Sports and Fitness Activities
Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA
900 N. Refugio Road , Santa Ynez 805.686.2037
The Stuard C. Gildred Family YMCA serves the entire Santa Ynez Valley with programs for toddlers to seniors. Our new 20,000 square foot facility provides a full range of fitness programs and equipment along with youth sports and skill-development program opportunities for children and youth that develop the spiritual, mental, physical and social lives of all. The YMCA offers a wide variety of programs from aerobics to youth basketball to Y-Indian Guides to a diverse selection of swimming and recreation programs. The Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA continues its long-standing tradition of community development through the building of healthy bodies, strong minds and high self-esteem. Other Programs include:
- After-School Child-Care and Recreation
- Itty Bitty Sports Programs (Soccer, Basketball, Floor Hockey)
- Kenpo Karate
- Youth Sports Camps
- Hoof N’ Boots Camp
Buellton Parks and Recreation
Contact: Kyle Abello 805.688.7529 recreation(at)cityofbuellton(dotted)com
The mission of Buellton Recreation is to create and implement activities, programs, and events that engage people of all ages; enriching lives through recreational pursuits.
Solvang Parks and Recreation 411 2nd Street , Solvang
Contact: Kristen Thomsen 805.688.7529
AYSO – American Youth Soccer Organization
Contact: Beth Morrison DMorrison(at)sbceo(dotted)org
– Local Soccer league for Boys and Girls – Ages 6-14
The AYSO Mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs where everyone builds positive character through participation in a fun, fair, safe, family environment based on the AYSO philosophies.
Jumpmen Youth Basketball
Contact: Jason Eberhardt jason(at)jumpmen(dotted)com
– We are a development basketball program aimed at getting players ready for competitive play and acquiring the skills to play through high school and college.
Santa Ynez Pirate Youth Football League
Contact: Chris Versola 805.570.7860
– Youth Football league for Boys and Girls – Ages 8-14
The SYVYFL is a non-profit, volunteer based organization operated for the benefit of the youth of the Santa Ynez Valley. Our objective is to provide youth, regardless of race, creed, or nation of origin, the opportunity to play football for fun, in a positive and safe environment. We strive to teach each participant the fundamentals of football as well as sportsmanship, teamwork, self discipline, physical fitness, friendship, leadership, and many other important life skills. Above all the safety of each player is our number one priority.
Santa Ynez Valley Pony Baseball League
Contact: Joe McCullum 805.688.5399 mccollum805(at)yahoo(dotted)com
– Baseball league for Boys and Girls – Ages 5-14
The objective of SYVPBL is to instill in youth good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, and courage, so that they develop into good citizens. This objective will be reached by providing a supervised baseball program. While SYVPBL encourages the attainment of exceptional athletic skill and the winning of games, the primary goal is to develop good citizens.
Santa Ynez Valley Girls Softball
Contact: Lisa Melby sbaeza(at)syvgsa(dotted)org
Fastpitch and Slowpitch Softball for Girls Only
Santa Ynez Valley Junior Golf
P.O. Box 1589, Solvang
Contact: Boo Scarpati 805.688.6042
– Golf for Boys and Girls – Ages 7-17
Founded in 1998, Santa Ynez Valley Junior Golf is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide an environment that is fun and enjoyable, challenging juniors to play to the best of their ability, while contributing to the personal development and character of each junior.
Los Olivos Dance Gallery
2948 Nojoqui Ave. #6, Los Oliovs
Contact: Maggie Mesikep 805.686.1627 mesikeps(at)syv(dotted)com
Under the direction of Maggie Mesikep, the Dance Gallery provides dance instruction for ages 4 – Adult. Styles of dance range from ballet, pointe, jazz and hip-hop to tap. The school involves over 350 valley dancers. The Los Olivos Dance Gallery is “Where Students Learn to Love Dance.”
Fossemalle Dance Studios
3595 Numancia Street, Santa Ynez
Contact: Cristine Fossemalle 805.688.8494
Cristine Fossemalle has taught dance in the Santa Ynez Valley for over15 years. She has a studio in Santa Ynez and is the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company. She has studied with many master teachers in France, Canada, and in the U.S. Residing locally, she enjoys teaching children dance and encouraging them to dance to their maximum abilities.
GibsMartialArtsCenter
1988 Old Mission Drive , Solvang
Contact: Gibs 805.693.8882
Blaze Water Polo
– Local Water Polo (Summer Only) for Boys and Girls – Ages 4-16
Blaze is a non-profit, nationally ranked USA Water Polo Club coached by a nationally experienced and professional staff offering teams in Carpinteria, Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley. Whether preparing for national competition or just learning the basics, our goal is to encourage and help your child achieve their goals and potential in a safe, positive and fun environment.
Refugio Junior Lifeguards
– Lifeguard Jr. Program (Summer Only) for Boys and Girls – Ages 8-17
CPR (Adult, Pediatric, Infant), First Aid, Ocean Lifesaving, Resource Stewardship, Kayaking, Surfing, Snorkeling, Volleyball, Body Surfing, Body Boarding, and more.
Clubs and Organizations
Arts Outreach
Contact: 805.688.9533 artsoutreach(at)syv(dotted)com
Arts Outreach has been serving the community and its schools since 1980. Our mission statement is BRINGING ART TO LIFE, AND LIFE TO ART!We are a nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to providing positive art experiences to the students in our local schools as well as the entire community. Working with professional artists, Arts Outreach is also dedicated to the following programs: The Flying Leap Storytelling Festival held each year in February; after school art classes all year; and summertime art classes during the month of July.
4-H
Santa Ynez Valley 4-H (Solvang) www.sy4h.org
Lucky Clover 4-H (Los Olivos) www.luckyclover4-h.org 805.688.4156
4-H has served as a non-formal, off-campus, non-credit, voluntary educational program of the University of California since 1913. There are five separate 4-H units in the Santa Ynez Valley offering learn-by-doing projects, ranging from citizenship and leadership to science and technology projects for Boys and Girls – Ages 5-19
SB Boy Scouts
Contact: 805.967.0105
Encourages youth from ages 6-20 to be resourceful and to help others. Teaches patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues. Emphasis is placed upon the Scouts’ educational program, oaths, promises and codes for character. Over 250 programs available in local neighborhoods. Volunteer opportunities available for adults.
Girl Scouts
Contact: 805.564.4848
Provides a safe, nurturing all-girl environment for girls ages 5-17 to explore their interests, develop their talents and gain important life skills.
Le Studio – Solvang Creativity Center
485 Alisal Road, Suite K2 (upstairs in Frederick’s Court), Solvang
Contact: Elisabeth Galvin 805.688.8440
– Le Studio brings children and adults together to express themselves in paint and ceramics in a bright and lively art center in the heart of Solvang. The studio provides everything that is needed to create a work-of-art, from brushes to books to an on-site kiln. Open Wednesday through Sunday, but please call for more information.
Santa Ynez Valley Bow Club
Contact: Lou Rovtar 805.688.7296 syvbowclub(at)verizon(dotted)net
– The Club was established in 1966 by a handful of pistol enthusiasts and the archery portion was added in 1977. Membership has swelled to over 200 paid subscribers, most of which are Santa Barbara County residents. Members are free to use the ranges at any time that club sponsored functions are not in progress. A 5-week course for young archers is being scheduled at different times throughout the year. The course is open to ages 8-18 years. Please call or e-mail if you have any questions or would like to register for the next course.
United States Pony Club – Santa Ynez Valley
Contact: Laura Healey laura(at)syvponyclub(dotted)com
– Horseback Riding for Boys and Girls – Ages 6-21
Welcome to the Santa Ynez Valley Pony Club. Our pony club is a nationally recognized non-profit teaching organization designed to help our youth learn to ride, are for, and train horses. Our club was recently honored at the national convention in Minnesota for being in its 25th year in Santa Ynez. We are fortunate to have use of the beautiful Shepherd Ranch, complete with dressage and stadium rings and over 40 acres of cross country jumps and riding. The term “pony” reflects the age of the members, rather than the size of the mount. Horses and ponies of many different breeds, shapes, and sizes are seen in Pony Club activities. Programs are offered in dressage, cross-country, show jumping, mounted games, tetrathlon, know-down, vaulting, foxhunting, and polocrosse.
Horseman’s Hangout – Santa Ynez Valley
Contact: Marcia Nelson 805.686.4137 info(at)horsemanshangout(dotted)com
– Horseback Riding and Summer Camp for Boys and Girls – Ages 6-21
We have a private 10 acre home & horse ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley. We have several arenas, jumps, cross country jumps, obstacles and more. All of your favorite lesson horses are happy, thriving and love to see all of you! No matter what discipline of riding or sport you desire, all foundational skills are always taught here.
Here there is a common thread to achieve harmony where respect and love for the horse comes first and foremost.
A positive change in human behavior brings positive changes in equine behavior. Horsemanship and Riding lessons year round for children and adults. We also do summer camps, horse camps, and arts/crafts camps.
Wilderness Youth Project
Contact: Mark Tollefson 805.964.8096 info(at)wyp(dotted)org
Wilderness Youth Project is a community-building 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that inspires and guides youth, adults, and families toward finding, expressing, and manifesting their inherent gifts through mentoring and creative nature experiences. We strive to create a compassionate and loving community through our work, our play, and our existence. All of our adventures are steeped in our unique mentoring culture which employs creative wilderness experience to teach self-reliance, empathy, and caretaking as the building blocks of community. We seek to honor the flow of learning that mimics the natural world and couple that with nurturing the multiple intelligences of the youth in a holistic and playful fashion.
Places to go, Things to see, Memories to Share
CachumaLake
Quicksilver Miniature Horses
Horseback Riding at Rancho Oso
Ostrichland in Buellton
Park Plaza Movie Theaters (5 Screens)
Sunny Fields Kids Playground – Located on Alamo Pintado Road near Ladan Drive
Solvang Skateboard Park – Hans Christian Anderson Park – 633 Chalk Hill Road, Solvang
If you know of any activity that should be included in this list, please e-mail me your info to syvhome(at)yahoo(dotted)com or call me at 805.729.4334.