DISCOVERIES : Babes in the Woods : Nursery Nature Walks are designed to instill in young children a respect for wildlife and the outdoors.

“The coyote takes the raccoon, the coyote takes the raccoon, hi-ho- the-derry-o, the coyote takes the raccoon!

“The raccoon takes the frog, the raccoon takes the frog, hi-ho-the-derry-o, the raccoon takes the frog!”

“The Food Chain Song,” an ecological version of “Farmer in the Dell,” is joyfully boomed out by a chorus of preschoolers, a few older children and their parents. The group has assembled on a sunny Saturday morning at Topanga State Park for a Nursery Nature Walk.

Under the guidance of walk leader Charisse Burdick, the young hikers spend the next two hours gathering acorns, sniffing leaves and admiring stink bugs. As they march along the trail, toddlers greet beetles and butterflies, point to soaring hawks and hug giant oak trees. They are getting to know and love nature.

Nursery Nature Walks, a seven-year-old, nonprofit, volunteer-run organization, introduces more than 15,000 children and parents every year to parks and wilderness areas throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties. “Nature is an appropriate playground for children,” says Judy Burns, the group’s executive director. “We train children to grow up respecting the outdoors and wildlife.”

Walks are geared for infants through kindergartners, but older sisters and brothers, grandparents and other family members are welcome. All hikes are less than a mile long, and most trails accommodate strollers. Walks are scheduled every day of the week.

Burdick, a Santa Monica preschool teacher and artist, is one of almost 200 Nursery Nature Walks docents who volunteer as walk leaders. Before hitting the trail, volunteers must complete eight classes to learn about reptiles, insects, amphibians, mammals, geology, plants, Native Americans and suggested trail activities.

“This is my way of doing my thing for the Earth,” Burdick says. “It is vitally important to our entire existence that we teach our kids at an early age to be kind to Mother Nature and the animals.”

To further spread their environmental message, Nursery Nature Walks recently published its first book, “Discover Trails, Tails and Tidepools in Pails,” which will be distributed nationwide. Written, designed, illustrated and typeset by the group’s volunteers, the book is a compilation of more than 100 of the most successful but simple nature activities for babies, preschoolers and toddlers.

Most activities in the book, such as “March and Dance With a Trail of Ants,” “Adopt a Pill Bug” and “Discover a Snail’s Silver Trail,” can easily be adapted to a back yard or sidewalk.

“We encourage people to get children out as early as possible, from the time their babies are born,” Burns says. “Young parents need to get out, and it’s great for kids. The earlier you affect children, the more impact you have. It’s a positive family activity to develop.”

“This is one of the few activities truly oriented to small children,” says Carolyn Bronson of Tarzana, who was accompanying her 16-month-old daughter, Allison, on her second Nursery Nature Walk. “There’s so much they can learn on a nice, two-hour walk.”

Allison is delighted to show off her discoveries. “Bug!” she exclaims, holding up a small stone. “Ocean,” she announces, reaching for a bottle of water.

Another tot spots a frog. The children cluster around as Burdick carefully scoops up the tiny amphibian and gives each youngster a close look. She returns the frog to its perch on a rock, and everyone claps as it hops away.

“Kids learn to touch things gently,” Burns explains. “They learn to not stick things down holes in the ground because those holes are animals’ homes. If they turn a log over to see the insects underneath, they carefully replace it; if they pick up a rock, they put it back. They learn to stop and smell the leaves and flowers, rather than picking or uprooting them.”

Children also learn to appreciate the sound of silence.

“Let’s put on our deer ears and walk quietly like a fox,” Burdick suggests. At her example, the children obediently cup their hands behind their ears and glide silently along the trail, carefully stepping around a beetle that crosses their path. All is hushed; only the songs of birds and the rustle of leaves fill the air. It’s hard to believe this silent group is mostly made up of children under 2 years old--until an infant shrieks and breaks the spell.

After an hour or so, the group stops for snacks in a grassy meadow. Parents busily unwrap sandwiches, open jars of baby food and pass around Cheerios while children wave leaves and feathers at each other.

Burdick, wearing a ladybug hand puppet, stands in the center of the group and pulls natural treasures from the bulging pockets of her khaki vest. First she holds up a pair of deer antlers. Then she passes around a walrus whisker. Next come a piece of buffalo hide and a buffalo tooth. Snakeskin, feathers and bones protrude from her pockets, and colorful drawings of animals dangle from a ring on her vest.

After lunch, the children and adults proceed on their walk. They spot turkey vultures, beehives and wasp nests. They find a tree trunk with a gaping hole, perfect for climbing through. They learn to identify coyote scat, or droppings.

As they finish the last stretch of the trail, the children reflect on the highlights of the walk.

“I liked the lizards,” says Chase Burdick, 6.

“I liked the horses,” says his sister, 10-year-old Paige. They hadn’t seen any horses all day, but that didn’t matter to Paige. “I’m a horse person,” she explains.

“I liked the food and drink,” chimes in David Halperin, who at 2 years old has already been on several Nursery Nature Walks.

The walk completed, Burdick leads the hikers in a final burst of song:

“I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills, I love the fountain, I love the daffodils. . . .”

Safety First

Children who are exposed to the wilderness early often grow up to be environmentally aware adults--that’s the theory behind Nursery Nature Walks. But parents introducing their youngsters to nature should take a few precautions. Nursery Nature Walks makes the following suggestions for children and their families:

Dress to protect: Long, loose pants, long-sleeved shirts, closed-toe shoes and hats are recommended to prevent sunburn, insect stings and bites, scratches and rashes.

Don’t drink the water: Ponds, streams and lakes are not safe for drinking. Bring your own water.

Don’t eat the plants: Poison oak and ivy are common along trails. Avoid touching these three-leaved plants. Also, don’t allow children to put plants in their mouths because some may be toxic.

No sticks: Walking and running with sticks can be dangerous, especially if a child trips on a bumpy trail.

Hands off: Holes in the ground often house animals, including snakes. Don’t drop rocks or other objects in holes, and keep your hands out.

Don’t stray: Keep children on the established trail.

Hitting the Trail

“Discover Trails, Tails and Tidepools in Pails,” published by Nursery Nature Walks, can be ordered aO. Box 250, 12021 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90025. Cost per book is $9.95 plus 82 cents sales tax and $2.50 shipping and handling for a total of $13.27.

Nursery Nature Walks are scheduled in more than 40 parks and wilderness areas throughout Southern California. A $5 donation per family is requested for each walk. For reservations, call (310) 364-3591.

For information, call Nursery Nature Walks at (310) 476-4084.

Upcoming Nursery Nature Walks in or near the San Fernando Valley:

Topanga State Park, Topanga

10 a.m. Saturday

10 a.m. Tuesday

4:30 p.m. July 25

9:30 a.m. Aug. 10

Rinaldi Park, Northridge

9:15 a.m. Tuesday

9:15 a.m. Aug. 4

TreePeople, Studio City

5 p.m. July 30

5 p.m. Aug. 18

10:30 a.m. Aug. 20