This is a special section devoted to the children of Canyon Acres, their family members, and interested friends.
The children at The Ranch, Palo Alto and Jacqui's House have so much going on day-to-day, and we would like to share parts of their lives with all of you. Many caring and concerned people work very hard to bring joy to their lives. Some of the groups involved with the children are:
The "Cookie Moms" - These warm-hearted women come to the Ranch twice each month to enlist the children in each house in working together to bake some sort of delicious treat. Each child contributes something special to the baking process, making the final product all the more sweet. We are all looking forward to our next "Friendship" dinners, too. These activities warm our hearts as much as fill our tummies.
Caring Canines and PAWS - These two groups come to the Ranch monthly to bring therapeutic pets to visit the children. These four-legged friends bring out our children's best smiles!
The Junior League of OrangeCounty - This wonderful group of women has sponsored Jacqui's House and Palo Alto for the past two years. They take the children on monthly outings to such places as Disneyland and theatrical events. Their enthusiasm and excitement toward spending time with the children really lights up the children's faces.
Individual Mentors - Many of our children have special mentors who volunteer to be a part of their daily lives. MarinersChurch has a specialized mentor training program which provides the children with a well-matched volunteer who spends valuable one-on-one time with them. Many Canyon Acres staff also volunteer to mentor one of the children after they leave Canyon Acres or while working in a different area of Canyon Acres. The staff at Canyon Acres care deeply about the children, and for many of the staff, being there for these boys and girls is more than just a job.
Summer Fun! - The children at the Ranch, Palo Alto, and Jacqui's House had a very eventful summer. The children and their child care staff went on many outings, including Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Ringling Brothers Circus, Long Beach Aquarium and Sea World. Many children went to summer camps this year designed especially for children in the foster care system.
Summer Swim Lessons! - The Yorba Linda/Placentia YMCA really jumped in this summer and provided a summer full of swim lessons at The Ranch. How rewarding to see the accomplished swimmers at the end of the season!
Fall Activities - Halloween is always a special occasion at The Ranch - complete with a parade, awards ceremony, games and trick-or-treating. Wonderful volunteers provide costumes, party favors and more. Thanksgiving is celebrated through the wonderful generosity of volunteers who ensure that the children receive a complete, traditional Thanksgiving meal! Christmas is celebrated with a number of special volunteer events, from carolers to tree trimmers. You can bet that again this year the main office will be magically transformed into a Santa's Workshop as dozens of generous community members drop off gifts for the children. And what would Christmas be without a special dinner for all of the children hosted by FOCAS (Friends of Canyon Acres) - complete with program and a surprise visit by "you-know-who"? For anyone who's wondering...yes, his beard is the real deal!
Thank you for taking the time to read about all of our activities! It means so much to have you be a part of our children's lives. They need each and every one of us.
