Things to do in San Bernardino County

Join us at the Inland Empire Fatherhood Summit

The Inland Empire Fatherhood Summit is a special occasion dedicated to celebrating the vital role of fatherhood. Recognized by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, this event aims to raise awareness and promote active engagement of fathers and father-figures in their children’s lives.

Research shows that engaged fathers significantly impact their children’s lives in numerous positive ways. Children raised by involved fathers are 60% less likely to face disciplinary issues in school, twice as likely to pursue higher education and stable employment, 75% less likely to experience teen pregnancy, and 80% less likely to be incarcerated (Child and Family Partnership, 2017).

Moreover, fathers who actively participate in their children’s upbringing contribute to their development, support positive parenting efforts, enhance family health and wellness, and experience personal growth and fulfillment (Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, n.d.).

At the Summit, we aspire to connect fathers and families with essential resources and opportunities for success. Additionally, the event will feature opportunity drawings!

Fathers, you are irreplaceable! We encourage you to join us at the Inland Empire Fatherhood Summit to be inspired, educated and equipped with the tools necessary to actively engage in your children’s lives.

Together, let’s celebrate fatherhood and empower families for a brighter future. Register today at https://tinyurl.com/dx3cswt9.

Fossil Lab Talk: Behind the scenes with Kelsie Burke

Join us for a conversation with Kelsie Abrams, paleontology fossil lab manager at Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture on Saturday, March 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the San Bernardino County Museum. Kelsie will speak on the craft of fossil preparation, conservation and field work. Attendees will also receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly expanded Fossil Prep Lab located in the Hall of Earth Sciences.

Kelsie has worked in higher education and museum institutions and has skills in fossil preparation, conservation, field work and formal and informal education. She has a strong art and science background with a master’s degree in geoscience with a focus on vertebrate paleontology from Fort Hays State University.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 & under and Museum Foundation members are free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

For more information about the San Bernadino County Museum, please visit museum.sbcounty.gov or call (909) 798-8608.

Promote Hope. Let’s Talk. Supervisor Armendarez to host townhall for Suicide Prevention

Join Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez and Department of Behavioral Health Director Dr. Georgina Yoshioka in an engaging telephone townhall discussion about the newly established Office of Suicide Prevention. Discover the array of resources available in the community to support behavioral health and well-being. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, ask questions and contribute to a vital conversation surrounding behavioral health awareness and suicide prevention.

Event Details:

Tuesday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Register at https://wp.sbcounty.gov/dbh/. For administrative questions regarding this office, please email dbh-osp@dbh.sbcounty.gov.

Glen Helen, Yucaipa Regional Parks to host St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Hunt events

Join Regional Parks as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Glen Helen’s activities will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and Yucaipa Regional Park’s activities will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Wear green and join us to explore the park in search of some lucky charms. All materials for this activity will be provided while supplies last. All ages are welcome. Bring the whole family. Free with park admission of $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us! Glen Helen Regional Park is located at 2555 Glen Helen Pkwy. in San Bernardino and Yucaipa Regional Park is located at 33900 Oak Glen Rd. in Yucaipa. For more information on all Regional Park events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

New exhibit at VVM: Continuing the conversation about drug addiction

Join San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health for an opening reception of the INTO LIGHT project, an exhibition that puts a human face on the disease of addiction through hand-drawn portraits and written narratives to change the conversation about drug addiction.

The opening reception will be held on Tuesday, March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Victor Valley Museum located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley.

Steven Lee Loza
A blessing to all who knew him

As a young child, Steven, also affectionately known as “Boots” in the family, loved Thomas the Tank Engine and was a train fanatic. He also loved Dora the Explorer and her furry monkey side-kick Boots, which is where Steven got his nickname. Steven’s brother Zach predicted Steven’s birth at his grandmother’s funeral when he was just eight. He said, “Mom, don’t worry. When God takes one, God leaves one.” One month later, she was pregnant with Steven.

As early as kindergarten, Steven’s parents were aware he had ADHD. He was a sweet boy, an empath with a kind heart, but had trouble focusing and fitting in. He was a target for bullies and had difficulty making friends. His parents advocated endlessly to get proper educational resources to little avail. Steven became involved in the Cub Scouts and T-ball with his parents as coaches. He loved to hang out and play video games with his older brother Zach. Steven was in fourth grade when his father, Ronnie, died. Steven and his mother, Jennifer, attended a grief support group. When those services ended, she started Ronnie’s House for Hope to provide support for children and families following a death.

As Steven approached high school, he was accepted because he was a comedian and a risk-taker. His drug use intensified, but it was hard to know if it was his depression and anxiety showing or something else. He became known as the guy who would take any dare. This led to some problems in school and with the police. He was also the kid who couldn’t stand to see people or animals in pain and routinely rescued both. Steven graduated from high school the same month he turned 18. True to tradition, his mom took him skydiving for his 18th birthday, a treasured memory for her as Steven passed away just four months later.

“The positive impact Steven left is immense,” his mom said. “He dealt with his pain by helping others.” It was healing to be embraced in Steven’s powerful hugs. He encompassed people in his long arms with a depth of sincerity and love. Unable to give himself that same regard, he had a lot of negative self-talk, often referring to himself as a “screw-up.” His mother saw his true, loving nature, as did his cousin Kenzie, who was very close to Steven throughout their lives.

Steven’s life was short, but it had purpose and meaning. He was a youth explorer with the fire department and, after doing a ride-along, he set a future goal to become a firefighter. “Steven was sensitive and full of love. I am incredibly proud of who my son was, and I know he would be proud that his story helps others. That is my motivation,” his mother stated.

Jennifer misses dancing with Steven in the kitchen, listening to tunes during their car rides together, and his loud laugh, which could be “extra.” She keeps a candle lit for him 24 hours a day and feels his energy around her. When Steven died, some people lied about the cause of his death, but Jennifer was never ashamed. “When you make someone feel shame for what they are going through, it keeps them using,” she said. “That is not okay with me. No one has a right to change someone’s story, their journey. If we don’t eliminate the shame that comes with substance use disorder, how does anything change? We don’t learn from silence.”

Steven’s mother, Jennifer Loza, provided the information for this narrative.

Age 18 -June 25, 2002-October 24, 2020

Age 18 – lived with the disease of addiction for a year and a half.

If you suspect a family member or friend might have a problem with substance use, speak to them about getting help. Treatment can be arranged in different modalities to fit almost any schedule. Counselors will work with you and your family member/friend to design a treatment plan that works for you. When you’re ready, you or your family member/friend can call (800) 968-2636 to reach our Substance Use Disorder and Recovery Services (SUDRS) Helpline, 24-hours of the day for a free and confidential assessment.

Tuff Nutterz postpones inflatable bounce-course adventure event

Tuff Nutterz has decided to postpone their event at Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park, which was previously scheduled for March 19-24. We will provide an update once this event has been rescheduled.

Arthropolooza: The Ultimate Bugfest is back and buggier than ever!

If creepy crawlies don’t give you the creeps, then maybe Arthropolooza: The Ultimate Bugfest will. Join us on Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the San Bernardino County Museum and on Saturday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Victor Valley Museum to celebrate all things creepy, crawly, sticky, prickly, wiggly, yucky and kind of cute.

This year, the Bugfest will spotlight a transformative journey into the enchanting world of butterflies! Our partner, Flutterby Ranch, will bring a mobile butterfly exhibit—an immersive experience designed to captivate, educate and inspire from 1 to 4 p.m.

Buzz on over to either museum location to experience the fascinating world of insects through outdoor exploration and hands-on art activities as well as face painting, food and local artisans.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley. The museum is open Wednesday through Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. The museums are accessible to persons with disabilities.

For more information about the San Bernadino County Museum, please visit museum.sbcounty.gov or call (909) 798-8608.

Glen Helen, Yucaipa Regional Parks to host grasshoppers and games events

Join Regional Parks as we host grasshoppers and games activities. Yucaipa Regional Park’s activities will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and Glen Helen’s activities will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. All materials for this activity will be provided while supplies last. All ages are welcome. Bring the whole family. Free with park admission of $10 per vehicle and free for those camping with us! Glen Helen Regional Park is located at 2555 Glen Helen Pkwy. in San Bernardino and Yucaipa Regional Park is located at 33900 Oak Glen Rd. in Yucaipa. For more information on all Regional Park events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

San Bernardino County Library hosts Cover to Cover Club

The San Bernardino County Library is partnering with In-N-Out Burger to promote reading among children this spring. The Cover to Cover program kicks off on Saturday, March 2 and will run through Saturday, April 13. This program will encourage students to read in all communities across the county.

To participate in this program, sign up online through Beanstack at sbclib.beanstack.org. For every five books or 300 pages read, an achievement award will be unlocked on Beanstack, and a voucher for a free hamburger or cheeseburger will be issued at your local County Library branch. Participants must be between the ages of 4 and 12 and must be present at the time of redemption to receive a voucher. Each child may earn a total of three awards for the duration of the program.

In support of the Countywide Vision’s Vision2Read literacy campaign as well as San Bernardino County’s Opportunity Campaign, this program will help to improve literacy rates among children ages 4 to 12, with the help of incentives, by inspiring an excitement to read, providing achievement goals and encouraging a reading routine.

The San Bernardino County Library system is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serve a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County Library system strives to provide equal access to information, technology, programs and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.

The library plays a key role in the achievement of the Countywide Vision by contributing to educational, cultural and historical development of our county community.

For more information about the San Bernardino County Library system, please visit http://www.sbclib/org/ or call (909) 387-2220.

Stimulate your imagination with Second Saturdays at Victor Valley Museum

Families can enjoy on-site themed art projects every month with Second Saturdays at the Victor Valley Museum (VVM) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2024 Second Saturdays schedule:

March 9
April 13
May 11
June 8
July 13
Aug. 10
Sept. 14
Oct. 12
Nov. 9
Dec. 14

VVM is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 and under and museum members are free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov/events.

Calling all stargazers! Museum Cosmic Nights returns for 2024

San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) announces the 2024 dates for the popular Cosmic Nights astronomy-themed evening events in partnership with the San Bernardino Valley Amateur Astronomers (SBVAA) and the Riverside Astronomical Society (RAS). At the Victor Valley Museum, SBCM’s branch in Apple Valley, the evening events are in partnership with the High Desert Astronomical Society (HiDAS). The public is welcome to view stars, planets, the moon and other astronomical phenomena.

San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands
Friday, March 15, 2024, 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 7 to 10 p.m.

Victor Valley Museum, 11873 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley
Friday, July 13, 2024, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Each event features telescope viewing and an opportunity to discuss astronomy with telescope operators. Visitors are also encouraged to bring binoculars or set up their own telescopes. The events take place outdoors and visitors are advised to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Guests are welcome to set up portable lawn chairs and blankets for extended viewing.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children five and under are admitted free. Museum Foundation members receive a 50% discount. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.