FIST LADIES TAKE ROLE TO HEART IN L.A. FOR DAY, BUSH TOUTS PARKS, RED DRESS EXHIBIT.

Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN

Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE -- First lady Laura Bush dropped in on Balboa magnet school Wednesday, where fourth-graders showed her objects used by Chumash Indians and early settlers of the Santa Monica Mountains.

She passed bear hides, chaps and a mortar and pestle. Spotting a Chumash ball-and-cup toy, the first lady challenged student Simi Balyan.

"Can you show me?" she asked the 10-year-old from Chatsworth.

Balyan confidently grabbed the toy and made a first attempt to swing the ball, attached by a string, into the mouth of the cup.

No luck.

But Balyan was second-time lucky, and the first lady rewarded the young student with enthusiastic applause.

"It was really cool," said a beaming Balyan, who added that she couldn't wait to tell her family about her encounter with the first lady.

Bush's visit to Northridge's Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary School was part of a one-day visit to Los Angeles.

Earlier in the day, Bush met with former first lady Nancy Reagan to announce the opening of a collection of first-lady red dresses at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The exhibit's aim is to help raise awareness of heart disease among women.

Bush also was in town to promote the national Junior Rangers program, the National Park Service's effort to engage young people and their families in the country's national parks.

Back at Balboa magnet, Bush's enthusiasm for national parks had an effect on Balyan, who said she was going to ask her parents to take her to Washington, D.C., to see the White House -- also listed as a national park.

"I learned our national parks are very important to the nation."

The approximately two dozen fourth-grade students, who were learning about the different cultures that have inhabited the Santa Monica Mountains, were sworn in as junior rangers by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.

Kempthorne recited the pledge, "I promise to enjoy and protect my national parks and to live as earth's best friend, and to help others to do the same."

Bush discussed the benefits of the national parks system, telling students they are good ways to learn about both science and history.

"I like to go hike in the national parks all over, and California has some of the very best national parks anywhere because you've got Yosemite, which is a wonderful park to hike in and very beautiful...

"And think of the great big trees you have, the sequoias and the redwoods, the huge trees, and they're in no other place in the world," Bush told a group of students while sitting at a small round table.

She said California has 24 national parks, more than any other state. "And they're protected because they belong to all of us ... to all Americans."

Park Ranger Judy Joy Lively said she hoped the first lady's support of national parks and the Junior Rangers program would encourage kids and families to explore the protected sites.

"It gives kids insight into the parks and makes them feel like they can play a valuable role in promoting the protection of national parks," Lively said.

Tight security and heavily controlled media events marked Bush's visit.

Nancy Reagan, who did not speak and walked slowly with assistance, stood by the red Oscar de la Renta dress she wore when President Reagan was knighted -- easily the smallest dress among those worn by Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Betty Ford and Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson.

And Bush's own $8,500 Oscar de la Renta on display was the one she wore to the Kennedy Center Honors in December, when four women at the reception wore the same dress -- forcing her to go upstairs and change.

"Three other women had exactly the same dress, which goes to show women love red dresses," Bush said as she clutched Reagan's hand and talked to reporters.

The first ladies strolled "The Heart Truth's First Ladies Red Dress Collection."

"I love to be here with Mrs. Reagan," Bush said. "She especially ... was known for her style."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) First ladies Nancy Reagan, left, and Laura Bush unveil first-lady red dresses at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

(2) Fourth-graders at Balboa magnet school show first lady Laura Bush objects the Chumash used in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer