The Wellness

Community Valley/Ventura

Beate Christina Waggoner of Camarillo will chair The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura's 15th annual Holiday Homes Tour, a selfguided tour that is the organization's largest fundraiser.

Waggoner is seeking volunteers to serve on organizing committees for the tour, which takes place Dec. 2 and 3. Proceeds help fund free programs of support, education and hope for people fighting cancer and for their families.

"The Holiday Homes Tour has always been a favorite annual event in the community, and I am honored to be part of this amazing vehicle for bringing hope to local families," Waggoner said. "There are many opportunities for people to get involved on committees and shape the tour in this milestone year."

Volunteers are invited to serve on the following committees: entertainment, logistics, house management, finance, boutique, raffle and marketing. To volunteer, call Ellyn Wallen at (805) 379-4777.

Decorated homes selected from the Agoura, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks communities typically make up the tour.

For more information on The Wellness Community and its free programs for cancer patients, visit www.TwcVv.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

of Ventura County

The recipe to make a world of difference in Ventura County is simple: one caring adult, matched with one child, making one-to-one contact each week.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, mentors make big magic with little moments, simple things like building sand castles, shooting hoops, just hanging out or eating ice cream.

Through consistent, supportive contact, program volunteers can help children reach their potential. The children of Ventura County need so many more people to help light their way. The organization is the nation's

leading youth mentoring program, changing the lives of volunteers as well as the children they serve.

"Be a friend, be a mentor, just be there for a child" is their motto.

To learn how to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, call for more information: (805) 484-2282, ext. 24.

Westlake Meals on Wheels

Drivers are needed for the Westlake Meals on Wheels program., which covers Thousand Oaks east of Duesenberg Drive and all of Westlake Village, Agoura and Agoura Hills.

The commitment is for volunteers able to drive one day a week. The service would require 1 to 11/2 hours, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meals are prepared at the East Campus of the Los Robles Regional Medical Center off Via Merida/ Lakeview Canyon Road in Westlake Village. Drivers pick up meals in the morning near the kitchen. Potential drivers are encouraged to call Debbie Garretson at (805) 370-4295 and leave a message.

Topanga Canyon Docents

Topanga Canyon Docents are seeking volunteers interested in learning about the natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains and who in turn would be interested in sharing this knowledge by leading mid-week interpretive walks for schoolchildren and weekend family walks within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area. On special Sundays the docents also host visitors at the nature center in Topanga State Park in Topanga Canyon.

The group will begin their 32nd annual fall training classes at 9:30 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 16. They will meet on alternate Saturdays at Topanga State Park through Sat., Dec. 2.

The six all-day sessions will be taught by leading experts from area universities, museums and natural areas. Subjects will include geology, botany, Native Americans, mammals, ecology, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibian and interpretive techniques.

The cost of $50 includes membership in the Topanga Canyon Docents, an all-volunteer nonprofit group, all written materials and handouts and introductory walks to acquaint new participants with the local mountains.

For further information, call Beverly Weil at (818) 758-1964.

Ventura County

Maritime Museum

The Ventura County Maritime Museum is seeking volunteers to conduct guided tours, staff the reception desk, do research, or lend a hand in the office when needed. Volunteers also manage and staff the elementary education program, bringing history alive for local schoolchildren, and support programs in marine science on the Channel Islands Marine Floating Lab.

A 12-session docent training class is scheduled from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Sept. 11 through Nov. 20, at the museum, 2731 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard, at Channel Islands Harbor. For more information or to enroll, call Pat Wynhoff at (805) 984-0822.

Retired and Senior

Volunteer Program

Adults ages 55 and above are invited to share their time, skills and energy to help local residents. Among the current positions volunteers may fill are the following:

Drivers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels, take cancer patients to doctor appointments, shop for and deliver groceries to shut-ins.

Office assistants are needed at Many Mansions, the city of Thousand Oaks, Los Robles Regional Medical Center's East Campus.

Food service helpers are needed at the Meals on Wheels kitchen and at the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program snack bar.

For detailed information on these and other volunteer opportunities for men and women ages 55 and above, call (805) 3812742 or visit the office at 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays.

The Children's

Nature Institute

The Children's Nature Institute will hold a five-session leadership training. Participants will be certified to lead nature walks for newborns through 8-year-olds at trails near their homes.

The training will be presented from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 27 to Oct. 25 at various Los Angeles park sites, including Solstice Canyon in Malibu, Temescal Canyon in Pacific Palisades and Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills. To participate, call Suzanne Curtis at (310) 860-9484.

National Public Lands Day

The nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve public lands is on Sat., Sept. 30. For information, call the National Park Service at (805) 370-2301.

Cold Creek Docents

The Cold Creek Docents need volunteers to lead nature walks with small groups of elementary school students at UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve in Calabasas. Six morning training sessions will be offered on Mondays in October and November.

Classes will be taught by resource professionals and include Santa Monica Mountains ecology, early Chumash culture, geography, interpretive techniques, and a special workshop to make replicas for teaching. For details, call (818) 5919363.