Notes about your surroundings.

Get Into Training--Volunteer to be part of the Outdoor Adventures program for elementary school children at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine by becoming an assistant naturalist. Assistants help at the microscope tables and identify common birds on bird walks. Sea & Sage Audubon Society has scheduled four training sessions in January, with class beginning Jan. 5. Volunteers are asked to assist with two tours a month from February to May. For an application, call Trude Hurd, (949) 261-7963.

Clearing the Air--Help workers resolve to ride share in 1999, urges Southern California Rideshare. Send out a staff e-mail or flier pointing out that average commuters can cut 260 pounds of pollution a year just by leaving their cars at home once a week. A typical Southern California commuter can prevent about 2,000 miles from being added to their odometers by the year 2000 by car-pooling or riding public transportation once a week. Set up a graph or chart illustrating the time saved and pollution eliminated by ride sharing. Put the results in perspective: 3,500 miles, for example, is the distance from California to New York.

Arboretum Events--Take advantage of the holiday vacation to explore the Fullerton Arboretum. One-hour guided walks of the 26-acre grounds will offer a glimpse of plant regions from around the world. Tours will be given at 10 a.m. today through Wednesday. On Jan. 9, a home composting workshop will be given at 10 a.m. It is free to residents of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra and Orange and to members of the Friends of the Arboretum; $7 for others. No reservations are required. A winter walkabout at 10 a.m. on Jan 16 will feature the rose and fruit tree gardens. Free to Friends of the Arboretum and $7 for others. The arboretum is at 1900 Associated Road in Fullerton. Information: (714) 278-3404.

* Send items for consideration to Vicky Clepper, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Fax: (714) 966-7711.