SYLMAR : Park Scavengers Can Earn Easter Egg

An Easter hunt of another sort has been planned for Saturday at El Cariso Park, where any child--not just the best at rooting out and hoarding eggs--can win a prize.

As part of its El Cariso Park Project, the Mountains Education Program has organized a nature scavenger hunt in which children will have to find six objects, show them to program officials and return them to where they were found.

“Everyone who comes in and checks the list off completely will get an Easter egg,” said Fernando Gomez, the urban park professional coordinator at El Cariso Regional Park, 13100 Hubbard St. in Sylmar. One egg will include a certificate for a stuffed Easter bunny.

The children, who can be of any age, will have to find such objects as a seed pod, a smelly leaf--typically a eucalyptus leaf--and a fuzzy leaf.

They must take the objects in and show them to a contest organizer to get credit for them.

The children also will have to take in a piece of trash as part of the hunt, said Elizabeth Proctor, a spokeswoman for the Mountains Education Program, which tries to foster respect and understanding of the natural world through education projects.

The scavenger hunt, from noon to 3 p.m., is free. A child can join the hunt any time during those hours, Gomez said.

The El Cariso Park Project began last July using Proposition A funds approved by voters in 1992 for the development and acquisition of county parks.

Mountains Education Program members predicted that from 200 to 250 children will participate in the hunt.