For places to shoot/learn, there are some fun places up near Ventura and Santa Clarita;
The Ojai Valley Gun club sponsors the following for kids and it's a great time, have taken both kids.
http://www.dock.net/ovgc/flyer_with_map.pdf
There is also OakTree in Newhall;
Oaktree Gun Club
There is also some BLM land off the 14, just North of Rosamond where you can go shoot anything your want...including blowing stuff up
