Residents are invited to participate in any of the following volunteer opportunities in the area. For more information or to sign up, call the phone number listed for the event.

+Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks is looking for volunteer docents to lead educational tours. Training is provided. Volunteers are asked to work for three hours per week.

For information, call Linda Seaman at (805) 557-1135, ext. 5, or visit www.gardensoftheworld.info.

+Ramirez Canyon Park (the Streisand Center) is seeking volunteers for an educational outreach program for children with disabilities centered around animalassisted activities and environmental programs.

Program days could be Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will be trained.

This is a joint venture with the Santa Monica Conservancy and the nonprofit "Happy Trails for Children with Disabilities."

The park is at 5750 Ramirez Canyon Road in Malibu. For more information, call Joan Pankratz, public outreach coordinator, at (310) 589-2850, ext. 123.

+Art lovers are encouraged to volunteer for the 20th annual ArtWalk, sponsored by the Conejo Valley Art Museum, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., June 2 and 3 on the grounds of the Countrywide Bank building, 225 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The event will feature more than 175 artists, musicians, children's art area and food for purchase. Admission is free.

Men and women are needed for the information booth, sales and to assist with traffic control in the parking lots. Volunteers are asked to make a minimum threehour commitment.

Call the museum at (805) 492-8778 for more information.

+Volunteers are needed from now until the end of April to help with the planning of the second annual Art Stars awards reception and fundraiser sponsored by the Ventura County Arts Council.

For more information, call the arts council at (805) 658-2213.

+The Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council is seeking volunteers to assist in maintenance of local hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

The council is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing and maintaining the public trail system throughout the Santa Monica Mountains through advocacy and partnership with public and private sectors.

The volunteers are comprised of diverse trail groups representing hikers, equestrians, bicyclists, landowners and businesses, who work together to achieve and maintain the delicate balance among nature, recreation and development.

The council conducts a trail maintenance project every Saturday, September through June. The crew meets at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m. and work is completed by 2:30 p.m.

No experience is required and all tools are provided. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and long pants, and bring a hat, sunscreen, gloves, water and a lunch.

More information can be found on www.smmtc.org, including the schedule of when specific trails are being worked on and directions to trailheads. Interested parties should call the designated crew leader prior to the day of the project for the latest instructions.

For information about the council, call (818) 222-4531.

+Camarillo Hospice invites all interested residents to enroll in its Volunteer Training and Community Education Program beginning Wed., March 21. The program runs for eight consecutive weeks from 9 a.m. until noon at the Hospice office, 400 Rosewood Ave., Ste. 102, Camarillo.

A shorter training course involving three sessions will be offered to become a Friendly Visitor Volunteer.

Registration is necessary as space is limited.

The full course is required training for Camarillo Hospice patient care volunteers, but it is open to anyone. Topics include the impact of a life-threatening illness on the patient and family, spiritual matters, medical aspects of the hospice patient, caring for the caregiver, listening skills, loss and bereavement, and the dying process.

The training will also highlight the various Camarillo Hospice volunteer programs, including patient and family support services, friendly visiting, family history, bereavement support, Farmers Market, clerical and more.

To register or for more information, call (805) 389-6870, ext.18.