Park Open Houses to Feature Snakes, Birds and Horses

Today and Sunday, two parks are holding open houses, one emphasizing native plants and animals, the other, horses.

Eaton Canyon County Park, 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, holds its eighth annual open house today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be live gopher snakes for kids to pet as well as live rattlesnakes to observe from a safe distance, plus butterfly and insect exhibits.

Bird walks are scheduled for the morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m., with nature walks through the park continuing all day until 3:15 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., kids will participate in a tadpole rescue mission, netting tadpoles and releasing them in the nature center pond. Nature videos will be shown in the auditorium throughout the day. At 1 p.m., the Altadena Search and Rescue Team will demonstrate their techniques. Hot dogs and home-baked goodies will be on sale. Information: (818) 794-1866.

Kids and Horses

Sunday at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in the Santa Monica Mountains, the training and breeding facilities of Moorpark College Equine Demonstration Ranch will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students will take visitors through the ranch explaining the school’s program in equine management--and there are plenty of horses to see along the way.

All day long there will be stagecoach and surrey rides, pony rides, a horseshoe tournament and polo demonstrations. Visitors can see Wally Ross and his trick pony, Sparky, and his miniature horse, Rufus. Barbecued foods will be sold. Admission is free.

To reach Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, take the Wendy Street exit from the Ventura Freeway in Newbury Park. Drive south to Potrero Road. Turn west to Pinehill Road and park at the entrance. Information: (818) 888-3770.