The Junior Rangers program for 7- to...

The Junior Rangers program for 7- to 12-year-olds meets most weekends until summer at Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Today’s 11 a.m. session deals with Chumash life and includes games and activities designed to explain early village life to youngsters.

There are five sessions in the program, and they repeat several times over the next few months. The other topics are outdoor safety, swimmers and diggers (waterways of the lagoon), feathered friends and early California history. During these hourlong programs, rangers bring out artifacts for children to touch as well as taking them on nature walks to spot plants and animals.

Children who attend all five programs will become official Junior Rangers and receive a certificate of completion. This is a statewide parks program that works within general guidelines but adapts to local flora and fauna for subject matter. The park service has designed it to get children involved in the parks and to become better park visitors.

Junior Rangers is free, and no reservations are necessary. After today, programs are scheduled for Feb. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 21 and continue through March. Malibu Lagoon is at 23200 Pacific Coast Highway, a quarter mile west of Malibu Pier. Parking is $3 per car but, at this time of year, some street parking is available. Information: (213) 456-9497.