Notes about your surroundings.

Fungi Fun--Join wildlife biologist Gregg Miller on a mushroom hunt Saturday at the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Conservancy near San Juan Capistrano. It runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $3. Come back the following Saturday for astronomy night to peer at star clusters, nebulae and planets through a telescope. Hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults and $6 for children 8 and older. Reservations: (949) 489-9778.

Tales of the Trail--The process involved in bringing a trail from original idea to finished product will be explained by Jeff Dickman of the Orange County Harbor, Beaches and Parks Department. He will speak at the monthly meeting of the South Coast Audubon Society. It begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at the San Juan Capistrano Woman’s Club, 31442 El Horno St.

It’s a Small World--Examine life under a microscope during a free lecture presented by the Orange County Natural History Assn. Ed Marks, a micropaleontologist, will discuss his Micro-Pals program, offered at the natural history museum. The talk is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sea Country Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Road, Laguna Niguel. (949) 831-3287.

Upward Bound--The history of Sierra Club climbing is featured at the Orange County Sierra Singles potluck meeting Monday. Sam Roberts, a climber and photographer, will narrate a slide show. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. Dinner is $2-$7; $2 for the program only. On Saturday, the group is planning a conservation outing to plant coastal sage and oak at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Information: Elaine Soost, (310) 379-5160, or Lee Stern, (949) 768-6662.

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