Join us on a trip of a lifetime using virtual reality 

Kayaking among icebergs and glaciers in Antarctica.  Searching for a lost emperor penguin colony.  Snorkeling an underwater safari park with whales, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures.  Sound exciting?  Sound cold and wet?  What if you could experience it all without getting cold, or wet, or even leaving town?!

But how does one take a trip without actually going anywhere?  Great question!  You travel virtually with the Camarillo Health Care District’s new virtual reality program, “Adventures in VR”.  VR is an exciting technology that offers participants a full sense of “being there” through immersive headsets and software applications, and utilizes computer technology to create a simulated environment.

As fun as it is, virtual reality is also being widely used in some uncommon ways.  For example, VR has proven to help improve quality of life and a sense of well-being by reducing loneliness, addressing depression, and reducing barriers to socialization through common experiences. According to the study “Impact of Virtual Reality Experience on Older Adults’ Well Being” published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Design and Management and MIT AgeLab, "VR is believed to be beneficial to older adults due to its immersive interaction capabilities.

"Participants who used the VR system reported being less socially isolated, being less likely to show signs of depression, experiencing positive affects more frequently, and feeling better about their overall well-being.”

If you’re wondering what VR is and have never experienced it, no worries. The program starts at the required Introductory Level.  Introductory Level classes teach how to use the headset and hand controls and how to navigate the heads-up display.  After one or two classes, participants may advance to the Intermediate Level, which includes travel adventures to more than a dozen destinations, plus cooking in a virtual kitchen making ancient recipes, and visiting and learning about different cultures.

SEE STORY IN THE VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Sign up today for one of our individual, introductory level classes.

Nature Treks: Wednesdays, April 5-June 28, 9-10:15 a.m. (individual class, intro level -- at least one intro class is required to go on to intermediate or pro.)  

Nature Treks: Explore the natural world, choosing different settings in nature at night or during the day, with music or soothing sounds of nature, and encountering 20 different animals, including dinosaurs, tigers, elephants and bears, or spend your time meditating in nature. If this is your first time to using Oculus/Meta 2 virtual reality headsets and controllers, no worries. We’ll spend 20-25 minutes showing you how to use them, plus discussing the benefits of VR. The next 50 minutes will be spent enjoying our adventures before we all chat about our experiences and document our travel adventures in our Adventures in VR passport.

Cost: $5 per class (non-district residents add $4)

Ocean Rift: Fridays, April 7-Junen 30, 10-11:15 a.m. (individual class, intro level -- at least one intro class is required to go on to intermediate or pro.)  

Ocean Rift: Explore the ocean as a virtual scuba diver getting introduced to and learning about the different sea creatures, from Great White Sharks, Beluga and Humpback whales, dolphins and sea lions to sea snakes and the now-extinct Pliosaurus and Mosasaurus aquatic lizards. If this is your first time to using Oculus/Meta 2 virtual reality headsets and controllers, no worries. We’ll spend 20-25 minutes showing you how to use them, plus discussing the benefits of VR. The next 50 minutes will be spent enjoying our adventures before we all chat about our experiences and document our travel adventures in our Adventures in VR passport.

Cost: $5 per class (non-district residents add $4)

Guided Tai Chi: Thursdays,  May 18 and June 22, 11 a.m.-noon  (individual class, intro level -- at least one intro class is required to go on to intermediate or pro.)  

Choose "Tutorial" (5 minutes) to learn the movements, and then immerse yourself in the 3-minute "Arcade." Select your flow, such as Energized, Joyful, Relaxation, Spontaneous, Courage or Flourish. Then choose six environments in nature among 20 available to practice Tai Chi while relazing and connecting with your mind, body and spirit. Each session is about four minutes. 

Cost: $5 (non-district residents add $4)

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL CLASSES

After taking one or two introductory classes, you may sign up for our Intermediate Level class, BRINK Traveler.

BRINK Traveler: Mondays and Tuesdays, April 17 and 18, 9-10:15 a.m. OR May 15 and 16, 9-10:15 a.m. (two-part series, pro level - at least one intro class required before you sign up. See video below to check out some of the adventures.)

Session 1 (75 min): 15-minute review the benefits of VR, use of equipment, sign liability paperwork and review agenda for series. 60 minutes traveling through 4 destinations Horseshoe Bend, Colorado; Mount Morrison, California; White Pocket, Arizona; Mount Whitney in Lone Pine, California, and other locations, followed by discussion and optional journaling/travelogue)

Session 2 (75 min): Travel through the Alabama Hills in California; Arches National Park in Moab, Utah; the north and south side of Death Valley National Park straddling the California-Nevada border; Crystal Crag, a dramatic and rugged mass of rock south of Yosemite, plus other locations, followed by discussion and optional journaling/travelogue.

Cost: $20 (2-part series)  (non-district residents add $4)

Call 805-388-1952, ext. 100, to register for one of these classes and/or be added to a interest list.

Alcove: Mondays, April 10 and 24, May 8 and 22, and June 5 and 19, 9-10:15 a.m. (two-part series, pro level - at least one intro class required before you sign up. See video below to check out some of the adventures.)

So you’ve completed one of our Intro VR classes or you already have experience in VR, then you’re invited to join our intermediate class Alcove. Choose your mode of transportation: a convertible sportscar for a U.S. road trip, Las Vegas to Ventura, and eight other trips; take a hot-air balloon and view Kenya and the Swiss Alps from the sky; or hop on a double-decker bus for a guided tour of Washington, D.C., Paris, Tokyo, Dubai, Rome and other places. We’ll discuss the benefits of VR, chat about our experiences and document our travel adventures in our Adventures in VR passport.

Cost: $20 (2-part series)  (non-district residents add $4)

Call 805-388-1952, ext. 100, to register for one of these classes and/or be added to a interest list.

Wander: Tuesdays, April 11,  May 9, May 23, June 13 OR June 20, 9-10:15 a.m.  (individual classes, pro level - at least one intro class required before you sign up. See video below to check out some of the adventures.)

So you’ve completed one of our Intro VR classes or you already have experience in VR, then you’re invited to join our intermediate class Wander. Go wherever your heart desires, whether the address of your childhood home, your college campus, the streets of your hometown, a tropical or historical destination, or somewhere you’ve always wanted to explore or return to a favorite vacation spot to bring back those memories. We’ll discuss the benefits of VR and participate in a post-survey, chat about our experiences and document our travel adventures in our Adventures in VR passport.

Cost: $10  (non-district residents add $4)

Call 805-388-1952, ext. 100, to register for one of these classes and/or be added to a interest list.

Independent Adventures: Tuesdays, April 4-June 27, 1-2 p.m.  (individual classes, pro level - at least one intro class required before you sign up. See video below to check out some of the adventures.)

So you’ve completed one of our Intro VR classes or you already have experience in VR, then you’re invited to join our intermediate class Independent Adventures, where the world is your oyster. In Independent Adventures, you’ll be assigned a VR headset with pre-loaded apps. You can choose virtual travel, guided Tai Chi or meditation, cook in a virtual kitchen, go on "photo assignment" in Antarctica or Machu Picchu, Peru, experience heightened senses with Notes on Blindness, or snorkel or hangout in nature with animals. There are also musical concerts, brain training exercises and more! A staff member will be available to help troubleshoot any issues with the equipment or apps, or give you tips and tricks on navigating to the place you want to go.

Cost: $10 per session (non-district residents add $4)

Call 805-388-1952, ext. 100, to register for one of these classes and/or be added to a interest list.

SEE VIDEO AT VCSTAR.COM