Ojai
Comprising a small 4.4 square miles, Ojai is one of California’s most unique and charming communities.Ojai is well known for its active art and cultural community and for its cultivation of a healthful and spiritual lifestyle. It is a distinct personality of its own and generates an active but relaxed neighborly environment.
The Ojai Valley was originally settled by the Chumash Indians, and the name has been interpreted to mean “moon’.The Valley is an intimate ten miles long and three miles wide, a paradisiacal setting, which must have inspired the Chumash to call it mystical, and which continues to cultivate an appreciation for the arts and culture, respect for nature, and an harmonious relationship between man and the environment.
Ojai shares its wealth each year through a number of events, gallery tours, and fairs that thousands of people from all over the world attend.The artists’ community and city co-sponsor an Open Studio Artist Tour where works in all media can be viewed and purchased from the town’s long list of talented creative artists.The Ojai Inn and Spa is a first-class health destination for world-weary travelers looking for a weekend of relaxation and rejuvenation.The Ojai Valley is a great weekend getaway, only 90 minutes from Los Angeles.Located on the southern edge of the beautiful Los Padres National Forest, beautiful vistas and nature trails are available for walking and exercise.
A delightful addition to the town are the Ojai Trolleys.Rides are a whopping 25 cents and the trolleys roll through limited areas of town every hour.
In addition to supporting its residents via art tours and events, the recreation department provides its residents with a full range of recreational and services: youth and adult activity classes, youth and adult volleyball, softball, flag football, basketball, soccer, tennis; teen fitness center and boxing program, a downtown skateboard park, a comprehensive gymnastics program, summer aquatics programs, lifeguard training class, sports tournament throughout the year, youth excursions, horse shows and more!
Ojai offers a delightful mix of small town charm with cultural amenities generally found larger towns and cities.Its residents value and protect small town community living while opening their portals to visitors and neighbors for their purpose of sharing their cultural wealth and supporting their own artistic and business community.Ojai is a prime example of an idyllic California way of life.
LOCATION
Ojai sits on Hwy 150 just east of Hwy 33 (north-south), on the southern edge of the beautiful Los Padres National Forest.Ojai is in the Oxnard-Thousand Oaks metro area.
Nearest cities to Ojai are Meiners Oaks (2.0 miles), Mira Monte about 3.4 miles, Oak View, (5.1 miles), and Ventura, which has a population over 50,000, is 12.1 miles away.
TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Three airports conveniently serve the Ojai area:Oxnard Airport is about 18 miles; Point Mugu Nas (Naval Base Ventura County) is about 25 miles in Point Mugu; and Santa Barbara Municipal is about 41 miles south in Santa Barbara. Local bus transportation is also available via Ventura County's VISTA bus service.
BRIEF HISTORY
The name “Ojai” is Native American in origin and means either “the nest” or “moon”.The valley was originally home to the Chumash Indians who believed that the valley had mystical powers, and many valley residents still do. The late 1700’s saw the arrival of Spanish missionaries and settlers.The first settlement in 1874 was named Nordhoff given in acknowledgment of an East Coast journalist who brought knowledge of the beauty, ideal climate, and healing powers of Ojai Valley to the rest of the country.Several well-known American filmmakers from the 30’s on have used the Valley as a setting, thus adding more of that magical association.
Ojai’s natural beauty, healing springs, advantageous location, and healthful and varied environment have made it a perfect spot for artists, nature lovers, healers, and spiritual seekers – people who are drawn to an harmonious environment, and who are cultivating the arts and skills that magnify a wholesome and sensitive way of life.
ABOUT EDUCATION
All public school children in Ojai attend schools in the Ojai Unified School District. In addition to core curriculum studies, the Department of Special Education offers a range of excellent programs and services for students who has difficulty adapting to the standard curriculum: counseling/mental health services, resource specialist programs, special day class programs; designated and instructional services for kids with various challenges and disabilities, such as speech and hearing, etc.Parents an integral part of the IEP program and are encouraged to participate in designing their child’s program.There are also many social, educational, networking, and supportive resources for families of Students in Special Education.
There are two high schools in the Ojai Unified School District - Nordhoff and Chaparral.Nordhoff serves the majority of high school students and provides the traditional core curriculum.
Chaparral High School is a continuation high school, which provides an alternative education for those students who, for various reasons, are not successfully completing the regular program.Chaparral recognizes individual needs and provides programs that address these needs, such as instruction that works around a work-study schedule or guidance services for students with serious attendance or behavioral problems.The staff at Chaparral is committed to providing a quality educational program for all students.
The Ojai District has five elementary schools and one junior high school.
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