Outdoor Digest.

Byline: The Register-Guard

'SLEEP WITH THE SHARKS, LADDIE?' Young marine enthusiasts are invited to sleep with the sharks and get face-to-fins with denizens of the deep at Newport Aquarium's "P.D. Shark sleep-over" event, to be held July 29-30. Participants will bed down next to sharks, skates and rays in the Passages of the Deep Event Room, right under the window looking directly into the "Open Sea" shark tank. An educational scavenger hunt will take youngsters from shore to sea as they learn how to identify the Passages of the Deep sea creatures. Before turning in for the night, enjoy games, prizes, pizza and a movie. In the morning, wake up to breakfast muffins and juice before venturing behind the scenes to watch the sea otters, seals and sea lions have their breakfast. The program runs from 7 p.m. on the 29th to 9 a.m. on the 30th. Cost is $40, with discounts for members of the Aquarium or P.D. Shark Kids' Club. Pre-registration is required by July 24. Call 541-867-3474, ext. 5225 or surf the Aquarium Web site: www.aquarium.org.

OH, THAT BLOOMIN' ALGAE!: Willamette National Forest officials have identified another toxic algae bloom at Hills Creek Reservoir, resulting in the temporary closure of Larison Cove. Other areas of the reservoir may be affected as the bloom runs its course. As a result, the Forest Service recommends that swimming, wading or other skin contact with lake water be avoided in any area where there is visible blue-green algae in the water or where the water appears discolored. Pets should also be kept away from the water. While all closures will be posted, officials recommend checking with the Middle Fork Ranger District before heading to Hills Creek.

BUTTERFLY COUNTS SCHEDULED: The Eugene-area chapter of the North American Butterfly Association plans two "butterfly count" outings this month. The first of the two annual counts, to be held Saturday, will focus on the Eugene-Springfield area, where a record 24 different species were tallied in last summer's count. Participants will split into teams and count in several areas, including Alton Baker Park, Skinner's Butte Park, West Eugene Wetlands, Mount Pisgah Arboretum, Spencer Butte Park, Mount Baldy and Armitage Park. Call count leader Sharon Blick (683-4635) to pre-register. The second summer count, to be held July 27 in the meadows of the central Cascades, will visit several sites on the Willamette National Forest, including Browder Ridge, Iron Mountain, Cone Peak, Robinson Lake and Wolf Rock. Call Eric Wold (431-7388) to pre-register for the Cascades count. Each outing costs $3 per participant, and beginning butterfly watchers are welcome to join the outings.

LANDSCAPES IN WATERCOLORS: Mount Pisgah Arboretum will host an outdoors workshop in landscape painting on July 20. Artist Merideth Ferrell will demonstrate the use of watercolor washes and vibrant summer colors, using Mount Pisgah's landscapes for inspiration. Cost of the workshop is $25. For details or to register for the workshop, call 747-1504.

SOCIAL SECURITY REQUIREMENT EASED: Some young hunters and anglers no longer need to provide their Social Security number to obtain a license, as a result of new rules adopted by Oregon's Child Support Program. The change exempts the following from the Social Security number requirement - small game/bird hunting licenses for youth under 14 years; angling licenses for youth under 14 years; adult daily angling licenses for one, two, three, four or seven days; landowner bird hunting licenses; and landowner angling licenses (free). Federal and state laws adopted in 1996 and 1997 require applicants of professional, driver, occupational and recreational hunting and fishing licenses to provide their Social Security number to aid child support enforcement authorities. In 2001 the Oregon Legislature changed the law to allow greater flexibility; the new rules implement that law.