kids

Aptos Little League: Life Lessons

March 19, 2017 by Seb Frey

Little League Baseball

Yesterday was opening date for Aptos Little League. I can’t believe it, but I am now in my fifth year of being a Little League parent. We started our oldest son Aiden with T-Ball when he wasn’t quite yet four years old. Our youngest son Evan started when he was four, and now he’s in his second season, still in T-Ball. Aiden is now in AA, and it’s starting to get real.

All these years, I’ve been an assistant coach on the teams Aiden has been on. It’s a little ironic, because I’ll be the first to tell anyone that I know diddly-squat about baseball. Oh, I know the basics – three strikes and you’re out, nine innings, yadda yadda. But when it comes to the mechanics of playing baseball – how to throw a ball, catch, hit – I’m pretty clueless. I can do all those things to some degree, but I was never in Little League. The finer points were never taught in my PE classes in school.

When the kids are really little, coaching didn’t involve a lot of those fine points. Mostly, it was me telling them not to eat the sand and play tag in the outfield. Now that we’re in AA, it’s starting to get serious, which is why this year on Aiden’s team, I’m now a bench coach. Is that even a real thing? I just googled it, and it turns out, it is – but I’m no second in command. My job is to keep the kids focused on the game when they’re seated on the bench, waiting for their turn at bat. There’s not too many fine points with that job, so I can handle it pretty well.

My kids don’t have the advantage of a dad who’s super into baseball. Yes, I play catch with them and pitch balls for them to hit now and again, but not as much as I should. Throwing, catching, batting – they’ve learned almost all of it at Little League practice and games.

It's opening day, and a Royals-Blue Jays love fest. #aptos #littleleague #bluejays #royals

A post shared by Sebastian Frey (@sebfrey) on Mar 18, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

And it is amazing to watch their progress. Neither of them came to Little League with a love of the game. We’ve been to AT&T Park a few times to watch the Giants play, and they’ve had fun – running around, eating ice cream and hot dogs and soaking up the energy – but they weren’t exactly intently focused on the game. Yet, there at Little League, you can see their skills mature, their confidence increase, and their enthusiasm grow with each day on the field. They’re learning about the value of practice, persistence, and teamwork – and it is a joy to behold.

But there’s more to it than joy. It’s a strong reminder to me that we can all get better at anything – with grit, determination, repetition. Whether it’s being a parent, Real estate broker, or Guardian in the Crucible, practice makes perfect. Or at least makes it better.

I’m really thankful to Little League for helping my kids with this important life lesson – and of course, also to the other parents and players who really enrich the sport and show what makes our such a special community.

Learning to Surf

June 22, 2016 by Seb Frey

Ahh, summertime! Last year I wrote about how we registered our son for Capitola Junior Guards. That was the last year, it seems, when folks had to get up at o’dark:30 to wait in line to make sure they got the session they wanted (now it’s all done online, boo hoo!).

He is now in his second year of Guards, and so he’s spending hours every day at the beach. We got him one of those $100 foam surfboards from Amazon for his birthday, and now, he’s learning how to surf with it! Check out this video:

Aiden is learning to surf! This is from his first day of surf lessons, and this particular clip is like the 5th or 6th time he got up. I’m a proud papa! #kids #surfing #capitola

A video posted by Sebastian Frey (@sebfrey) on Jun 22, 2016 at 7:31am PDT

This is Our Community

I don’t know how to surf – I tried it once, decades ago, and it seemed too much like work. But I’m proud of my boy, and it brings me incredible joy to watch him learn, and see how much fun he’s having.

What’s also cool to me is that when I tell people, “Hey, my kid just stood up on a surf board for the first time the other day!” I get really warm congratulations from them. Around here, it’s like a rite of passage, and folks are genuinely stoked to hear that Aiden is on his way becoming a surfer.

Of course, it takes a village. Since I myself don’t know how to surf, we asked the son of a friend of ours – who I met, years ago, when I helped them buy a house in La Selva Beach – if he could given Aiden a few lessons.

Their son is himself a Junior Guard, and an amazing kid and incredible role model for our boy. Thank you guys so much for being part of our lives! We are all very grateful for your support. 🙂

Capitola Junior Guards Registration

April 16, 2015 by Seb Frey

I’m a morning person – I’m usually up by 5 or 5:30 AM, sometimes even a bit earlier than that…and I don’t have to set an alarm to do it. But on Monday this week, I actually did set my alarm for 4:00 AM so I could get in line for the Capitola Junior Guards Registration at the Capitola Recreation office at Jade Street Park.

In case you haven’t heard, the Capitola Junior Guards is a program that gives instruction in the fundamentals of ocean water safety, first aid, lifesaving, fitness, and good sportsmanship. The program features open water swimming, paddle boarding, body surfing, surfing, mock rescues, beach & water games, calisthenics and work-outs. There are two sessions each summer, each lasting about a month, with classes every day, Monday through Friday.

Photo Gallery – Capitola Junior Guards Registration

When my alarm went off that morning, I tumbled out of bed and into my clothes, grabbed my keys and a light jacket, and headed out the door. I didn’t know what to expect – I figured I’d probably be one of a handful of people there when I showed up around 4:20 AM.

Imagine my surprise when I got there and found that I was already the 16th person in line at that time. Three people had actually spent the night, to make sure they got into the session they wanted to. It was fun to see that a half dozen friends of mine were already in line, too.

It turns out, that was no coincidence – my wife had talked with a bunch of other moms and they’d decided they wanted our kids to be in the afternoon “class” in the first session. There was some drama, though: there was a notice on the glass door of the Recreation office indicating that only ten spots were available for the class that we wanted.

Video – Capitola Junior Guards Registration Line

Almost everyone in line had a six year old kid, like my son, and they all wanted the first session afternoon class as well. There are two classes per age group per session, and the morning class was full even before registration day. This is because slots are given automatically (to those who want them) to children of families who have previously been registered for the Junior Guards.

As the hours wore by, the line got longer – a lot longer. Around 6:30 AM or so, someone from the Capitola Junior Lifeguards Parents Club brought over some great Peet’s coffee – that was a nice surprise! A little before 8:30 AM (when the Recreation office opened), someone came out and put numbered stickers on everyone, which identified their place in the queue. I’d say there were close to 150 people who got a numbered sticker before the doors even opened. Happily, it turned out that they had mis-counted the number of available slots; 15 were available for the class my friends and I had wanted, and I was able to register my son successfully.

I have lived in Santa Cruz for over twenty years now, and I’ve been aware of the Junior Guards for much of that time. It’s a local institution, and you could really feel the sense of community which was I think shared by everyone standing in that line with me. I’m so happy that our son Aiden will get to be in a class with so many of his friends. Technically he won’t be a Junior Guard – he’ll be a Little Guard, which are kids aged 6 through 8. I’m looking forward to seeing him progress and grow over the years with the Capitola Junior Guards.

Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery Grand Opening

November 19, 2014 by Seb Frey

I attended the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on November 15 2014. I shot some video of both the ribbon cutting and a variety of the exhibits…which you could hardly see, because there were so many people there. In fact, they counted over 2,000 people through the doors on launch day!

Here on this page you will find two separate videos – the first is sort of a montage of the opening day, taking you on a tour of the museum as it was on launch day.

Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery Opening Day Montage

The second video is the ribbon cutting ceremony, with remarks from Patrice Keet, the museum’s founder, as well as Sam Storey, the Mayor of Capitola.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The museum is off to a great start, and it has already become the new hot spot in town for kid’s birthday parties, with dozens already scheduled within the next several months. Hundreds of people have now also purchased memberships to the museum as well.

Even though the museum is off to an amazing start, it’s still very much version 1.0. The museum is in need of donations: cash, materials for new exhibits, and skilled help to run and augment the museum. I you can volunteer money, equipment, or skills, please get in touch with the museum staff to let them know what you can offer.

Mar Vista Read-a-Thon 2014

September 12, 2014 by Seb Frey

Mar Vista Elementary School is having its first-ever Read-a-Thon this year! This is a new fundraising initiative being organized by the Mar Vista Parent’s Club (the Mar Vista version of a PTA). Funds raised from the Read-a-Thon will go in large part to the Mar Vista Elementary library, which suffers from limited and outdated reading materials for Mar Vista students. The Read-a-Thon will run from November 3rd through the 14th.

As California seeks to reverse years of declines in academic performance, it has adopted the Common Core curriculum. With Common Core, academic basics such as reading and math are heavily emphasized. Mar Vista Elementary is a California Distinguished School, and aims to stay that way. It is hoped that by further encouraging students to read, academic performance will be further enhanced.

The Mar Vista Parents club is seeking local businesses who are willing to sponsor classrooms for $250 each – approximately $1 per student per day of the Read-a-Thon. Sponsoring businesses will receive:

Thanks on the Mar Vista Parent’s Club Facebook page
Logo placement on one flyer thanking everyone involved with the Read-A-Thon
Logo placement and thanks in an all-school email blast
Invitation to meet and greet with sponsored class
Placement on a banner outside the school thanking them for participation

In addition, the Mar Vista Parent’s Club is seeking “community readers” – members of the community who can come in to the school and read with the children, and perhaps spend some time talking with them about the reading material. The children would be thrilled to read with fire fighters, paramedics, life guards, law enforcement, doctors, lawyers – anyone with a good story to share and discuss!

If you have a local business and are interested in sponsoring the Read-a-Thon, or if you have a suggestion for someone who would be a good guest “community reader,” please contact Sebastian Frey via phone at (831) 704-6873.

Read-a-Thon Logo

First Day Back to School in Aptos

August 18, 2014 by Seb Frey

Today was the first day back to school for many Aptos students. For some – like my son Aiden – it was their first day of school ever. Sure, most of the kindergartners (Aiden included) had been to preschool…but today was their first “real” day of school. For me, it was the first day that I’d sent any kid to school – it was a milestone for both of us.

As with many milestones I suppose, this one is bittersweet…for me, anyway. I can’t believe that almost five and a half years have gone by since Aiden was born in dramatic fashion at Sutter Maternity Center. He and I have done so much living since then – him more than me, I think, but watching him grow has enriched my life immeasurably. As much as I’ve cherished his early years, time marches on. We can’t go backward, or stand still: our only option is to move on, and savor every moment.

My parents came down from their home in Berkeley to see their grandson off. We all walked from our house, just a couple of blocks away, over to Mar Vista Elementary. As it happens, my parents had also dropped their first child off at Mar Vista Elementary some 42 years ago, when the school was practically brand new. My dad commented that it looked pretty much the same as it did back then…although I imagine the paint wasn’t so badly flaking in the early 70’s like it is today.

Some three and a half hours after we dropped him off, school was over. My son reported that it was “awesome” but yet, also “boring.” It seems that they didn’t let him play like they did in preschool. He said they spent a lot of time reading books and working with “pattern blocks” – whatever those are. He says he’s looking forward to going back tomorrow, though – so that’s a good thing!

One of the hallmarks of Mar Vista – and all Aptos schools, I’m told – is that parents are really involved with the school. I want to do my part, too, which is why I myself am a member of the Mar Vista Parent’s Club – our version of the PTA. I’m really looking forward to helping to make our children’s Aptos school experience be the best it can be.

Relay for Life Runs July 12-13

July 8, 2014 by Seb Frey

Relay for Life Runs July 12-13 at Cabrillo College, and is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The relay starts on Saturday, July 12 at 10 AM with an opening ceremony and a Survivor Lap. There will be live entertainment throughout the day, including a Kid’s Camp with a bounce house, carnival-style games, and food booths. Come nightfall, those touched by and taken by cancer will be honored and remembered during the Luminaria Ceremony.

Relay for Life provides a way to honor cancer survivors as well as educate people on how they can reduce their cancer risk. The money raised by the Relay will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Those interested in participating in the Relay can start a team, join a team, or walk the Survivor Lap.