Kid activities in Rancho Santa Margarita (Irvine, Orange: rent, theater, YMCA)

[MQHP40]

I am considering a relocation to RSM w/ my 2 kids, ages 9 & 6 (I'm a single mom).

My kids are into boy scouts & girl scouts & gymnastics. Both also take piano lessons.

Just wondering how the local scouting programs are and the quality of the YMCA Youth Lounge, rec programs through the Bell Tower community center. Looking at the computer all seem really awesome.

Also, where would my kids take gymnastics?

And, finally, what about a local library? We are voracious readers and enjoy many of the great programs our local library has to offer. Is there a great library nearby?

Thanks!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MQHP40

I am considering a relocation to RSM w/ my 2 kids, ages 9 & 6 (I'm a single mom).

My kids are into boy scouts & girl scouts & gymnastics. Both also take piano lessons.

Just wondering how the local scouting programs are and the quality of the YMCA Youth Lounge, rec programs through the Bell Tower community center. Looking at the computer all seem really awesome.

Also, where would my kids take gymnastics?

And, finally, what about a local library? We are voracious readers and enjoy many of the great programs our local library has to offer. Is there a great library nearby?

Thanks!

There are several places for gymnastics. My 7 and 9 year olds go to CalEliteKids.com but there are others (We also have a 3 year old that does swim lessons at cal elite so we kill three birds with one stone on Saturday mornings.)

Orange County Library has branches all over the county include RSM
Library Locator - Orange County California


Here are the activities at the RSM library
http://web.ocpl.org/events/?b=Rancho...ta%20Margarita


Mission Viejo has it's own library but I like library systems with lots of branches because it is really like one super library as you can request items from other branches be delivered to your local branch.

[cabolissa]

Originally Posted by Charles

There are several places for gymnastics. My 7 and 9 year olds go to CalEliteKids.com but there are others (We also have a 3 year old that does swim lessons at cal elite so we kill three birds with one stone on Saturday mornings.)

Orange County Library has branches all over the county include RSM
Library Locator - Orange County California


Here are the activities at the RSM library
Orange County California - OC Public Libraries - Events - Rancho Santa Margarita


Mission Viejo has it's own library but I like library systems with lots of branches because it is really like one super library as you can request items from other branches be delivered to your local branch.

Great info here... My daughter has done gymnastics for 7 years at Cal Elite, and now does tumbling/cheer. She's just landed her 1st job there (when she turns 15 in a month) as a jr. coach and she's so excited!

My 3 year old son takes their tumblebees class and loves it!

They also have "open gym" on Friday and Saturday nights that is open to the public from 5:30-8:30 and it's a great way for them to get their wiggles out and mom to relax, guilt free (another single mom speaking here)...

Can't speak for the scouting, but it's very active here. Lots of troops to choose from.

YMCA drop in center at Belltower is fine, minimal supervision, no real homework help. For kids in grade school I recommend a school-based before/afterschool care program (CVUSD has YMCA & SVUSD has TLC) for around $350/mo. Once your kids hit middle school they're probably old enough to handle themselves and self-motivate to do homework at the Belltower drop-in lounge... There are a lot of teens there so youngers may not feel as comfortable. This is provided that the kids have transportation to the center after school (this was always a problem for me).

RSM in general has so much to offer you in the way of family-orientedness... We have a great network of pools, parks and a lake. Belltower & civic center has an ampitheater with live free concerts all summer, and we have a great beach club with swim lagoon and sand volleyball open from May-October. The kids love this! You can rent paddleboats to explore the lake. Check out Samlarc (parks/rec) for events Events and more info http://www.samlarc.org/

You'll love it here.

By the way, on another note, you may want to get involved with a great meetup group (not a scam or a hook-up group, just honest single parents looking to have some fun with their kids and take advantage of group discounts): Orange County Active Single Parents (Irvine, CA) - Meetup

PM me if you have any other questions. I've lived in RSM since 2003, and have family that has been here since the 90's.

[MQHP40]

Originally Posted by cabolissa

Great info here... My daughter has done gymnastics for 7 years at Cal Elite, and now does tumbling/cheer. She's just landed her 1st job there (when she turns 15 in a month) as a jr. coach and she's so excited!

My 3 year old son takes their tumblebees class and loves it!

They also have "open gym" on Friday and Saturday nights that is open to the public from 5:30-8:30 and it's a great way for them to get their wiggles out and mom to relax, guilt free (another single mom speaking here)...

Can't speak for the scouting, but it's very active here. Lots of troops to choose from.

YMCA drop in center at Belltower is fine, minimal supervision, no real homework help. For kids in grade school I recommend a school-based before/afterschool care program (CVUSD has YMCA & SVUSD has TLC) for around $350/mo. Once your kids hit middle school they're probably old enough to handle themselves and self-motivate to do homework at the Belltower drop-in lounge... There are a lot of teens there so youngers may not feel as comfortable. This is provided that the kids have transportation to the center after school (this was always a problem for me).

RSM in general has so much to offer you in the way of family-orientedness... We have a great network of pools, parks and a lake. Belltower & civic center has an ampitheater with live free concerts all summer, and we have a great beach club with swim lagoon and sand volleyball open from May-October. The kids love this! You can rent paddleboats to explore the lake. Check out Samlarc (parks/rec) for events Events and more info http://www.samlarc.org/

You'll love it here.

By the way, on another note, you may want to get involved with a great meetup group (not a scam or a hook-up group, just honest single parents looking to have some fun with their kids and take advantage of group discounts): Orange County Active Single Parents (Irvine, CA) - Meetup

PM me if you have any other questions. I've lived in RSM since 2003, and have family that has been here since the 90's.

Cabolissa, your feedback has been invaluable, thank you so much!