Notes about your surroundingsA Look Back--A program...

Notes about your surroundings

A Look Back--A program on Native Americans of the area and how they lived will be given by Briggs Christian Morris-Smith, a 45-year resident of Laguna Beach. He will speak at the meeting of the South Coast Audubon Society, offering firsthand knowledge of the area before it was developed. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Community Center in Dana Point, 34052 Del Obispo St. (714) 498-4407.

Sea-Dazzled--Coastal whales and dolphins will be the focus of a talk by Doug 1Thompson, a specialist on marine mammals at a lecture presented by the Orange County Natural History Assn. The program, “The Myth, the Magic, the Future,” begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sea Country Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road, Laguna Niguel. (714) 487-9155.

Wing Tips--Want to know where butterflies go at night or how they protect themselves? Could you tell the difference between a painted lady and a red admiral? Don Mitchell will be giving lessons in butterfly identification and telling stories about their behavior at a Rancho Mission Viejo Land Conservancy workshop Saturday. Mitchell leads the annual July butterfly count at the conservancy. The workshop runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Meet at the conservancy office, behind the El Adobe restaurant parking lot at 31891 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. Cost is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and older. (714) 489-9778.

Pool Games--Employers can put some pizazz in their carpool programs with these February promotions, suggested by Southern California Rideshare. In honor of Presidents Day,employees receive a “George Washington” dollar for each day they rideshare and an “Abe Lincoln” $5 bill if they carpool all week. On Valentine’s Day, get employees together for a Meet-Your-Match party. The object is not romance, but forming carpools and vanpools. Decorate with a Valentine theme and serve refreshments.