Xtra Programs - 2025
New Experiences New Opportunities
* * For All Students Valley Wide * *
Programs Held At Nordhoff School In Classroom C-7
(unless otherwise indicated)
Raptors - Birds of Prey
Each semester, students will participate in a one day a week for 5 weeks program working closely with the Ojai Raptor Center experts learning about these fascinating birds of prey.
FREE
Wednesdays - 3:45
October 1 - November 1​​​
Nordhoff Classroom C-7
INTRODUCTION TO FLYING
Start learning the basics of flying an airplane from a professional flight instructor. This one week introductory program will be done in the C-7 classroom and will be taught using a flight simulator. ​​​
Your flight instructor:
Hi, I’m Ava.
I’m a first generation, 21 year old Flight Instructor based in San Diego! I grew up in Ojai and attended Nordhoff High School. I started my flying journey at 13 flying gliders, and fell in love with aviation. Once I build up my hours, it’s my dream to fly private jets and travel around the world.
​
One Full Week -
Monday, September 22 - Friday, September 26
Classroom C-7 3:30 - 5:15
​
Register For Classes < Free>
​​
LOUD - School of Rock Music Program
LOUD Music Program is an international music program, offering high-quality music education to young people. Students form a group/band, pick a band name, create a logo, rehearse under teacher guidance, record if possible, do small local performances, and end the year with a showcase concert.
​
No experience necessary!!
​
Fridays at 2:00 in C-7
INTRO TO COOKING
Learn the basics of cooking. No previous experience required. Just need the desire to learn how to make food taste good in the kitchen. Taught by famed local Ojai chef Sandra.
​
Mondays - September 9, 16, 23, 30
Classroom C-8 3:30 - 5:00
​
​
< Free>
​
Designing Your Dream Car
Spend two special sessions each semester with a professional car designer getting a chance to try your creative skills designing your own dream car!
​
Fall 2025 Register For Classes < Free >
FIELD TRIP - HOSTED BY SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM
Marine Biologists from the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum will be leading a special field trip for Ojai students to Santa Cruz Island to study the island's unique habitat.
​
Saturday, October 25
​
8:00am - 4:30pm
​​
Leadership Program (High School Grades)
Spring 2026
Held annually every year, Leadership Program students are invited to attend 6 special sessions hosted by organizations located in Ojai. Students spend time with the organization’s leader and become involved in activities learning about the organization’s mission. Students get to spend time learning how the organization’s leader defines and accomplishes their goals.
Outdoor Education Program
provided by Thrive Wellness
(7th & 8th Grades)
Youth Camping Retreat- Channel Islands National Park
Sun, Oct 12
|
Ventura
An unforgettable overnight adventure for girls 11–14! We’ll boat to Santa Cruz Island to camp, hike, journal, and connect through group circles and nature-based wellness activities. Sunday-Monday due to Indigenous People's/Columbus Holiday $200 Early Bird by 9.19.25 | $235
Deadline 10.1.25
​
​​
​
RUN WILD - Trail Running Club
provided by Thrive Wellness
Run Wild: Trailblazer Group
(Ages 7–12 Beginner–Intermediate)
​
Begins Wed, Sep 24
​
Trailheads in and around Ojai, Ca
Trailblazer is our beginner-to-intermediate youth trail running group (for ages ~7–12), designed to spark confidence, connection, personal growth and physical challenge through fun, nature-based endurance building. Wednesdays 4:30–6 PM Fall 2025: Sept 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
$180
​
Register HERE​​​
Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebration
Monday, January 19, 2026, at 10:00 A.M.
We are so grateful for the awesome job done each year by the youth committee celebrating MLK Jr. Day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings and accomplishments.!
The ceremonies take place at the Fountain Plaza in Libbey Park beginning at 10:00 A.M.
CHESS In Libbey Park
Hosted by Surya
9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
3rd Saturday of every month
OJAI DAY MANDALA PROJECT
Come learn how to be a member of the Ojai Day Mandala team! Learn all about the making of the Ojai Day Mandala with River Sauvageau. We will start with ODM history and making personal mandalas and go on to making group mandalas.
We will explore how to bring meaning to designing, the simple math of enlarging a design and techniques and strategies for the layout of the ODM, the largest piece of public art in Ojai.
​
Sign up to be part of the team
Fall 2025
​
Register Here < Free>
​
Environmental Programs
​
Green Valley Project Organization
​
Whether it's planting trees, removing invasive species, restoring damaged meadow or forest habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, or creeks for fish and turtles.
​
Contact: Green Valley Project
​​​
CASITAS ROWING PROGRAM
Fall Program Begins September
Casitas Rowing is an educational program with instruction and training of jr high and high school students in the sport of rowing on Lake Casitas. Their purpose is to promote a lifetime appreciation of fitness, and environmental awareness and in particular, positive and wholesome development of our Ojai youth. For more information, contact Wendy Gillett at Casitas Rowing: wendy@casitasrowing.org
“I loved the field trips. The museums were so inspiring. On one trip, the ropes course was terrifying, but I completed it. I was so proud of myself.”
​
- Destiny
