Events & Programs

Spanish/English Baby/Toddler & Me Play Group (Multi-Age 0-3)

Bring your little one (ages 0-3 years of age) to this weekly playgroup and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the center, a play space for your infant/toddler and the joy of new relationships with other caregivers.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Always ongoing except for July 5 and August 23, 30. Fall session begins September 6.

Mondays, 10:00-11:30 am

Facilitator: Vivian Carlson

Free drop-in playgroup. Donations welcome.

Drop in Breastfeeding Support Group

What is normal for a breastfeeding baby, mom, family? Bring your questions and get support through the early days of nursing, or just when questions arise. Infant scale available.

Where: Mothers Guild, 4243 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA 93003 [view map]

Date and Time: Mondays, 10:30am-11:45am

Facilitator: Renee Mandala

Cost: Suggested donation $5-$10 dollars.

Toddler Time and Parent Education with Carol and Lena (Ages 20 - 36 months)

Observe and learn from your child’s play among peers and through dialogue with child development specialist Carol Castanon. Carol and Lena will role model support of attachment, autonomy, mastery and problem solving. Snack is provided.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Wednesdays beginning fall, September 22 - December 15, 9:45 - 11:45

Facilitators: Carol Castanon and Lena Nyholm

Cost: $144 ($12 per class). Scholarships and sliding scale available. Pre-registration required: 646-7559

Welcome Every Baby (Ages 0-10 months)

Join other parents as you discover and connect with your baby. This is a weekly group for you and your young baby to receive support, chat with other parents, and explore your role in this new relationship. We will focus on understanding your baby’s rhythm, pace, transitions, and needs and how he or she communicates them. Includes breastfeeding and bottle feeding support.

Guest speakers may include specialists in attachment and calming, infant massage, father attachment, and more.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Tuesdays July 13 - August 3, 1:00-2:00 pm
Wednesdays begining fall, September 15 -November 10.

Facilitator: Renee Mandala, MA CD (DONA) CLC, Certified Doula and Lactation Counselor, and Carol Castanon, Director of NTNC.

Cost: $100 ($10 per class). Pro-rated rolling enrollment available. Scholarships and sliding scale available. Pre-registration required at 646-7559

Exceptional Parenting: Play and support for parents of children living with physical, developmental or special health challenges

Join our morning group for parents of children living with physical or developmental challenges or any other health crisis. This group will offer support to parents as well as play opportunities (with childcare) for children ages 0-3. Parents and caregivers of older children are also invited to participate in this group.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Fridays, June 11- July 16, 10:00-11:30. Fall session is September 3 - October 22.

Facilitator: Kristi Pikiewicz (PhD Candidate) Childcare provided.

Cost: Free. Pre-registration required. Donations appreciated.

Baby Floor Time (Ages 10 - 20 months)

Observe babies as they discover their comfort, pleasure and place of calm. Each week we will discuss what is important to your family at this moment in your baby’s development with a view to supporting adult and baby competence and respect.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Fridays, July 9 - July 30, 1:00 - 2:15 pm. Fall session is September 24 - December 17.

Facilitators: Carol Castanon (NTNC Director) and
Jaymie Arquilevich

Cost: $120 (12 classes). Scholarships and sliding scale available. Pre-registration required:

646-7559

Natural Mothering Group (Ages 0-3)

Natural Mothering Group is a peer-facilitated group of supportive mothers who meet at NTNC on a weekly basis to connect with other moms and moms-to-be. The group nurtures the idea that each mom, when given good support, instinctively and naturally knows what is right for her child.

Pre-registration required. For information call Tiffany Cole at (805) 798-4910 or at Natural Mothering Group site.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Call to Register.

Facilitators: Tiffany Cole, President, Natural Mothering Group

Cost: Free to join group. Donations to NTNC encouraged.

Prenatal Breast Feeding Class: Off to a Good Start

Learn how to reach your breastfeeding goals, to overcome early challenges and enjoy a beautiful nursing relationship with your baby. Also covers pumping, storing, cesarean birth and preparing for returning to work. RSVP to Mothers Guild at (805) 667-2115

Note: THIS CLASS IS ALWAYS PRECEEDED BY
A FREE CLOTH DIAPERING WORKSHOP AT 5:30
Learn how to use and launder cloth diapers; the difference between cloth diaper and cover styles; what to buy and how many; how to deal with common problems from leaks to odors; and how to make it easy for everyone in your family to cloth diaper baby.

Date and Time: Choose one, August 30, September 27 or October 25. 7:00 pm to 9:45 pm

Where: Mothers Guild, 4243 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA 93003 [view map]

Cost: $40 per couple or $35 per person. Scholarships and sliding scale available.

The Mindful Mama

This is a 4-week series of meditation practices for pregnant mothers to use throughout pregnancy, labor, and motherhood. Each week, women will learn a basic meditation practice, each week bridging from the prior week.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: August 5, 12, 19, and 26. 7:00 - 8:30pm

Facilitator: Laurel Connell, MA.

Cost: $80 per person for the 4-week series, sliding scale. Pre-Registration required. Scholarships available.

Process Painting "Playshop" for Parents

This playshop is for expecting parents, new parents, seasoned parents and grandparents. Through art, explore your own story of parenthood and learn to recognize how this plays a role in your daily life.

$5 - $10 participant contribution towards childcare 0-3 yrs of age. Limited scholarships available.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: August 21, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Facilitators: Kimberly Rivers (Doula and Childbirth Mentor) and Laurel Connell, MA

Cost: $65 per person, includes materials. Limited scholarships available.

Infant-Child CPR and First Aid

Participants will receive a certificate for their participation. Lap babies welcome.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date/Time: Early Fall, to be detrmined

Facilitator: Glenda Mahon, EMT-B, AHA RF

Cost: $40 per person.

Pre-registration required at 646-7559 or info@birthresource.org

Childbirth Preparation/Birthing From Within: Week-End Retreat

Take the time to discover what YOU need to know to give birth. Take time to retreat into your Birth Cave.
Connect with your body, your baby and your partner.
At this retreat you will learn, practice and master proven pain coping practices, gain an understanding of how your mind and body work in labor, explore ways to have a holistic and aware birth in any setting, and more!

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: TBD

Facilitators: Kimberly Rivers and Laurel Connell

Cost: $150 per family. Scholarships and sliding scale available.

Register: (805) 727-1393 or e-mail Kimberly Rivers

Sensory Integration Workshop with Judy Freeman

Judy Freeman is a well known occupational therapist who is associated with Easter Seals in Saticoy and has worked with many children in the Ojai Valley. All children and adults have a sensory profile which includes levels of comfort or discomfort with our five senses. Judy will look at eating, bathing, dressing, and other daily activities. This workshop is open to all families and providers.

Where: The Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center,
555 Mahoney Avenue, Room 2, Oak View, CA 93022

Date and Time: Fall date to be arranged

Presented by: Judy Freeman, Occupational Therapist

Cost: Free

Watch this space for more information. Contact: info@birthresource.org or 646-7559