The VR Activity Club is tons of fun and designed to encourage socialization, reduce symptoms of depression and create a sense of belonging.   Each club activity offers the opportunity for social connections through the use of virtual reality accompanied by in-person activities.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, depression is more common thought with nearly 1 out of every 10 adults reporting being depressed at any given time, and about half of them reporting severe depression. 

VR Activity Clubs consist of six individuals who meet once a week for four consecutive weeks, and experience virtual reality adventures.  These experiences are in one-hour sessions with an additional 30 minutes set aside for an optional Snack & Chat in which participants may bring their own nibbles and snack while getting to know each other better, building what we hope will be fun connections and possibly new friendships.

Members of the very first VR Activity Club celebrated Irish culture on St. Patrick’s Day by virtually touring the Emerald Isle, exploring natural wonders and taking a private (virtual) tour of the Guinness Factory. After the virtual traveling, the activities included writing an Irish limerick, solving a St. Patrick’s Day word search and virtually hiking the Dingle Way.

VR Activity Club is $30 for the four-week series. Please call 805-388-1952 to register. Classes are held on our campus at 3639 Las Posas Road in Camarillo.

The District offers a variety of VR experiences, including VR Travel Club, VR Cycling and our award-winning Adventures in VR Program, that promote socialization.

Activity Club 1 will be offered on Tuesdays, April 22-May 13, 10-11:30 a.m.

·         April 22: Celebrating Earth: We’ll explore our wonderful planet in honor of Earth Day. We’ll start by snorkeling virtually along the Great Barrier Reef and "swimming" with sea turtles. Then we'll visit mountains around the world, from Denali to Mount Fuji, climbing the highest peaks. A virtual birdwatching activity is planned and we’ll see how many bird species we can identify as a group!

·         April 29: Blast from the Past and Reminiscing: Let’s travel back in time to experience an iconic 1950s event, discuss the cultural revolution of the1960s and flashback to the groovy 1970s for a look at the rise of disco to blockbuster films using virtual reality. Our activity will be “Name the Disco Tune.”

·         May 6: Mental Health is Everything: We’ll kick of Mental Health Awareness Month by indulging in nurturing and restorative experiences. Enjoy a peaceful nature scene using VR, explore meditation while donning a headset, and participate in a virtual chair yoga lesson, where you’ll learn techniques to help mobility, reduce strain and improve posture. Our activity will be focused on positive affirmations and powerful phrases using the words “I am.”

·         May 13: Motherhood: Celebrate motherhood by enjoying a playdate with a happy granddaughter, touring a colorful flower field, and learning about Princess Diana’s endless love for children. Walk in Diana’s shoes to learn about her fascinating life and how she impacted what it means to be royalty. Our activity will be writing a Mother’s Day poem about the importance of mothers using the prompt: “What does being a mother, having a mother or the concept of motherhood mean to you?”

Activity Club 2 will be offered on Fridays, June 20-July 18 (no gathering July 4), 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

June 20: Perfect Summer Day: Summer is officially here, so let’s kick it off with a relaxing beach day virtually in Cancun, Mexico. Build up an appetite for a cookout celebration as we immerse ourselves in a barbecue with grillmaster Dave. Then we’ll venture deep into the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California using our headsets to marvel at the wonders of the Yosemite National Park. Our activity is developing a Beach Day playlist. What’s your beach vibe giving?

June 27: A Day at the Museum: Let’s explore museums around the world! Visit the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, tour the National Portrait Gallery, where art and history meet, and enjoy a look into the Natural History Museum. Our activity encourages you to use your inspiration from these museum tours to draw a portrait in infinite space using the VR application Paint, or explore more using VR.

July 11: Scenic Safari: Join us for an exciting day of exploration as we embark on virtual tours of Patagonia, the Galapagos Islands and the Grey Glacier. We’ll discover unique wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. Our activity will be mimicking the unique movements of animals from the virtual tours, such as the penguin waddle, sea lions swimming or the slow crawl of a tortoise. Also, guess the animal we are mimicking as we talk about animals in their environments.

July 18: Revitalized by Nature: Experience a relaxing virtual tour of Sapa, Vietnam, meditate in serene rock pools surrounded by lush greenery and tranquil mountain views using your headset and explore Zen places worldwide. Conclude your journey with a reflective activity about nature using a pen and paper as we journal together.