A group of FCC families are taking the first boat over to the hamlet of Two Harbors, and spending a relaxed day hiking around Two Harbors and across the isthmus to the Pacific Ocean side of the island. This isn't Avalon, folks - hiking, birdwatching and maybe some wading on the beach are all that are on the agenda.  No tours, museums, or shopping - just quiet family time on beautiful Catalina.

If you have a bit more time, please join for some stargazing that evening (dark phase of the moon...we should be able to see a lot of stars) before turning in waaay past everyone's regular bedtime.

This will be a potluck dinner with guest speaker Amanda de Lange. Amanda operates Starfish Foster Home in China whose mission is to save the lives of Chinese orphans with special health needs. She has an extensive track record of success with children in China. A teacher by trade, she started Starfish Children's Services and the Starfish Foster Home three years ago to help the orphanages of Shaanxi province.

Don't know what to give grandparents, aunts, uncles and other special people for the holidays?  Bring the kids (ages 4 and up) to an art-making workshop led by professional art instructor Melanie Vogel.  Parents will have an opportunity to order gifts made out of your child's own artwork, and kids will have a great time expressing their creativity!
 
1:00 - 2:15 pm Art Workshop #1 for 4-7 year olds.
2:30 - 4:00 pm Art Workshop #2 for 8 years and up

What are “SoCal Friends” Groups?

SoCal Friends activity and support groups (formerly called “Friends of FCC”) are independently coordinated by FCC members for FCC families to further the mission of the organization, but they are not officially sponsored or insured by FCC-SoCal, nor does FCC-SoCal provide direct oversight of their activities.

As an insured nonprofit corporation, FCC-SoCal has distinct legal and risk management requirements and responsibilities.  As such, its Board of Directors and other key leadership must exercise direct oversight over all sponsored activities to assure compliance and accountability.  While of vital importance, those restrictions necessarily limit the number and types of activities FCC-SoCal may reasonably sponsor.  Indeed, certain activities are expressly excluded by the insurance carriers.

The FCC Board created the “SoCal Friends” designation (originally “Friends of FCC”) to provide member families with greater flexibility and broader opportunities to socialize and support one another in a variety of locales and contexts, outside the sphere of sponsored activities.  FCC-SoCal simply requires that all email groups and announcements for activities contain the “SoCal Friends” designation and the definition/disclaimer set forth above so that there is no confusion regarding FCC sponsorship, insurance or oversight.