Join with your FCC SoCal friends and family for a weekend of fun in the outdoors. We have several adjacent sites reserved at the Live Oak campground in Caspers Wilderness Park for the weekend of Nov. 7-9. The campground can accommodate most tents, trailers and motor homes (no hookups though) and we have members of FCC with gear to share if you are new to camping.

In recognition of the full moon, we will have a (slightly late) mini Moon Festival around the campfire on Saturday night. There are trails to hike, a visitor center to explore, and a play structure for the little ones. The FCC camp leaders will bravely make scrambled eggs in the morning and burgers on Saturday night, with the rest of the meals potluck.

Everyone (from all regions) is welcome; however, space is limited. Cost is $15 per person, ages 5+, 4 and under are free. For more information and to RSVP, please email: [email protected].  Don’t be shy if you have not been camping before – your FCC SoCal friends can help you through!

The Chinese Cultural Dance Club at UCLA (CCDC) is expanding its Junior Dance Program and its Big & Lil Sisters Program and invites FCC families to participate in a variety of ways.  The program is geared for children/youth (girls & boys) who are entering 1st grade through 12th grade (generally ages 7 to 18).  Interested youth who are entering 7th through 12th grade may audition to participate in a dance with the college students.

Dance Program:  First, the elementary program (for 1st through 6th graders) is at capacity; however, there are a limited number of dance positions open for new dancers in 7th through 12th grade (by audition on October 19 and 20).  Sorry for the short notice, this is a late development.  Contact CCDC Junior Dance Parent Coordinator Jeri Okamoto Floyd [email protected] for audition information and/or if you would like to be on the waiting list for 2014-2015 (2nd through 12th graders).

Social/Cultural Program:  Second, throughout the year, CCDC Big & Lil Sisters will be hosting a variety of social/cultural events open to the Junior Dancers and other FCC kids (this is separate from the Dance classes and performance).  This isn't as formal as the China Care Buddy Program.  If you wish to be on the contact list, please email Jeri (see above).

The Chinese Cultural Dance Club has performed and taught at the FCC-SoCal Heritage Celebrations and several of our children have participated in the program for many years.  Read more about the Club, see photos of rehearsals and learn about the history of the Junior Dance Program in the Spring 2011 CCDC Newsletter available on the CCDC website: http://bit.ly/QesfEm

Click through for full information.

The Chinese Cultural Dance Club at UCLA (CCDC) is expanding its Junior Dance Program and has a limited number of positions open for new dancers.  A flyer is attached, along with a PDF/Word document containing detailed information about the requirements for participation and the application/audition process.  Note that the program is open to children/youth (girls & boys) ages 8 to 17 (as of October 1). Interested youth who are age 13 and older may also apply and audition to participate in a dance with the college students. If you have any difficulty opening the attachments, please contact CCDC Junior Dance Parent Coordinator Jeri Floyd [email protected] and she will do her best to provide the information in another format.

Applications are due September 23, 2011.

Several of our children have participated in the program for many years -- read more about the Club, see photos of rehearsals and learn about the history of the Junior Dance Program in the Spring 2011 CCDC Newsletter (page 7), which is available on the CCDC website.

Come see CCDC members perform at the upcoming FCC-SoCal Heritage Day event.

Click through for the full post and attachments.

FCC-SoCal member Linda Goldstein Knowlton's documentary film "Somewhere Between" will be screening in competition at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.  (Congratulations Linda!)

Click through for full details -- please note Linda advises that this film is NOT RECOMMENDED for children under the age of 14 due to the emotional content.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, May 31st.  You're getting an early heads up. Buy Tickets Here

Screening dates:
Sat. Jun 18, 3:10pm, Regal Cinemas/LA LIVE
Tue. Jun 21, 7:30pm, Regal Cinemas/LA LIVE
Wed. Jun 22, 4:30pm, Regal Cinemas/LA LIVE

The Regal Cinemas/LA Live are downtown by the Nokia/Staples Center Complex.

Somewhere Between tells the intimate stories of four teenaged girls. They live in different parts of the US, in different kinds of families and are united by one thing: all four were adopted from China, because all four had birth parents who could not keep them, due to personal circumstances colliding with China's 'One Child Policy'. These strong young women allow us to grasp what it is like to come-of-age in today's America as trans-racial adoptees. At the same time, we see them as typical American teenagers doing what teenagers everywhere do…struggling to make sense of their lives.

Sunday August 22 was a picture perfect summer day, much to the delight of the FCC families and friends gathered at Crystal Cove State Beach.  Around 20 families, or 60 individuals, turned out for the event, which was expertly organized and executed by Sandy Draper and husband Joel Warner (who lugged a ton of stuff down the steep path).  Many thanks to both!

Our group congregated around an extra large shade canopy sheltering cold drinks and a variety of snacks, even watermelon!  Each family brought their own lunch and beach gear.  There was no shortage of sand toys, and a few of the older kids braved the chilly ocean water on boogie boards.  Some folks took a short walk to check out the tide pools.  All the girls (and even a few boys) had hours of endless play in the sand and the waves, and all the parents enjoyed visiting.  A wonderful time was had by all!

Check out our gallery of Beach Day photos. Our thanks to Ann Marie Rousseau and Patty Uy for contributing the photos.

The family self defense workshop held Saturday May 15 was a great success!  About twenty kids with one or two parents per family turned out for the session. The age range of the kids was from three and a half to ten, with the majority five to seven years old.

Instructor and FCC Mom Laura Hesser did an excellent job. She made it fun for the kids all the while they were learning important information and skills.  Laura's set-up was perfect with the parents sitting in the background and the kids sitting up front around her, which resulted in the session being interactive for the kids, both discussion-wise and physically.  Laura was able to tailor the session to the age range that attended so there was high participation and the kids seemed to get the messages.  The session was relevant and a fun opportunity for the families to get to know each other better.  All in all a wonderful event!

FCC-SoCal had a stellar turnout for the “Friends of FCC” activity to march in the Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday, February 20 in Chinatown! We more than doubled our participation from last year, with over 50 parents, children, and friends. 

Despite the threat of weather challenges (this was during the peak of the rainy season!), we had a nice, sunny day!  Click through to the full post to see additional photos of the memorable event.