Involvement Opportunities

As the school year begins, many Southern Californians would like to help youngsters through the gift of volunteering. Here are just a few community- and city-based agencies that provide some opportunities:

* Cabrillo Museum in San Pedro needs volunteers to narrate whale-watching trips aboard boats and to lecture about whales to school groups. Classes are Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Information: Larry Fukuhara, (310) 548-7562.

* The Maple Counseling Center seeks volunteers for one-hour shifts helping elementary school students who are having academic difficulties. Tutoring sessions are 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Horace Mann Elementary School and on Thursdays at Beverly Vista Elementary School, both in the Beverly Hills area. A commitment of two hours per week is requested. Information: Adrienne Weise, (310) 271-9999, Ext. 212.

* Tutors are needed at Esperanza Community Housing Corp. in central Los Angeles to help students with homework and participation in after-school programs. Information: Yadera Arevelo or Elizabeth Eve, (213) 748-7285.

* Tutors work with hands-on activities at the Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site in Long Beach. Volunteer tour guides or docents are needed to help fourth-graders explore household objects and useful herbs and to assist with ranch chores. Training is Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Information: (562) 570-1755.

* Volunteer fathers are needed to serve as mentors to the male juveniles in the Los Angeles County Probation System. A program run by New Directions for Youth Inc. provides services to at-risk youths and their families. Information: (310) 212-5009.

* Adult volunteers are being recruited as mentors to children from single-parent families of all religious and ethnic backgrounds in Los Angeles for the Jewish Big Brothers / Camp Max Straus. The Sunday programs include sports and activities. Information: (213) 852-1173.

* Professional working adults (usually in their 20s and 30s) are being sought to increase the membership of Partners for Children. Activities include fund-raising, networking and other activities for the Educational Resource and Services Inc. center. Information: Susan Jorenby, (310) 318-2130.

* Volunteer teachers are needed at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Learning Center to help 5-year-olds to adults. Those interested should have a strong command of English and be available a minimum of four hours a week. Information: Carol Essey, (310) 855-4700.

* Basketball coaches are needed at the Centinela Valley YMCA for its new Junior Lakers Youth Basketball League. Volunteers need to be available twice a week (one practice and one game) for 10 weeks. Information: (310) 212-5009.

* Information for this column should be submitted typed and double-spaced to Aaron Davis, Involvement Opportunities, Life & Style, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053.