Our daughter who will soon be turning twelve years old attended phase 1 this summer on the…read morerecommendation of a friend who attended phase 2 this year. It was her first summer camp and her first time away from home with people she hadn't met before. She had a wonderful experience all around. She mentioned that the meals were great and the camp songs and activities were fun. For her, the week picked up in intensity on Wednesday when they went for an overnight backpacking trip. It was her most challenging experience but also the highlight of her week. She experienced home sickness the first day, but that faded away by the second day. She made good friends with some of the girls and boys in her group. Everybody seemed to be helpful and supportive of each other. As a parent of an Eagle Scout boy, I remember attending his first two summer camps as an adult troop leader. So I felt a little anxious not being able to be there with my daughter at her first summer camp. The weather in this area was in the high 80s in the morning and mid 50s in the evening for the second week of July that my daughter attended. A two person tent and a warm sleeping bag and pad with an inflatable pillow were perfect for her. The campsites were under trees and their shade made for a pleasant stay even during the warmest part of the day. The warmest it got for my daughter was on the backpacking hike up a hill, but she also forgot to wear her hat. Kids were constantly reminded to drink water. They also made frequent stops to rest and hydrate. My daughter showered twice in the six days she was there and that along with some wet wipes she took were enough for her. They were required to wear their swimsuits when they showered. I must say that my daughter has always been a scared-y cat when it comes to bugs (spiders, bees, mosquitoes, ants) and splinters. Nevertheless, none of these seem to have been an issue, or not enough for her to notice. She only used the insect repellent once, and even though she said she got bit by mosquitoes a couple of times, we couldn't find any signs of bites, rashes or scratches when she got home. In all, it was a positive growing experience for her and she is very likely to return next year. On the night she came home, she cried before going to sleep because she missed the friends she made and the songs they sang. The possibility that they might not see each other again made her sad. We told her that is part of growing up. I wrote this review because my daughter wanted me to share her experience so that it may be helpful to others. I agree that every person is different and have different reactions to similar situations. Being away from home or sleeping in a tent for the first time is not for everyone ... you can ask my wife, who is definitely not the outdoor type .... she is the glamping type :) As another reviewer posted, phase one had the largest group of kids, followed by phase two and then phase three. Middle school and high school academics, club and school sports, and online and extracurricular activities give teenagers so much to choose these days. As they grow their interest change and they opt to purse other activities. Still, it is amazing and commendable to see some of them continue to do summer camps and return to mentor the younger children.

Our 13 year old son attended Phase 2 as a first timer this year. It was a fantastic experience all…read morearound; he came back with a new confidence, passion for leadership, and sense of self that we had not seen before. Drop-off was extremely smooth, and kids are whisked away before any anxieties (on either kids' or parents' part) can set in. I understand from our son that the first 48 hours was most challenging in terms of settling into a no-phone routing, not being able to reach out to family and friends and having to adapt to his group, which he took to immediately. By day three he was 110% in, and we hope that some of the friendships made will last for life. As parents, there is always a concern in the back of your mind that the week might have have been miserable, and it was so enthralling to see them march into their graduation ceremony on the pickup morning, cheering singing and laughing together. Safety was paramount; the kids were kept very well fed and hydrated. It sounds as though the worst emergencies were a couple of hornets and some aggressive ants, but the camp and leadership were well prepared. Our son had nothing but good things to say about the other campers, the camp leaders, and the adult leadership; he felt that all were very strong and genuinely cared for him and his fellow campers. All in all, it' was an incredible experience. He can't wait to go back next year and is hoping that he can qualify for staff leadership in the future.

Bethany is amazing! This is my second experience adopting with the Bunny Trail…read more We did a bonding session today for my sassy Lionhead. Bethany was so patient and attentive. She is really knowledgeable about rabbits and bonding them. She even gave us an xpen to borrow because I didn't have one to divide the bunnies when I am not home to supervise. The rescue storefront is adorable! It's clean and inviting.

If you're looking to adopt a bunny, this is your place!…read more Stopped by to see the buns & was so impressed with this facility. The interior is so cute & I loved seeing that though the bunnies were in crates, the crates were large & very well kept. They had little beds or tunnels in their crate to cuddle & hide in, as well as fresh food & water & some enrichment toys. Staff is super friendly & they offered little cranberry treats to feed the bunnies! I also, enjoyed reading each bunny's history sheet that was attached to their crate. Love this place & I definitely recommend stopping by or donating to this non-profit!

I applied as a foster (never fostered a dog before) with AFRP in 2024. My experience was very…read moregood. I submitted an online application asking for a smaller dog and my preference for a poodle mix. They responded within a couple of days, as I recall, and asked a few more questions. After a few days, they contacted me with a possible match, explaining he was a senior poodle mix with a few medical issues. They work closely with Hitchcock Animal Services (county shelter) and had several dogs that had issues and needed a rescue with a strong foster program. They brought "Bernie" over, and I became a foster mom with full support from AFRP. They provided guidance and everything from beds/blankets to toys and even food! They provided the vet services to help Bernie be the best dog he could be. They invited me to various events (and even a TV spot!) to show off Bernie but unfortunately dogs with medical issues can be a little harder to get adopted. So after six months, I fell in love and became a "foster win" and adopted him. To this day, AFRP considers me part of their alumni family and invites me to activities such as local parades or fun events. They have a variety of dogs and cats, young to old, healthy to some having medical challenges, and work hand-in-hand with several shelters to help find fosters and ultimately final homes! I found their offices to be clean and functional, although if they were bigger, they could help more animals. I use Yelp frequently and know I make decisions based on reviews. I wanted to provide a positive and more recent outcome than some older comments which I feel are no longer applicable. The last note I will make is that as of 2024, they have new executive and support staff who are fantastic. So please consider discovering this great local rescue organization. AFRP have been around for a while but today, I find they are an excellent organization always improving on their processes and staff. So please GO FOSTER! It's fun, rewarding, and inexpensive. You get lots of love in return.

Friendly and helpful staff who really love fostering the animals they rescue. The cats I looked at…read morewere healthy, had their shots and were already neutered/spayed. I strongly recommend supporting this organization.

This is an exceptional community resource for everyone, but the main focus is on people of color &…read moreour most vulnerable community members. In addition to the numerous outreach & in-house programs, The Village Project offers a unique space with a balcony for hosting small events. Contact the staff to find out more. All costs for the room rental are priced fairly & the African theme throughout the building is amazing!

This is an amazing setup with lots of programs and amazing people. I'm most familiar with the…read moresupport they can provide for children and youths. It's positive, structured, and run by such wonderful individuals who are leaders, role models, and inspirations.

Great selection of housewares, clothing, books, every once in a while there are craft items. Good…read morevalue supporting services for older adults in Monterey County. Very clean store. Nice staff.

I have a friend who volunteers at this thrift store which raises money for the Alliance on aging. I…read morereally wanted to like it. It actually has some very nice collectibles in there, but the prices are outrageous. There is ample parking in front of the store, especially on a weekday. When I walked in, I definitely got the sticker shock. They had two hand woven wicker, Mexican children's chairs. That they were asking $85 each. These may have been vintage, but they were sure beat up. And $85 seems a little bit high. They use a tiered descending pricing which decreases the price once every month until it gets down to 50%. Oddly though I didn't see any prices that were lowered on my trip today. It's a very nice store as far as the things they have in there some lovely old pieces some very nice clocks and other collectibles. The clothing is again right in the middle of the store and it makes it a little difficult to navigate for someone who uses a cane like I do. I have used the Alliance on aging myself and I know they're a good group so I do wish them every success with their store but I think the prices are still pretty high. Also, the staff could be a little more friendly when you come in, the two ladies that were working completely ignored the entire time.

Super cute and organized love all the furniture there bought a coffee table for 40 bucksread more

Lots of inventory, reasonably priced, and the manager, Jonathan is very kind and helpful! It was my…read morefirst time and he helped me through the whole process and loaded my car for me. Thank you Jonathan and team!

The first of two Goodwills that we stopped into around the Monterey area, this store provided some…read morenice clothing finds. It has the look and organization of a classic Goodwill, meaning a bit less organization but no luxury section and definitely high end brands mixed in. This is how my wife likes it (bargain hunting) and she did end up buying: ballet flats (AGL $6.99) and Citizens for Humanity denim ($9). Service interaction was friendly and helpful.

As a toy collector I always enjoy visiting local thrifts stores while on vacation. I had an…read moreopportunity to visit the Goodwill Central Coast on Lighthouse Ave. The store is small, but nicely kept. My purpose of going to thrifts stores is finding toys. This particular location did not have many, most of the "toys" there are boxed board games. But I was lucky to find these set of 3 Peace Sparkly Angel Red Christmas Teddy Bear (2003 Retired Ty Beanie Baby) in mint condition for a total $4.99 The service was nice because the cashier was very friendly and she was happy for me when I told her I was super excited finding the Beanie Babies.

We adopted our Bowie via POMDR years ago. It was love at first sight. They worked with us every…read morestep of the way. They call or email me regularly to see how she's doing, 11 years after adoption. The mission is to rescue and to provide homes for dogs when their owners are no longer able to provide for them due to age.

POMDR has been incredibly helpful to me and my dog MAX. We have received food to help while I'm on…read moredisability after a work injury. We can't thank you enough.