Spring has just arrived. It's a great time to plant a new garden and to spring into something new, like volunteering your time-perhaps to teach schoolchildren about the beauty of wildflowers or to bring a bouquet brimming with the season's vibrant colors to a frail elderly person who could use a visit, a smile and a chat.

There are lots of ways to make the lives of others a little bit sunnier.

Oxnard

The Carnegie Art Museum seeks adults ages 18 and up who are able to contribute 8 to 20 hours of volunteer service and make a responsible monthly commitment to the fine arts facility at 424 S. C St. in downtown Oxnard, housed in a historic neoclassical building next to Plaza and Centennial parks.

Call (805) 385-8158 for a volunteer application. An interview will then be scheduled.

Volunteer services are needed to assist in a wide range of projects such as: archiving, porch gardening, special events, networking, visitor reception, clerical organization and mailings. Volunteers are also sought to assist the museum's education department in preparation for tours, family programs, workshops and members' studio visits.

Projects can also be customized to fit a volunteer's special work experiences. For general museum information, visit www.vcnet.com/carnart.

Thousand Oaks The Conejo Free Clinic, a nonprofit organization that provides legal and medical services to the community, is seeking someone with knowledge of Quickbooks to volunteer at the clinic in Thousand Oaks and to serve as bookkeeper. The job requires entering data on Quickbooks and providing a quarterly report of income and expenses. For information, call Sharon at (805) 379-1918.

Conejo Recreation and Park District's Therapeutic Recreation Unit needs volunteers to assist staff in therapeutic recreation programs serving individuals with disabilities. Volunteers provide the individual attention necessary for maximum participation and development of skills by program participants.

In addition, they allow additional people to be served by increasing program supervision capabilities.

Anyone age 15 and older may volunteer. Those under age 15 are encouraged to volunteer with a parent until a level of familiarity and comfort has been established. For information, call (805) 3812739.

The Conejo Valley Retired & Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting men and women ages 55 and over to volunteer at a wide variety of local nonprofit agencies including the following. Call Jackie Lund at (805) 381-2742 for further details.

Conejo Youth Employment Services: Needs volunteers to work with prospective youth employees and employers in a variety of office-related activities.

Senior Concerns Thrift Shop: Able-bodied volunteers welcomed.

Adult Literacy: Training for adult literacy volunteers will be offered on April 26 and May 3.

American Red Cross: Needs volunteers to help with the blood drive registration and Blood Drive Canteen (flexible schedule).

Gardens of the World community park is seeking volunteers to train as docents to lead educational tours. Training is provided. A commitment of three hours a week is desired.

The gardens are opposite the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

at 2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd. and feature an extensive rose garden, plus Mission, Japanese and Italian gardens and fountains, ponds and a picnic area.

For additional information, call Linda Seaman at (805) 5571135, ext. 5.

Ventura County

Professionals in the sciences-from astronomy to zoology-are needed to volunteer as judges for the 2006 Ventura County Science Fair scheduled for April 4 to 6 at Seaside Park in Ventura.

Nearly 1,000 students from throughout Ventura County in grades 6 through 12 will enter their projects in the 52nd annual fair, sponsored by the Ventura County Office of Education, along with HAAS Automation, Amgen and various science-related organizations.

This year's fair theme is "Science Makes the World Go 'Round."

The judging portion of the fair will be on April 5, beginning at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast and orientation. Lunch also will be provided, and the activities will end at about 4 p.m.

Judges are needed in the following categories: animal behavioral and social sciences, human behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, botany, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, engineering, human biology, microbiology, physics, zoology, and mathematics, computer science and electronics.

Students with the top projects qualify to enter the California State Science Fair in Los Angeles on May 22 to 23.

Judges' application forms are available by visiting the Ventura County Science Fair's website at www.vcsf.us or by calling coordinator John Tarkany at (805) 388-4316.