Passports given out at Stream to Sea Family Fun Day, an Earth Day celebration, took families on a different kind of trip--one that helped educate them on ways to make the future a nice destination.

"What are three ways to conserve water?" asked Roberta Bronstein, representative of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, of Krista Lamorie, age 12. She answered the question to earn a stamp in her event passport.

"Name a benefit that trees provide," requested Malibu Forestry Unit Kien Tan from Lachland Lewis, age 11, who offered "shade!" on the sunny afternoon.

Families who spent the day at Mountains Restoration Trust's special Earth Day celebration learned eco-friendly habits to help clean up the local waterways and ocean.

"A simple change of habits allows us to have a positive rather than a negative impact on our enviornment," said Steve Harris, Executive Director for Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT), a nonprofit organization that helps steward natural resources in the Santa Monica Mountains. The event was held at MRT's headquarters and interpretive center, Headwaters Corner at Calabasas, located in the urban/wildland transition area on Dry Canyon Creek, a year-round stream and headwater of the Los Angeles River.

Stream to Sea featured booths or "ports" filled with creative water-themed and instructional activities that earned children stamps on a Passport to the Sea for entering into a drawing for grand prizes.

At the City of Malibu's booth families re-created runoff on a model that demonstrated how lawn fertilizers and pesticides make their way to the ocean during rains.

"Overwatering results in the same runoff problems as a rainstorm," explained Enivronmental Coordinator for the City of Malibu Jennifer Voccola. "Homeowners can really make a difference by watering only what their landscape can absorb to prevent runoff into waterways that lead to the ocean."

Stream to Sea also featured presentations that help convey the urgency to take a proactive approach in helping out the environment. Dr. Marcus Eriksen of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation spoke by his boat called FLUKE, made entirely from recycled materials.

"Over a billion tons of trash are dumped into the ocean every year," says Dr. Eriksen, "and plastic does incredible damage to the occean enviornment. Getting into the simple habit of using canvas bags for groceries and refillable water bottles will make a dramatic change in protecting the ocean for us and for marine life."

Mollie Hogan with The Nature of Wildworks brought wildlife and talked about the importance of protecting the limited year-round water resources in our naturally dry environment.

"These animals depend on clean waterways to survive," she told the group while holding a majestic turkey hawk. As urban lifestyles impact the survivial of neighboring wildlife, people can help by disposing of trash and pollutants properly. Taking hazardous waste (left over paints, chemicals, batteries and other toxic pollutants to drop off sites) will keep them out of the water table and storm drains that flow into the waterways. Also, when draining pools and spas, the water should be free of chlorine and chemicals.

Children also learned how they can be good enviornmental stewards. The National Theatre for Children performed A Boatload of Trouble, inviting audience participation as they taught water conservation. Turning off faucets while brushing teeth or washing the car and limiting showers to three minutes were among the suggestions that would help preserve the precious limited resource.

Many agencies and non-profit organizations--National Park Service, California State Parks and Heal the Bay among them--participated by providing water awareness information and resources on water quality with tips to keep waterways healthy for people, plants, and animals.

Families and individuals who participated in Stream to Sea Family Fun Day were rewarded for their efforts After children completed their Passport to the Sea, they entered them into the prize drawings. Winners received items to enjoy in the great outdoors: body boards, skim boards and a surf lesson from Malibu Mike, hydro packs from REI, gift certificates to Lulu's Mexicana Cocina and the Saddle Peak Lodge, as well as goodie bags from the National Park Service and Day Passes from California State Parks.

The Mountains Restoration Trust, City of Calabasas, City of Malibu, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, sponsored the free, fun, entertaining, and educational event inspiring people of all ages to learn they can make a difference and "Be Wise for Waterways!"