PROGRAM REGISTRATION: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and pick up your arrival packet which we'll review during the orientation session before dinner.
ORIENTATION: We'll have an overview of the program ahead and review the up-to-date schedule, responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, any other administrative issues, and answer your questions. Please be aware that local circumstances may require adjusting the program elements. In the event of changes, we will notify you as quickly as possible.
We anticipate an exciting week featuring Ventura County agriculture and food. During the week we will visit traditional and organic farmers in the orchards and fields, tour a packing house and insectary, and participate in a National Food Share project.
Below is a TENTATIVE schedule of activities and field trip destinations. The final schedule will be in your registration packet and be determined by the availability of our agricultural contacts.
We appreciate your understanding. Dinner: Dinner at hotel
Menus are contracted for the program and are designed to offer balanced, healthy meals for the participants.Evening: CROSSING POINTS: Participants introduce themselves to the rest of the group.Lodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Dinner
Afterwards, visit Mission Produce's highly efficient avocado packing facility where one can watch the entire process from hydro-cooling and washing to the grading and packaging of avocados. Even though California grows avocados year round, Mission Produce is unable to keep up with the ever-growing demand for avocados, so they import avocados from Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and South Africa.Lunch: Enjoy a delicious lunch at Sugar Beets Restaurant, featuring local produce and a cooking demonstation.Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Red wine tasting at Rancho Ventavo Cellars in Heritage SquareDinner: Dinner at hotelEvening: CLASS: The History of Agriculture in Ventura County
This absorbing presentation includes biographical histories of some of Oxnard's early farming families.Lodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit with local owners in their strawberry fields and taste freshly picked berries.
FIELD TRIP: Organic Farm
Meet local farmer, Phil McGrath, and join him for a guided walk of his family-owned organic farm.Lunch: Lunch at local restaurantAfternoon: FIELD TRIP AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE: FOOD Share
Discover more about FOOD Share and a related work project through a guided walk of its facility. FOOD Share is a food bank that houses and distributes millions of pounds of food per year to the hungry of Ventura County. Dinner: Dinner at hotel.
As part of our dinner, the Crowne Plaza Culinary Staff will prepare and demonstrate a dessert for our group.Evening: DVD: Home Grow'n: Smart Growth or Sprawl
This 45-minute movie explores local efforts to stem suburban sprawl by shielding canyons, hillsides and other unspoiled land from development.Lodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In a guided walk of Associates Insectary, learn about a variety of beneficial organisms that they raise to help grower-members fight destructive pests which threaten local citrus and avocado crops.Lunch: Lunch at local restaurantAfternoon: FIELD TRIP: View agricultural exhibits at Museum of Ventura County/Agriculture MuseumLodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
The group travels to Ojai for a guided walk of Churchill Orchard in the beautiful East End of the Ojai Valley. The Churchill Orchard grows about 12 acres of several varieties of tangerines--including Pixie tangerines, Page tangors, Seedless Kishu mandarins, Owari Satsuma mandarins as well as a few others. Walk through the orchard with Jim Churchill and enjoy the sweet taste of freshly picked tangerines.Lunch: Lunch in Ojai Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Olive Oil and Winery
Enjoy a guided walk through Omaggio Farm's olive orchard and sample their estate extra virgin olive oils in the pressing room.. Dinner: Wine and Food Pairing Dinner
As part of our final dinner, the Crowne Plaza Culinary Staff will prepare and demonstrate a dessert for the groupLodging: Crowne Plaza Ventura BeachMeals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
HOTEL CHECK OUT: This concludes the program. We hope you have enjoyed our Ventura County Agricultural program and will join us for other rewarding adventure in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys.Meals Included: Breakfast
Ventura, CA 93001
(805) 653-0323
One of the museum's permanent exhibits explores the community's past from the Chumash era through the 21st century. It consists of a fascinating collection of artifacts and displays focusing on Native Americans, Spanish and Mexican pioneers, and European and Yankee settlers. Especially notable are the George Stuart Historical figures, which are intricately carved figures from history that are dressed in elaborate period costume.For additional information, visit: www.venturamuseum.org
(805) 643-4318
Mission San Buenaventura was founded in 1782. It is the ninth of California's 21 missions and the last to be established by Father Serra. Visitors will discover a small museum with mission artifacts such as Chumash basketry, a quiet courtyard, and 250 year-old paintings of the Stations of the Cross.For additional information, visit: www.sanbuenaventuramission.org
(805) 648-2075 or (800) 333-2989
Ventura offers a variety of recreational opportunities such as beach walks, biking and hiking trails, bird watching, camping, golf, sport fishing, water activities and whale watching. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is situated next to the beach and an oceanside boardwalk that stretches for many miles. Some trail heads are within walking distance of the hotel.For additional information, visit: www.ventura-usa.com