PROGRAM TRANSPORTS YOUTHS TO OTHER CULTURES.

Byline: R.A. Hutchinson Daily News Staff Writer

From the Polynesian islands to the Deep South, children in the Conejo Valley will take their studies of foreign cultures afar this summer without leaving Thousand Oaks.

Beginning Monday, the American Association of University Women is sponsoring its 20th annual Youth Cultural Program at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave. For a week at a time, children in first through sixth grades will immerse themselves in the culture of a particular region.

``We're not looking for a tourist's approach. It's for a multicultural experience,'' said Colleen Briner-Schmidt, one of this year's organizers. ``It's a unique opportunity to study the unique culture of another country or area.''

The youngsters Monday will set sail in their imaginations to Greece, where they'll learn about Mediterranean cuisine, traditional Greek dances, food, music, art and drama. A Greek dancing troupe is also scheduled to visit.

Briner-Schmidt, who is director of Greek Week, said that traditionally a native speaker kicks off the week with a presentation and short speech.

Then students spend between 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. rotating between four teachers who specialize in food and games, arts and literature, dance and music, and arts and crafts. The children get to prepare the food, participate in games and create arts and crafts during the week.

On Fridays, a half-hour program is open to parents who want to sample the food or to watch their children present a play or dance. Arts and crafts representing the week's work are also on display.

``We try not to repeat the countries too often. We try to do a diversity of cultures. For example, we don't want to do too many Mediterranean countries,'' she said.

Briner-Schmidt said the remaining programs for this year include a week in the Deep South from July 15-19, Peru on July 22-26, and Polynesia from July 29-Aug. 2. She said the South and Greece were both chosen because Greece is where the Olympics originated and this year's Summer Games are in Atlanta, a historic city in the South.

AAUW member Barbara Wilson said the program makes culture come alive to the children.

``Instead of just reading about it in a social studies book, they get to experience it,'' she said.

The program also fits in with AAUW's mission of providing equality of education for women and girls. Wilson said that as membership becomes more diverse in the nonprofit organization, it is important for AAUW members to learn more about other cultures and to share that information.

``In this country, there is the image of the United States as a melting pot. In that scenario, people tend to lose their identities. Through a program like this, we show the children that we place a value on heritage,'' Wilson said.

Eighty children can enroll in each session, though the first week of class is full. Space is available in the later classes. For more information, call [phone]. The cost per week is $50, which covers all materials.