AGOURA HILLS

Caravans to Chuck E. Cheese planned

Parents won't need to hire baby sitters for certain Fridays. The Agoura Hills Department of Community Services is offering a caravan to Chuck E. Cheese from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 18 and May 2.

The caravan begins at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center at 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd. After Chuck E. Cheese, the children will return to the center to watch a newly released movie on the center's new flat screen television.

The cost for each caravan is $20 per child. For more information, call 818-597-7361.

CALABASAS

Children to read to therapy dogs

Children in kindergarten through third grade can read to a therapy dog at the Calabasas Library, 23975 Park Sorrento St.

The program will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Each child will have 15 minutes to read to a dog. Therapy dogs, trained through Paws4Healing, will listen while the child experiences the joy of reading aloud.

Reservations will begin at 11 a.m. in the library. For more information, call Jill Nevins at 818-225-7616, ext. 2.

CAMARILLO

Baby-sitting clinic offered April 12

Camarillo Health Care District is offering a baby-sitting clinic from 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 12 at 3639 E. Las Posas Road.

This course, designed for ages 11 to 15, will provide instructions concerning the care of infants, toddlers and older children.

Cost is $12 for Camarillo/Somis residents and $14 for out-of-area residents. For more information, or to register, call 388-1952, ext. 100.

Teen improvisation workshops to begin

Straight Up Ventura County is bringing free teen improv workshops to the Teen Center in Camarillo. The first eight-week session starts April 9 and continues from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays through May 28.

The class will include basic improv theater and comedy as well as reality improv and social change theater. Students will have the opportunity to perform in an optional video production and a stage performance.

The free classes are being offered to teens through collaboration between the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo and Straight Up Ventura County. Instructors Jim and Katherine Kasmir have been teaching theater and improv classes for 15 years and perform regularly with the Ventura Improv Company, previously known as Ventura Area TheatreSports and The Livery Theatre.

The Teen Center is in the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo at 1500 Temple St. Space is limited. Register teens 13 to 18 for this free eight-week session by calling 647-4622, or via e-mail to katherine@straightupvc.org.

THOUSAND OAKS

Teen center to offer various workshops

The Thousand Oaks Teen Center plans a number of workshops for those 12 to 17.

The workshops are:

• American Red Cross CPR Training and Certification is set from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12. Cost is $45.

• American Red Cross First Aid Certification is set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 19. Cost is $45.

• Communication and Personal Management Skills is set from 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 22. Cost is $10.

• Digital Photography is set from noon to 2 p.m. May 10 and May 17. Cost is $35.

• Self Defense-Rape Prevention is set from 1 to 2 p.m. May 10. Cost is $10.

The center is at 1375 E. Janss Road. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.thousandoaksteencenter.com. The center's phone number is 494-5156.

VENTURA

Boys & Girls Club to celebrate 70 years

The Boys & Girls Club of Ventura joins more than 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country in celebration of National Boys & Girls Club Week this week. This is also the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura's 70th anniversary of offering programs to the community's youths 6 to 18. These programs fall into five core areas: character and leadership; education and career; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation.

For opportunities to tour a club, volunteer or for information on special events, call 641-5585. The Web site is http://www.bgclubventura.org.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

Students performed at Carnegie Hall

Students from the Westlake High School Instrumental Music Department traveled to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall on March 24.

The performances featured musicians in five instrumental groups: the Percussion Ensemble, the Chamber Orchestra, the Studio I Jazz Ensemble, the Wind Symphony and the Wind Ensemble.

The performances included world premieres of pieces by Matthew McBane, Gordon Goodwin, Jeff Jarvis and Pat Burns.

Johan de Meij, composer and conductor, served as guest conductor for the performance of a new piece, "Canticles." The performance featured Blair Bollinger of the Philadelphia Orchestra on bass trombone.

The concert also featured a performance by Gordon Goodwin, leader of The Big Phat Band and eight-time Grammy nominee.

The Westlake High School Instrumental Music Department is led by Brian Peter, director of instrumental music; Elizabeth Blake, orchestra director; and Mike Gangemi, assistant director of instrumental music.

VENTURA COUNTY

Young Eagles offers free plane rides

The Young Eagles, an Experimental Aircraft Association program designed to introduce youths to aviation, is offering free airplane rides for youths 8 to 18.

Rides will be given from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Camarillo Airport, 501 Airport Drive, Camarillo, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Santa Paula Airport, 822 E. Santa Maria St., Santa Paula.

Flights last 30 to 60 minutes and give kids an opportunity to take the controls and fly the aircraft.

For reservations or information, call 647-6994.