Educational Cruises Opened to Public

More than 100,000 students have taken educational cruises offered by the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point over the last 10 years. Previously only available to students, they are now open to the general public under four new programs.

With the help of the latest technologies, such as robotic video cameras, participants can learn about a wide variety of marine plants and animals, some more than 200 feet below the surface. Trawl nets will bring up sea urchins, halibut and other ocean bottom dwellers for visitors to examine. Mud samples inhabited by clams, worms and sea stars also will be brought up with special equipment, while plankton nets will capture the microscopic organisms for viewing under video microscopes on deck.

The four programs are an Underwater Forests Cruise on Aug. 29, highlighting the kelp forests; an Environmental Fishing Cruise on Aug. 29, to learn about fish that live in the reefs off Dana Point; the Floating Lab Dusk Cruise, offered each weekend through Sept. 5; and a Bioluminescence Night Cruise this Saturday, which will explore the marine night life off Dana Point. Reservations are required, (714) 496-2274.

ASTRONOMY

* A program on “Stars of the Summer Sky,” an introduction to the season’s constellations, will be the offered at the Los Angeles Valley College Planetarium program Friday at 8 p.m. Weather permitting, the Observatory’s 16-inch Celestron telescope will be open for viewing before and after the program. Call (818) 781-1200, Ext. 335.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

* Maris Sidenstecker will lead children ages 4 to 6, and 7 and older, in an exploration of whales in “Whales on Wheels” workshops at the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena on Friday . The program for children 4 to 6 is at 2 p.m., for 7 and older at 3 p.m. Call (818) 449-9144.

* The El Dorado Nature Center’s “Super Science Series” for children 6 to 9 will continue through Sept. 10. Weeklong classes include workshops on the methods scientists use to solve problems and an exploration of the forest, lake and chaparral habitats of the center. Call (310) 421-9431.

* Nursery Nature Walks docents will lead an outing to Malibu Lagoon for families with babies and small children on Friday at 10 a.m. Reservations are required. Call (310) 364-3591.

SCIENCE FOR EDUCATORS

* The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, in conjunction with the UC Santa Barbara extension, will offer summer science workshops in geology and tide pool environments for elementary school teachers. Geology classes will be held Aug. 23 and 24; tide pool classes on Aug. 30 and 31. Call (805) 682-4711, Ext. 333.

HEALTH / MEDICINE

* Neurologist Howard Chew and physical therapist Vicki Barry-Chagas will discuss the prevention and treatment of headaches in a community education seminar sponsored by Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital on Thursday at 7 p.m. Preregistration is required; call (800) 356-2824.