Virtual Recreation Resources

Welcome to the Town of Los Altos Hills Virtual Recreation Resources page! This is your place for fun, education, and resources through these unprecedented times. We are committed to ensuring that our residents have resources to maintain healthy lives, foster relationships, and continue to make memorable experiences.

This page will be updated with shelter order approved recreation ideas to keep you and your family healthy, entertained, and informed. Please note that we do not endorse or receive funds to advertise any of the third party sites or services listed or referenced on this page. Items listed are tailored to the Los Altos Hills community. 

If you have other ideas or resources that you would like to share with the community, submit them to Sarah Robustelli via email. 

In February 2021, the Town released a Spring/Summer Activity Guide. The impacts of COVID-19 have changed our offerings.

 In this Activity Guide, you will find: 

-Community services and modified events

-In-person camps and classes at Westwind Community Barn

-Variety of free and paid virtual offers for all ages

This Guide was designed to fit the current County and State Guidelines, but we will continue to modify based on the latest health information released. For the latest activities and events, subscribe to notify me through www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/list.aspx. 

For an interactive Guide click the image or here  Version OptionsVirtual Recreation Resources Headline Version OptionsVirtual Recreation Resources Headlineand for a PDF here Version OptionsVirtual Recreation Resources Headline. 

Stay Active

Indoor Recreational Offerings:

• Mondays at 9:00 am: Book Chat: Conference call with Librarian Amytha to talk about books on Monday Mornings at 9:00 am. All you need is a phone call 415-527-3546. Enter an access code: 5459015 followed by #. It will ask you to say your name and then press #. Then you are in.
• Wednesdays 10:15 to 11:30 am: Pam’s Yoga Fitness is continuing online, get registered online.
• Fridays at 9:00 am: Facebook Live Book Chat: Ask Librarian Amytha any questions about the library questions you might have and she will get you started in the right direction on Friday mornings at 9:00 am. All you need is a computer, device, or smart phone.
• Daily Monday through Friday at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Storytime Facebook Live @sccldbookmobile

Indoor Activities for any time :

• Use 1 word to describe your pandemic experience
• Visit the Public Art Committee Digital Gallery
• On-Call Tech Tutoring by Los Altos Hills Youth Volunteers. To book your appointment visit seniortech.simplybook.me or call 650-947-2506. Questions about this service, contact Russell Yang via email.
• Ride Along with Santa Clara County Fire : What does the inside of your favorite Santa Clara County Fire Station look like? What are some important safety tips firefighters can teach us? Explore these questions and more with the Ride-Along with SCCFD video series. 
• Our friends at Santa Clara County Library have a bunch of programs for all ages: ESL Conversation Club, Virtual Film Club, Storytime Online, Spring Reading Program, Steam programming,
• Have kids slay your home’s vampire loads using free locally-developed HEA services.
• The Compost Video Series is a project provided by UCCE Master Composters. The goal is to give you an overview of composting, tips for building your own composting project, and help with trouble shooting. Access the videos online. For more information, contact the ROTLINE 408-918-4640.
• This or That (PDF) Los Altos Hills Spring Edition
• Hidden Villa online learning videos: basic care of farm animals, deer ears, woodrats: forest engineers, how to keep plants healthy, and more,
• Ride Into a Safer Future: A Self-Driving Curriculum brought to you by Waymo
• UCCE’s Compost Education Program Online Vermicomposting Workshop and Compost Basics Workshop.
• ZunZun has put together several educational videos and activities for Santa Clara Valley elementary schools.  Email ZunZun to set up a live stream assembly and watershed education session with your class or school at zunzuntunes@gmail.com.  Videos available at https://vimeo.com/showcase/7560780.  These videos and live assemblies are funded by the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program and available FREE to local schools.
• GreenWaste has four videos that explain the following: 
  • Introduction Video: https://youtu.be/YC3HlhHCKIc
  • Single-stream MRF, where BLUE carts are processed: https://youtu.be/SXth_7rsrOc
  • MSW MRF (and Z-Best), where GRAY carts are processed: https://youtu.be/qB5zWqQXKFY
  • Yard Trimmings MRF (and Z-Best), where GREEN carts are processed: https://youtu.be/nBvdnG2SkMM

Outdoor Activities

• Look! Some Butterflies of Los Altos Hills. Which ones have you seen? 
• Look! Some Mushrooms of Los Altos Hills. Courtesy of Resident, John Metcalfe. 
• Parks and Recreation presents five challenges to complete this Spring-Summer.  Complete as many as you can to earn fun LAH Swag!  Visit Parks and Recreation Spring-Summer Challenges, and submit challenges to Recreation at cknopf@losaltoshills.ca.gov.
• Reconnect with the Los Altos Hills Pathways System. Maps are available for purchase for $4 during normal business hours at Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Prepare your home for Fire season and reduce your wildfire risk. Create defensible space around your home.
• Ride your horse on pathways or Town Riding Arena at Purissima Park
• Grassroots Ecology: How to Collaborate with Your Landscape: Creating Fire-Resistant Habitat
• Enjoy a hike, walk, run, trail ride through Town Open Spaces
• Remove invasive weeds: stinkwort (PDF), oxalis (PDF) and scotch broom at home, along roadways and pathway
• Grassroots Ecology Backyard Field Guide (PDF) Activity
• LAH Spring Scavenger Hunt (PDF): Solve tricky riddles and submit photos or via social media #playsafelah (make sure the post is public). Contestants will receive an LAH fanny pack (PDF)!

Stay Connected

Volunteer: 

• The Second Harvest Food Bank is in need of extra help during this period of high demand. Sign-up for a shift on the food bank’s website. Consider donating blood to the Red Cross or Stanford Blood Center, your community needs you now more than ever!
• If you have supplies you want to donate Santa Clara County asks that public donations to assist be routed through VMC Foundation
• Community Services Agency (CSA) serves Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View. If you are not in a high-risk category (age 65-plus and/or having an underlying health condition) and wish to help food distribution, please call 650-964-4630.

Donate:

• COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fun
• Los Altos Community Foundation Nonprofit Relief Fund: redistributes the funds locally based on need, including CSA, CHAC, Women Silicon Valley, Health Trust, Day Worker Center
• Silicon Valley Strong: serves Silicon Valley while working through the City of San Jose

Stay Informed

Stay informed with the Town by signing up for Notify Me, with three easy steps.

Los Altos Hills has its own text and voice notification system called Nixle. It is used to keep you informed about situations that could affect public safety. Text your zip code to 888777.

Santa Clara County also has a notification system called AlertSCC. The Town uses AlertSCC as a backup system in case Nixle is unavailable. Please register with both services. Register with AlertSCC.

Dial 2-1-1 to get connected to a specialist for personalized assistance.Free, Confidential, 24/7. Available in multiple languages.

Adult Protective Services 24-hour Hotline: call for help, if you or someone you know suspect abuse of a senior or dependent adult 800-414-2002.

The week of April 13th the following community outreach flyer (PDF) was mailed to all residents.

On September 3rd the following Be Prepared Resources and Town Safety Forums postcard was mailed to residents. 

Stay Nourished

View free meal information (PDF).

Community Services Agency (CSA) services the Los Altos Hills, check out there Food and Nutrition Center.

Great Plates rolled out by the State launched in Santa Clara County on Friday May 15th. Anyone who meets the criteria will be served: apply online.

Support a local restaurant. Many restaurants are still open for take out or delivery orders. Support your favorites by curbside pickup or ordering through DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and have it brought to you.

Mental Health and Coping

Fears about the Coronavirus pandemic and maintaining social distancing can significantly affect one’s mental health. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations, but taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope. Below are some general tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Alliance on Mental Health.

• Take care of your body
• Be mindful of your news consumption
• Keep busy
• Stay connected with your neighbors, friends, and family.

If you feel as though you need additional help during this pandemic, the National Distress Helpline is there to help. Free online and phone support is available with a trained crisis counselor (available in English and Spanish). Phone: 800-985-5990. 

Town Closures:

• Westwind Community Barn closed to the public with thru-access to Byrne Preserve