Nature Walks in Mountains, Canyons

Nursery Nature Walks offers walks for infants and toddlers and their older siblings and parents. (The term walks may be a slight misnomer, since it refers also to babies being pushed in strollers or carried in backpacks.) The ambitious schedule offers docent-led outings all over the Santa Monica Mountains, north to Placerita Canyon, east to Arroyo Seco and south to El Dorado.

Led by volunteers who have been trained to make nature exciting to the youngest audience, the walks bring together up to eight families. Some parks, such as Will Rogers State Park, have wide stroller-accessible roads that groups take. Others, such as Topanga State Park, require backpacks.

In parks like Will Rogers, where there are native yucca plants, docents will show kids how the local Indians made rope by breaking off part of a leaf, pounding it on a rock and braiding the strands. When California lilacs are in bloom, kids will make soap by mixing a little water with the blossoms. Docents are always on the lookout for lizards and birds to make the day special for kids, but even deer tracks can be exciting. All along the walk, kids are encouraged to touch and smell the nature around them while learning good conservation habits.

Families should reserve space a few days to a week in advance. Next weekend’s schedule includes walks on Saturday in El Dorado Park, Long Beach, and in Santa Ynez Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. On Sunday, there will be a walk through Topanga State Park. All walks begin at 10 a.m. and last about two hours. A donation of $3 per family is requested, but no one is turned away. Walks are planned most weekends. For reservations, call the Pacific Palisades-Malibu YMCA, (213) 454-5591.