YOUTH CAMP HAS GONE TO THE BIRDS CENTER TEACHES KIDS TO APPRECIATE ENVIRONMENT.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

NEWHALL - No other classroom in the county is surrounded by 350 acres of oak woodlands and chaparral with a babbling brook passing through.

That's probably why the Nature Camp at Placerita Canyon Nature Center was recently nominated as one of the best new Los Angeles County programs for children.

``All you have to do is look out the window, and there's an animal,'' said Frank Hoffman, recreation services leader for the center. ``We have the only year-round nature camp in the county, and the fact that I utilize live animals and guest speakers into the curriculum, I think, is very unique.''

Hoffman started the program six years ago when he was hired by the county to work at the nature center, but the camp switched to a year- round format last year to accommodate kids who attend school all year, qualifying it for an award in the new program category.

Activities at the camp focus on providing kids with a better appreciation and understanding of the environment, and incorporate nature hikes, guest speakers, interaction with live animals, games, and crafts so that children have fun while they learn, Hoffman said.

``I have a 90 percent return ratio - once the kids come they usually want to come back, and the parents seem to like the program, too,'' Hoffman said.

Known to the campers as ``Ranger Frank,'' Hoffman credits the success of the program to his fellow staffers at the nature center, his love of nature and the rapport he has with young children.

``I believe I know how to talk to children,'' he said. ``I treat them like little mature people, not like babies, and I think they like my high-energy level.''

Hoffman considers the nature center his home away from home. He met his wife, Mary, while working for the county, and married her at the park in October 1999. His work at Placerita earned him the 2000 Image Award, which recognizes the best county employee in each field.

``He loves his job - he lives his job,'' said co-worker Tina Raleigh. ``Frank grew up as a kid loving this stuff, and after trying out other careers he has come back to his first love.''

The Year-Round Nature Camps meets 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Thursday one week each month at Placerita Canyon Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall. The cost is $100 for the week, or $25 per day for campers ages 6-12. The next session will meet June 11-14. For information, call [phone].

``I like to think we have educated thousands of children over the years, teaching them about recycling, ecology, meteorology and all of the animals found in the area,'' Hoffman said. ``They need to know how to protect the Earth - these little kids are our future, and if they don't learn to take care of the environment, what will they have when they grow up?''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Wendy Horton introduces one of her tropical birds to young visitors to the Placerita Canyon Nature Center.

(2 -- 3) Conner Leahy, 6, above, and Matt Wooten, 11, left get an up-close education in birds at nature camp at the Placerita Canyon center.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer