SCIENCE / MEDICINE : Asthmatic Kids Get a Few Days at Camp
There are approximately 150,000 children in Los Angeles County who have asthma, according to the American Lung Assn. Asthma is a serious chronic disease in children, causing more hospitalization and emergency room visits than any other childhood illness. The American Lung Assn. of Los Angeles County will be sponsoring the 14th Annual Asthma Camp for these youngsters Aug. 11-17.
In addition to standard summer camp fare, such as hiking, sports and crafts, the Asthma Camp also offers educational programs to help children understand their disease, recognize triggers and learn how to prevent and control asthmatic episodes.
Staffed by trained camp counselors and health-care professionals, the campsite is in the San Bernardino National Forest near Lake Arrowhead. Children ages 8-14 who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma can apply.
Some Lung Assn. scholarships are available, but space in the program is limited, so early registration is essential. Call (213) 935-5864 or (818) 797-5864.
ARCHEOLOGY
The reign of Akhenaten, the ruler who initiated major changes in ancient Egyptian culture and religion, will be the subject of a symposium at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (213) 744-3534.
ENVIRONMENT
Families can explore the environment of Cooper Canyon in a naturalist-led trip sponsored by the Sierra Club’s Natural Science Section on Saturday. Participants should bring water and wear boots for the daylong outing, which begins at 9 a.m. Call (818) 787-2294 or (213) 429-6953.
ORNITHOLOGY
The birds and environment of Franklin Canyon will be the focus of a morning trip led by a member of the Franklin Canyon Bird Club and the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom, a nonprofit educational group, on July 28 at 7:30 a.m. Call the Los Angeles Audubon Society for information, (213) 876-0202.
SCIENCE FOR KIDS
July has been designated “Build It” month at the Los Angeles Children’s Museum. In the Health Education Learning Project, children can learn about gravity, loads and stress through science experiments. In workshops planned throughout the month, youngsters can also learn how items such as typewriters and radios work by taking them apart or by building robots. Call (213) 687-8800.
Instructor Jon Hodge will give “A Child’s Tour of the Universe” for children 8 to 12 years old in two morning workshop classes at UCLA and an evening observation in the local mountains, Saturday and July 28. Call UCLA Extension, (213) 825-7093.
Kidspace Museum in Pasadena also has a full schedule of activities planned for kids, including workshops for children ages 4 and up to learn to identify different types of rocks and gems, Tuesday through Friday at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., and a puppet-making workshop for children to learn about fish and amphibians, July 24-27 at 2 and 3:15 p.m. Call (818) 449-9144.
ASTRONOMY
The Los Angeles Astronomical Society will be sponsoring a “star party” to view the constellations of the summer sky at their facility near Gorman on Saturday. Viewing should be quite good since the new moon occurs on that evening. Call (213) 926-4071.
MARINE SCIENCE
Plankton, sea spiders and skeleton shrimp are some of the marine animals students in grades 7-9 will be studying under microscopes and in the field in a series of morning workshops taught by staff members at the Cabrillo Marine Museum July 23-27. Call (213) 548-7562.
HEALTH
The San Fernando Valley Chapter of the American Lupus Society will meet on Thursday in the IFL building penthouse at Northridge Hospital at 7:30 p.m. The society meets the third Thursday of every month. Call (818) 609-8910.
