INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, needs volunteers to lead educational tours for children and adults of its Ice Age fossil collection. No knowledge of science is necessary. Training begins Friday and runs Fridays through Nov. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. Information: Helena Praks: (323) 857-6305.

* Five Acres, the Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society of Los Angeles County, located in Altadena, needs people to become foster parents, especially for teens. An orientation session will be held tonight from 6:30 to 8. Information: (626) 844-1430.

* Create-a-Smile in Santa Monica needs people to bring their pets to hospitals, centers for abused children, cerebral palsy facilities, battered-women shelters, nursing homes, facilities for inner city youth, handicapped centers and other facilities a few hours a month as part of its animal-assisted therapy program. An orientation workshop will be held tonight from 7 to 8. Information: (310) 392-6257.

* Malibu Lagoon Museum needs docents to greet the public, guide tours of its oceanfront Adamson Beach Cottage, and work with school groups. Training begins tomorrow and runs for five more Wednesdays. Information: (310) 456-8432.

* Showdown Training Center in Covina needs volunteers with experience in fund-raising to solicit donations and help coordinate a fund-raiser Saturday to help raise tuition for at-risk children participating in martial arts, dance and gymnastics. Information: (626) 332-7229.

* Volunteer Center, South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach, needs interviewers for court-referred clients in the Torrance office. In lieu of jail sentences and fines, clients are placed with nonprofit agencies to perform community service. Training is provided. Information: (310) 212-5009.

* Los Angeles Maritime Institute in San Pedro needs volunteers to sail as crew with its Topsail Youth Program. No experience is necessary. Topsail operates seven days a week, year-round. Information: (310) 833-6055.

* Family Studies Project at USC needs volunteers for a study on the effects of stress, conflict and coping on mothers and children. Children must be 9 to 11 years old. Mother-child pairs will be needed for about two hours. Information: Anna Marie Medina, (213) 740-1643.

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Information for this column should be submitted typed and double-spaced to Involvement Opportunities, SoCal Living, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053.