Enhanced Disneyland CREATE Grants Available for OC Schools

By Betsy Sanchez, Disneyland Resort

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 19, 2011 – Disneyland Resort today began accepting applications from kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in all Orange County school districts for its enhanced Disneyland CREATE (Creative Resources Enabling Arts through Education) Grants program.

Formerly known as Disneyland Resort Enabling Grants, the CREATE program provides classroom teachers with needed funds for projects, programs and materials that directly support student involvement in the visual and performing arts.

Applications are being accepted through Nov. 4 and can be accessed by visiting www.disneyland.com/publicaffairs. The grants, up to $600 for teachers in Orange County and up to $750 for those in Anaheim, will be named by Dec. 1. To date, through its grants programs the Disneyland Resort has contributed more than $1.5 million to arts education. 

"Over the years, Disneyland grants have helped our students develop the capacity to create, perform, and respond with understanding, critical judgment, and appreciation for the arts,” said Phil R. Mortensen, visual and performing arts coordinator for Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District. “We, as teachers and administrators, applaud Disneyland's support and acknowledge that arts' learning has been greatly enhanced through this program.”

An additional $50,000 in funding has been added this year, bringing the total amount available to $125,000. The program also has expanded to all Orange County school districts, a first since the program’s inception in 1994.

Also new this year is the involvement of DonorsChoose.org to facilitate the program. The non-profit organization engages in charitable fundraising and disbursement of monies to public schools. DonorsChoose.org streamlines the granting process by coordinating all aspects of selected requests. This ensures teachers can begin executing their projects immediately.

Source: Disneyland Resort

Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District composed of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 969-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. With 21,000 Cast Members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County’s largest employer and generates $4.7 billion for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 600 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit www.disneyland.com.

Outdoor Luxury at the Westin Monache, Mammoth

Experience the splendor of the wilderness at the only four-diamond resort in Mammoth Lakes, CA. The Westin Monarch Resort, Mammoth, a Starwood Hotel, offers guests the opportunity to enjoy a vacation that takes advantage of the endless outdoor activities nearby and to also slow down and relax in comfort. Read full review...

Al Fresco Dining Beachside at The Deck

A hot new spot for Laguna Beach locals and visitors is The Deck. The open-air bar and restaurant is located steps away from the beach at the Pacific Edge Hotel, a Joie de Vivre Hotel. What was once a deck reserved for weddings and private events has been transformed into a popular eatery for those wanting an ocean view and tasty California cuisine. Whether you're looking to grab a romantic cocktail at sunset or take the family out for a casual meal, The Deck offers something for everyone. Read full article...

Children's Garden Workshops at OC Great Park

The Orange County Great Park will be offering the following FREE Children's Gardening Workshops:

June 12th – Three Sisters Gardening: A Native American Tradition

According to Native American legend, corn, beans, and squash (the food staples of many Native American cultures) are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive when planted together.  Come listen to the legend, absorb the wisdom, and get more connected to the history of our land by designing and starting your own Three Sisters Garden.

August 14th – Good Bugs, Bad Bugs:  Simple Things Kids Can Do To Help Encourage Beneficials and Discourage Destructive Pests In The Garden 

Come and learn about the difference between beneficial and destructive insects and others pest of the garden.  Then make an environmentally friendly snail trap or bird “scare” to take home with you.

September 11th – Stone Soup: The Power of Working Together

Find out about some amazingly tasty “cool season” vegetables that you can grow right here in your own backyard while participating in an interactive re-telling of the classic tale of community, cooperation, and friendship.  Then stay to make paper pots and plant seeds to start your very own Stone Soup Garden.

October 9th – My Pumpkin Is Having A Baby: The Amazing Lifecycle of Plants

Plants have a remarkable lifecycle.  Come and learn more about the parts of a plant and how they sprout, grow, flower, and reproduce.  Before you leave, plant a seed to take home with you and watch it germinate before your very eyes.

November 13th – A Bountiful Harvest:  Orange County Now and Then;  A History of Food and Agriculture In Our Local Community

Come and explore the fruits and vegetables that have been grown locally over the past 2000 years.  Learn what impact our food production has had on the people and landscape of Orange County, and make a seed tape of your favorite local crop to take home and plant in your yard or container. 

December 11th – Rain, Rain, Come Our Way: Where Our Water Comes From and Why It’s So Important To Protect

Water is a gardens most precious resource.  Without it there would be no yummy fruits and vegetables to eat.   Join us to better understand the importance of preserving the quantity and quality of our water, and learn simple ways that kids and adults alike can make a HUGE impact on the future of California’s food and water supplies.

Laguna Beach Edible Garden Tour

Transition Laguna Beach held a successful first annual "Edible Garden Tour" on Sat., May 28. About 100 attendees enjoyed walking or biking to the 10 featured gardens in the Oak Village area of Laguna Beach. See more photos from the event. Don't miss this event next spring!

Tanaka Farms: CSA Fun/Work Day

From Tanaka Farms:

Part of the Tanaka Farms CSA experience is to come out to the farm to see where and how your fruits and vegetables are grown. What better way to do that than to come out to the farm and work a little bit! What do we tell our children? "If you work for it , it means more!"

Tanaka Farms is offering this opportunity only to our CSA subscribers. The work involved this weekend is pretty simple, even for young children. In the strawberry filed we have small baggies filled with dirt (about 3 pounds) that help hold the plastic down in windy conditions. It is time to remove them. They need to be picked up and the dirt emptied into the bottom of the furrow and the dirt spread out with your feet (please....make sure and wear closed toe shoes that you don't mind getting dirty!)

If for some reason we have some really good, fast and efficient workers and all of the baggies are removed, there is a lot of weeding to be done, so you might want to bring gloves!

Of course, hard work needs to be compensated and you will be..... with some of our SWEET, JUICY, DELICIOUS STRAWBERRIES! All you can eat strawberries while you are in the field! You may purchase a basket for $5 from us if you would like to take some home.

We only have the ability to host 60 workers at one time so please click below to register. You are allowed three guests but you must also register them! If you are accepted, please print out your ticket, bring that with you and show it at check in next to the Produce Stand. Please check in fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled work time. The work crew will leave promptly at the scheduled time. Plan on spending about one hour working and eating.

We have two times available. Please click on the preferred date and time to register.

Saturday, May 28, 10:45am to 12:00pm

Sunday, May 29, 10:45am to 12:00pm

Bring your own drinking water. Water is available for sale at the Produce Stand.

Closed toed shoes are mandatory! Gloves and a hat are recommended.

Once again,l we will only be accepting 50 volunteers so click above and register now. You are allowed three guests and you may register them at the same time.

Once registered, please print out your ticket and bring that with you to show upon check in at the Produce Stand.

Tanaka Farms: CSA Fun/Work Day

From Tanaka Farms:

Part of the Tanaka Farms CSA experience is to come out to the farm to see where and how your fruits and vegetables are grown. What better way to do that than to come out to the farm and work a little bit! What do we tell our children? "If you work for it , it means more!"

Tanaka Farms is offering this opportunity only to our CSA subscribers. The work involved this weekend is pretty simple, even for young children. In the strawberry filed we have small baggies filled with dirt (about 3 pounds) that help hold the plastic down in windy conditions. It is time to remove them. They need to be picked up and the dirt emptied into the bottom of the furrow and the dirt spread out with your feet (please....make sure and wear closed toe shoes that you don't mind getting dirty!)

If for some reason we have some really good, fast and efficient workers and all of the baggies are removed, there is a lot of weeding to be done, so you might want to bring gloves!

Of course, hard work needs to be compensated and you will be..... with some of our SWEET, JUICY, DELICIOUS STRAWBERRIES! All you can eat strawberries while you are in the field! You may purchase a basket for $5 from us if you would like to take some home.

We only have the ability to host 60 workers at one time so please click below to register. You are allowed three guests but you must also register them! If you are accepted, please print out your ticket, bring that with you and show it at check in next to the Produce Stand. Please check in fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled work time. The work crew will leave promptly at the scheduled time. Plan on spending about one hour working and eating.

We have two times available. Please click on the preferred date and time to register.

Saturday, May 28, 10:45am to 12:00pm

Sunday, May 29, 10:45am to 12:00pm

Bring your own drinking water. Water is available for sale at the Produce Stand.

Closed toed shoes are mandatory! Gloves and a hat are recommended.

Once again,l we will only be accepting 50 volunteers so click above and register now. You are allowed three guests and you may register them at the same time.

Once registered, please print out your ticket and bring that with you to show upon check in at the Produce Stand.

Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course Welcomes Ten Thousand Bees

By Kurt Bjorkman, General Manager Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course

The Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course is proud to announce the installation of a beehive which will be home to over 40,000 honey bees by summer.

The fully contained hive has been placed near the outer areas of the golf course in an area surrounded by the natural vegetation found on the 90 acre resort.   With an aluminum roof and custom-built stand, the hive is approximately four feet tall by 18 inches wide, and it provides a home and secure landing zone for its docile residents. Bees are essential to the area’s plant and pollination eco-system, and 70 pounds of all-natural, chemical-free raw honey are expected to be generated by the hive, depending upon foraging schedules, weather and nectar flow. This honey will be used by our culinary team at the resort.

“We are very excited to initiate this bee program” states Kurt Bjorkman, General Manager at Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course.  “This is the perfect location for a bee hive program like this.  Not only will the resort benefit from being able to use the fresh organic honey in our kitchen, but this program is also helping increase the bee population which has been quickly declining across the country”.

Andrea (Andy) Wilde, Director of Catering & Conference Services, will be the official Bee Keeper. “I am keenly interested in sustainability within the hotel industry and am thrilled about this program” notes Andy.  “I am looking forward to introducing our new guests to their new home and to start a friendship that will last a very long time”!  Executive Chef Jennifer Ackerson also shares her excitement stating, “I can’t wait to use the honey harvested right from our own grounds in my kitchen”.

Once the hive settles and matures, the team will begin to bring in school groups and other organizations that are interested in sustainability and bees for tours. “”We want to educate our community and guests on how the environment benefits from this program” says Kurt.

The resort has also introduced a new guest room amenity program in partnership with Gilchrist & Soames called BeeKind.  The BeeKind™ Collection will feature Gilchrist & Soames’ Signature formulations, which contain no parabens, phthalates, petrol-derived ingredients, mineral oil, urea, DEA, TEA or propylene glycol.  The products will contain food-grade, naturally derived USP glycerin; natural conditioning agents from honey and the Brassica plant; and soybean and cottonseed oil, instead of petrochemicals. The BeeKind formulations are also free of any artificial colors or dyes.

Along with the eco-friendly packaging and formulas, the company is supporting honey bee and sustainable pollination research at the University of California at Davis Entomology Department.