JAUNTS : Children Get Chance to Learn About Time, Tide, Sea Life : Naturalist will be at Faria County Park to explain the fascinating creatures who live at the edge of the ocean.

Explore the tide pools with marine biologist Susan Williams and you’ll find creatures you’ve never heard of--such as the mighty piddock clams that bore Swiss-cheese craters into solid rock.

Williams conducts tide pool exploration programs through Ventura’s recreation department. The next one, scheduled for May 20 at Faria County Park, is billed as a family outing for kids 5 years and older.

If you go, expect to get wet. You’ll be sloshing around, scrambling over algae-covered rocks, searching for the zillions of sea critters that thrive in what is known as the “intertidal zone,” the rocky spots near the shore that are covered during high tide and exposed during low tide. The rocks trap water during low tide, forming little pools.

Low tide is the best time to explore tide pools. You’ll likely spot sea anemones, those mushy balls with flowing green tentacles. Resist the temptation to pick one up.

“I teach proper anemone etiquette,” Williams says. The sticky anemones glom onto rocks for survival and shouldn’t be disturbed, she says, but touching is OK.

Williams points out the bits of shell and rock on the anemone’s back. “They reflect the sun so it doesn’t get hot,” she said.

If you’re lucky, you’ll come across an octopus. Williams has found them in tide pools, some 1 1/2 feet in diameter with a center the size of a fist.

Starfish are tide pool inhabitants, too. But Williams pooh-poohs the name, opting for the more biologically correct “sea star.”

“They’re not exactly fish,” she notes.

You might think a barnacle is just, well, a barnacle. But Williams will point out the gooseneck barnacle that actually looks like a long-necked bird. And the black turban snail that looks just like its name. The sandcastle worms get their name from the honeycomb-shaped colonies they build out of sand.

Williams can make a sand crab seem fascinating. She’ll point to the crab’s two eyes that stick out from its body like antennas. She’ll explain how some snails sort of have a trap door for protection.

She also gets into the miraculous feat of survival these sea creatures perform daily with the coming and going of the tides.

“They survive the crashing waves and when the water goes away,” Williams says. Some have suction apparatus that lets them cling to rocks. Some can close themselves up to keep from drying out.

Williams has a special treat for children on these outings. She lets them dress up in sea animal costumes, acting out the various ways the intertidal creatures get their food.

Williams has some advice for those who sign up for her program. Don’t traipse barefoot through the tide pools. Wear an old pair of sneakers or water shoes. Bring dry clothes and wear sunscreen and a hat. And try not to disturb the tide pool inhabitants.

Most tide pools are in protected areas where beach-goers are not allowed to take anything, she says. However, Faria County Park is not.

“It’s one of the few places you can bring home souvenirs, but I encourage them not to be greedy,” she said.

You can explore tide pools on your own. However, there are not that many good spots in Ventura County. Carpinteria State Beach is one of the best around. Others include Leo Carrillo State Beach near the Los Angeles County border and Frenchy’s Cove on Anacapa Island. Of course, any rocky spot along the coast has the potential.

For optimum tide pool viewing, the fall and winter months are the best because the tides are the lowest then. Of course, that’s when dipping a toe in the water is a pretty nippy experience. With summer coming, along with warmer weather, it’s more inviting, especially for kids.

To find out when the two low tides are each day, pick up a tide table from most any sporting goods store, surf shop or tackle store. The table lists the times for the two peak low tides and the height of the tide. The lower the height, the better the viewing.

For easy viewing and to learn more about tide pools, visit the man-made indoor tide pool at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center at Ventura Harbor. On Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., rangers talk about the animals living there--everything from anemones to urchins.

Details

* WHAT: Family tide pool exploration.

* WHEN: May 20, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

* WHERE: Faria County Park, off Pacific Coast Highway between Ventura and La Conchita.

* HOW MUCH: $4 per person (children under 5 are free but they must be in a child carrier or be able to walk a mile over sand and rocks).

* FYI: Registration required.

* CALL: 658-4726.