Nature Center Offers Summer Workshops

Situated in a highly developed urban area, the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach has been described as an “emerald in the rough.” The 85-acre preserve supports a wide variety of animals and plants.

Opossums, rabbits, skunks and red foxes are some of the animals that can be found there. At least 10 species of turtles have been identified at the site, which includes two lakes. Egrets and herons have been sighted and insects are plentiful.

Summer is a busy time at the center, with a number of educational programs available. Tonight at 7:30 families can join the nature center staff in a “Families Night Walk” to explore the grounds and learn about nocturnal animals. On Friday, the staff will discuss the plants and animals at a campfire program.

Also being offered at the center are Super Science Workshops for children ages 5 to 9. Each one-week workshop focuses on a particular area of interest. Beginning Monday, children can learn about wetland ecology, plants and animals and how native Californians used them. Snakes, toads and lizards will highlight the following week’s workshops, beginning Aug. 15.

Programs are scheduled throughout the summer. Call (310) 421-9431, Ext. 3415.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

* Children ages 8 to 12 can learn how to find the constellations, make scale-model solar systems and learn about the future of space exploration in a two-session workshop offered by UCLA Extension. “A Child’s Tour of the Universe” will meet Saturday and Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. An evening observation session in the Santa Monica Mountains will also be held Aug. 13. Call (310) 825-7093.

* The Children’s Museum in La Habra is featuring an exhibit that highlights many children’s favorite creatures, bugs and spiders. “What’s Bugging You?” explores the world of insects and teaches children how important these small animals are to the environment. It will run through Sept. 11. Call (310) 905-9793.

* Kidspace Museum in Pasadena has several activities planned this week to keep kids entertained and informed. On Wednesday, children ages 4 and older can soar like eagles, dive like dolphins and crawl like crocodiles in “Animal Moves” workshops at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

* The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Traveling Tide Pool Touch Tank will be at Kidspace on Friday at 4 p.m. Children 6 and older can hold a live starfish or see crawling sea cucumbers.

* All ages are welcome to celebrate the oceans of the world during “Salt Water Day” on Sunday at Kidspace. Activities, including making shell mobiles and wave collages, begin at 1 p.m. Call (818) 449-9144.

HEALTH/MEDICINE

* Dr. Patricia Ganz, director of the division of cancer prevention and control research at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, will discuss the health care concerns of women with cancer as part of a lecture series sponsored by UCLA’s Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center for Women with Cancer tonight at 7 p.m. in the Jules Stein Eye Institute Auditorium. Call (310) 794-6644.

BOTANY

* The Friends of Soka University will host a Botanical Walk at the newly dedicated John and Juliana Gensley Native Plant Demonstration Garden and Botanical Research Center on the Calabasas campus today at 10 a.m. Native plant species that may be in bloom include sticky monkey flowers, woolly blue curls and a variety of sages. Call (818) 880-4649.