Health Fairs for Children Set Throughout Southland

Kids Care Fair 1994, a free health screening and immunization fair for children from infancy to 18 years of age, will be held at over 40 sites throughout the Southland this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Six basic screenings will be offered at each site, including vision, dental, blood pressure and height, weight and growth. Free immunizations and a family health review will also be offered. In addition, information on a variety of health education topics such as nutrition, HIV and AIDS and prenatal health care will be found at many of the sites.

For information on locations in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside and Ventura counties call 800-870-KIDS.

MARINE SCIENCE

* Visitors can explore the natural habitats of Cabrillo Beach, from the Salinas de San Pedro wetlands to Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge and the fossil-filled cliffs behind the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, with the aquarium staff and volunteer naturalists on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (310) 548-7563.

HEALTH/MEDICINE

* An update examining the medical research and other matters that came out of the recent 10th International AIDS Conference in Yokohama, Japan, will be held at the Wilshire-Ebell Theatre on Thursday at 7 p.m. With Dr. Mark Katz serving as moderator, panelists will include Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Dr. W. David Hardy, Dr. Ron Mitsuyasu and other specialists in the field of AIDS research. Call L.A. Shanti for information at (213) 962-8197.

ENVIRONMENT

* A hike through the Nipomo Dunes near Santa Maria, the highest sand dunes on the West Coast, to explore the area’s geography and rare flora and fauna will be led by a Nature Conservancy naturalist on Sunday at 10 a.m. Sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the trip involves moderate difficulty and is not for the novice. Call (213) 744-3534.

* An extended nature walk to examine the midsummer growth and geologic history of the grounds of Soka University in the Santa Monica Mountains will be held on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Call (818) 880-4649.

SCIENCE FOR FAMILIES

* Children 6 and older can build a take-home volcano and learn about lava with science educator Michelle Sullivan on Friday at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Kidspace Museum in Pasadena. Call (818) 449-9144.

* Families will have an unusual opportunity to explore the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden at dusk during the Great Garden Nature Night, on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Educator Sally Isaacson will lead participants on a search for nocturnal animals such as owls and possums. Astronomer Richard Reed will point out stars and planets as the sky grows dark. Call (805) 563-2521.