aerodynamic.

 

We relaxed with a Saturday morning cartoon marathon in our jammies, and we also created superhero flip books, cakes, and decoupage comics frames.

 

We also learned with iPads, rode horses at the Via West corral, and spent some quality time in the Via West pool. To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

Disney for All Ages Recap

Bibbity Bobbity Boo! We had a magical time during Disney for All Ages at Via West Campus. We made magic carpet coasters, fruit flower bouquets, Pooh's honey drinks, Camp Rock guitars, Brave storybooks, and Snow White mini pies.

We took two fun-filled field trips to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and to the movies.

 We went on a scavenger hunt through the 100 Acre Woods, put our skills to the test with a rigorous training session with Mulan, learned the art of cartooning, and had a blast eating breakfast with all of our favorite Disney friends.

We also learned with iPads, had a ball at Cinderella's Ball, rocked out during Camp Rock Night, and spent some quality time in the Via West pool. To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

Career Week Recap

Career Week is over at Via West, and we had a blast! We made PC Board models, vegetarian lasagna, and maps of the United States and California. We learned about all of the various jobs at Via West, and we set up and ran our very own Via West Diner and a Via West Carnival.

We also learned about the food and space industries with field trips to Mariani's Hotel and to NASA.

We spent some time learning proper interviewing techniques and how to dress for success, and we tested our knowledge about the working world with Career Week Jeopardy.

We also learned with iPads, met some local firefighters, and got in shape with water aerobics in the Via West pool. To see more pictures from this session, please visit our Facebook page.

Sun, Sand, and Sea Recap

Sun, Sand, and Sea has just wrapped up at Via West, and we had an amazing time learning all about the different bodies of water and ecosystems.

We made sand dollar necklaces, sea bird sand art, and nature prints. We also rode horses, had a water balloon fight, and decorated the Via West parking lot with some awesome chalk drawings.

We had the best time ever on our field trips to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, laser tag arena, and the Surf Museum.

We also learned with iPads, danced the night away at King Triton's Ball, and, of course, we spent some time by the pool. To see more pictures from this week, please visit our Facebook page.

Cheer and Sports Recap

We just finished with our first children's session of the summer at Via West, and it was a blast! We reconnected with our old pals and made some lasting new friendships.

We practiced playing baseball, basketball, and football, and we learned some cheer routines. Boy, do we have some serious sports skills!

We made baseball caps, megaphones, and t-shirts, hung out by the pool, and we ended the weekend with a rally and baseball game. Go Via West!

 

To see more pictures from the weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

New Orleans Square Recap

Bonjour from the French Quarter! Via West just wrapped up an exciting Mardi Gras themed week with New Orleans Square. We made and ate scrumptious King cake, beignets, and red beans & rice.

We learned all of the different Mardi Gras traditions, took some jazz lessons, and we made some amazing beaded masks for our Mardi Gras festival and dance, as well as shoe box floats to bring home.

We took a field trip to the Poor House Bistro, learned with iPads, enjoyed the talent show, and spent some time relaxing by the Via West pool.

 

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

All American Extravaganza Recap

Via West kicked off the summer the patriotic way with our All American Extravaganza! We learned and sang some good old fashioned patriotic songs like America the Beautiful and This Land is Your Land.

We made Native American headdresses, catch-it cones, and American flags. We also had a visit from local firefighters and participated in our nation's pastime: baseball!

After a rousing tailgate BBQ at Kelley Park, we watched the San Jose Giants baseball team take out the Lancaster Jethawks with a 7 to 0 win!

We also rode horses, re-enacted the signing of the Constitution, learned with iPads, and enjoyed the talent show.

To see more pictures from this week, please visit our Facebook page.

Cinco de Mayo Recap

Hola amigos! Via West celebrated Cinco de Mayo last weekend to close out the 2012-2013 weekend program season. We kicked off the fiesta with some Mexican flag and jeweled paper banner crafts and a movie to teach us about the history and the different traditions of the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

We played some rodeo games, rode horses, made Mexican hat magnets, learned how to make tamales, and we threw a wild and loco Mexican carnival!

After a grand taco bar dinner and getting pampered with manicures and makeup, we danced the night away at the Mexican Fiesta Dance.

We also made colorful tissue flowers, learned with iPads, and enjoyed the talent show.

To see more pictures from the weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

Wild Wild West Recap

Howdy partners! Last weekend, Via West took a trip to the Wild West and our participants had a darn tootin good time learning how to act as proper cowboys and cowgirls. After kicking off the weekend with a western style campfire, we rode horses, learned how to square dance, and got up close and personal with some animals from the petting zoo.

Deli Dave and the kitchen staff provided us with a Chuck Wagon lunch, and then we had a visit from Clover the Cow, learned how to milk cows & goats, and we even panned for gold.

 

Later, we participated in some rodeo events, like the bull lasso, and then we put our square dancing skills to the test at our hootenanny of a Barn Dance. We also played some cowboy games, learned with iPads, and enjoyed the talent show.

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

Jingle Bell Rock Recap

The holiday season continued at Via West this past weekend with our adult participants and their Jingle Bell Rock! We kicked off the weekend with our opening campfire on Friday night, and then we spent Saturday morning hiking to gather pine cones for our holiday centerpieces, making menorahs, and using iPad apps to learn about the various December holidays.

Some local firefighters then stopped by to drop off our Christmas tree and to let us explore and pose for pictures with the fire truck.

We spent the rest of Saturday afternoon caroling, decorating cookies, making wreaths, making ornaments and dreidels, and decorating the tree. We also learned about the importance of giving back to the community by decorating and stuffing stockings to donate to Next Door's domestic violence shelter.

We finished up the weekend with an elegant holiday banquet, Jingle Bell Rock dance, and a meet and greet with Santa where everyone was able to receive their holiday presents!

To view more pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

All I Want for Christmas Recap

Snow in California? You bet! With some help from the Rotary Club of Cupertino, the Via West Campus was transformed this past weekend into a glistening winter wonderland. We kicked off the weekend with some caroling at our opening campfire.

On Saturday, we spent time making ornaments, dreidels, menorahs, and various other holiday crafts to take home. We read Christmas stories, played music, and learned some new iPad apps.

 

After some down time in the lodges, we came outside to see that winter had arrived! We went sledding, made snowmen, had an epic snowball battle, and then we warmed up inside with cookies and hot chocolate.Everyone learned the importance of giving back to the community by decorating and stuffing stockings to donate to Next Door's domestic violence shelter.

We finished up the weekend with a festive dinner, Yule Ball, and a meet and greet with Santa where everyone was able to receive their holiday presents!

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visist our Facebook page.

Via West Thanksgiving Recap

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Via West! We just spent a fantastic holiday weekend at Via West full of football, friends, and food! We went shopping at the Via West Market to select ingredients to make stuffing and pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving feast.

We decorated masks to be sold at this year's Via Ball since the theme is Mardis Gras Masquerade.

 We made journals and photo albums, and we practiced our football skills. We then stuffed all of our Thanksgiving turkeys with our homemade stuffing.

We made vases to use as centerpieces for Thanksgiving, and we put our football skills to good the test with a campus wide scrimmage.

Everyone then dressed up to sit down to our wonderful homemade feast (thanks to Deli Dave and the kitchen staff!), and we shared what we are most thankful for this year. We finished the night off by dancing away all of our calories at the Turkey Trot!

To see more pictures from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

Harry Potter Halloween Recap

Expelliarmus! Our young witches and wizards spent a frightful and fun-filled weekend at the haunted Via West Castle. We competed in a live chess game, brewed potions, hatched dragon eggs, and made magic wands to cast our Halloween spells.

On Saturday, we took a field trip to Giordano Farms where we rode on the train, learned about animals in the petting zoo, and everyone picked the perfect pumpkin to take home.

Back on campus, we played a rousing game of Muggle Quidditch, searched for magical creatures with our Bowtruckle and Niffler treasure hunt, and we used iPads to learn all about Harry Potter and Halloween.

Things got a little bit spooky at the Shrieking Shack haunted house and then everyone boogied on down at the Goblin Gala. To round out the weekend, everyone was able to pose for a picture with Professor Dumbledore!

To see more pictures from the weekend, please visit our Facebook page.

Last Days of Summer Recap

We just kicked off the 2012-2013 weekend season with The Last Days of Summer! We had a blast celebrating the last of the warm weather. We learned how to make seed balls to plant in the ground and we made suncatchers and pinwheels as well. We rooted through the Via West garden and dug up some delicious vegetables that we then cooked for our summer bbq extravaganza!

We splashed around in the pool, learned on iPads, showcased our talent at the talent show, and had a fun-filled dance under the stars. 

We had an epic showdown of men versus women in the Via West baseball game. While the men made an amazing comeback, the defensive skills of the women allowed them to prevail!

To see more photos from this weekend, please visit our Facebook page. To register for a private pay weekend program, please click here.