The Trail Center is a non-profit volunteer organization that creates and manages a network of trails for San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Francisco counties. Formed in 1983, it does trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration and crew-leader training. There are many ways to volunteer and get involved, as well as ways to enjoy walking, biking and horseback riding along the trails.
The Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is a combination of grasslands and evergreen forest. It offers a lake and numerous trails for hiking, walking and horseback riding; on-leash dog walking is permitted. The preserve has a 275- to 775-foot elevation and is home to bobcats, deer, coyotes and numerous birds.
First Congregational Church Nursery School was established in 1963 in accordance with its mission of serving the community. Today it continues that mission while striving for academic success.
First Congregational Church Nursery School operates September to June and follows the vacation schedule of the Palo Alto Unified School District.
Blossom Birth Services is a community center that conducts seminars and classes to new and would-be parents. The seminars include subjects pertaining to pregnancy and infancy. Call the number provided for more information or to get a schedule.
The Christian Science Reading Room offers a wealth of books, magazines and other materials for all students of Christian Science. The Church also hosts Wednesday evening testimony meetings, in which participants are invited to share testimonies of inspiration and healing gained from their study of Christian Science.
The Palo Alto PTA Council, which meets at the offices of the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD), is responsible for bridging district staff, the Board of Education, community partners and the PTAs of district schools in order to improve the education, health and welfare of children and youth. The group has many unique offerings, including a free clothing program – 'PTA Wardrobe' – for families within the school district, an art speaker series, and an art contest called 'Reflections'. The PTA Council also provides students with community service and athletics opportunities, including lacrosse, soccer and volleyball.
Benetech is dedicated to making the world better through technological innovation. Its Bookshare is the largest digital library on the internet, the company supports human rights groups with improved information technology and its project management tools conserve resources and energy to help improve the environment.
The Provider Connection is run by Palo Alto Community Child Care (PACCC), and offers education and training to teachers, child care providers and parents. The Provider Connection gives permit and licensing assistance, CPR and first-aid training, meetings between child care providers, child care related workshops and information on other professional development programs or getting a college degree. The Provider Connection also offers help for Spanish-speaking clients. The Provider Connection is located within the Ventura Community Center, where the PACCC administrative office is also based.
Palo Alto Mediation provides conflict resolution services to the Palo Alto community. The program has been in existence for 25 years and the team mediates conflicts between neighbors, local businesses, co-workers and other individuals. Trained volunteers offer their services for free and all information shared is confidential. The program operates under the auspices of the City of Palo Alto Human Relations Commission.
Since 1990, the Museum of American Heritage has provided permanent and special exhibitions of 19th and 20th century inventions and technology for no admission charge. The museum debuts a new special exhibit about every four months and group tours are available for a small fee. It also offers lectures and classes in addition to hands-on programs for middle school students.
The EcoCenter is an environmental education center operated by the Environmental Volunteers (EV), an organization dedicated to providing children of all ages with comprehensive and hands-on education about science and the environment.
The EcoCenter serves as the administrative headquarters for EV, where members create and implement various educational programs both on-site and in the community. The EcoCenter is open on Saturdays and admission is free.