Kidizens is an educational enrichment program designed to help children develop real-world skills by using LEGO building blocks in a social environment. The main program is for children ages eight through 11, and allows them to work together to create their own LEGO city. There is also a Young Kidizens program designed for children ages six and seven, teaching them how to build individual buildings. Kidizens also offers a Young Senators program, where students govern a state composed of the cities built in the regular Kidizens program, as well as construct their own state capital city.
The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos - also known as El Retiro San Iñigo - offers the community a tranquil place to find spiritual direction and enhance spirituality. The only Jesuit retreat center west of the Rocky Mountains, El Retiro San Iñigo offers a contemplative environment in which individuals can follow the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. The 38-acre wooded estate overlooking Silicon Valley is also the site for weekend retreats and shorter variations of the month-long Spiritual Exercises program. Retreat directors have also designed several different retreats, including silent retreats for men or women, married couples, Al-Anon 12-step programs and young adults. Special evenings of healing prayer are also available at no cost. While the Rossi Chapel is not a parish chapel and the retreat center is private property, neighbors and other members of the public are welcome to attend Mass. The retreat was founded in 1925 when the Jesuits at Santa Clara University sought a remote place for spiritual retreat. They found it in the property of William Wellman, a businessman and director of the wholesale grocery company Wellman & Peck Co. The facilities, which include a chapel, dining room, courtyards, conference rooms and more informal living rooms, are offered during the week mostly to Catholic schools, non-profit organizations and service groups for private retreats; the rooms accommodate 80-90 people. Two walking trails - the Spirit of the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross - provide places to reflect amid natural surroundings. The bookstore and gift shop contains more than 2,300 titles on spirituality, psychology, saints, scripture and recovery matters as well as CDs of religious music. Those titles can also be purchased via the retreat center's website through Amazon, which makes a donation to the center when books and other items are purchased. Interested persons can visit the center's Facebook page as well.
Beloved by its devotees over the past eight decades, Hidden Villa is a 1,600-acre organic farm, woodland open space, educational center and community started by Frank and Josephine Duveneck in 1924. Situated at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills, the spot has been operated under a non-profit trust since 1960.
The Duvenecks envisioned a place for discussion, reflection and inception of social reform. Hidden Villa claims the oldest operating hostel in the United States, and its Environmental Education Program began in 1970. With volunteer support, it runs summer camps, a summer farm academy and community programs. The organization offers farm tours, cheese-making, cow milking and other activities throughout the year. Hidden Villa teachers are found in classroom programs in Redwood City and Mountain View.
Residential internships relate to animal husbandry, sustainable agriculture, horticulture, education and non-profit administration.
It has a Community Supported Agriculture program, which local residents can become subscribers to and receive weekly deliveries of organically grown produce.
The hostel, which sleeps 34, was renovated in 2001 to use environmentally sustainable technology and design. It is also available for private use under special rates. Other facilities available for rent include the Duveneck Family House, seating 50, and the Dana Center, seating 50.
