Oaks Parent Child Workshop

The Oaks was developed in 1947 through the concentrated efforts of many people and organizations. Originally known as the Hoff Heights Community Nursery School, it started following World War II when the Hoff Army Hospital Buildings (now the Santa Barbara City Golf Club course) were being used as emergency housing for veterans, Santa Barbara College students and faculty. Twelve families, realizing the need for constructive play for their children, persuaded the County Housing Authority to let them use the former Officer’s Recreation Hall for a nursery school.

A great deal was accomplished by this nucleus of people. The yard was fenced and many of the basic pieces of equipment were constructed by the fathers. The American Women’s Volunteer Service, Red Cross and other local services provided equipment and financing. Within a few months, the Adult Education Department of Santa Barbara College realized the need for such a cooperative project in the field of parent education, and accepted the nursery school as the first parent child workshop in Santa Barbara. The original nursery school continued to function at its first site with free housing and utilities for nine years. During this time, plans were underway to establish a permanent home for the school.

In 1956 the city removed the nursery school’s building to use the land for a golf course. The group then occupied a temporary building on the Riviera Campus of the University of California for two years. This period was one of intense fund raising and planning.

During the summer of 1957, all the accumulated funds were used to purchase a small house on the present site. Plans were being made to remodel it for use as our school, but in February 1958 it burned to the ground.

The next seven months were a flurry of activity on the part of many dedicated people. Donations were collected and an insurance settlement of $8,500 was received. Two of the children’s fathers who were architects drew plans for a new building, and the present structure began to be built in May. A mother functioned as contractor, organized the volunteer help and collected donated materials from both former members and local businesses. The final financial boost came from the Santa Barbara Foundation’s donation of $5,000 enabling the group to complete the full building plan.

Painting, fencing and yard projects were still in process when the semester opened in the fall of 1958. The first week of morning school was conducted in Oak Park and two evening meetings were held in the lighted picnic area. When the program was moved to the new building, the children had the excitement of watching paving trucks, carpenters, plumbers and electricians work. Several evening meetings were held by lantern light and coffee was prepared on a gasoline stove. Fortunately, the building was completed without incurring any debt. The Oaks was the first privately owned cooperative nursery school in Santa Barbara and one of the few in the state.

Each year, finishing touches have been added to the Oaks complex. The animal cages were built, the creek retaining wall was extended the full length of the property line, the storage cupboards were added and the front fence and gate were moved away from the building to enlarge the yard. Recently the tree house has been rebuilt and soft mats added under all of the climbing structures.