The children are members of the Stone Soup Child Care Program, a before and after school care program aimed at elementary and middle school kids.

"The idea is to make them jazzed about what college life might be like and give them a taste of what it would be like to work with kids some day," said Barbara J. Hill, the center's director.

"Many of the children in the program come from low-income homes and may not have seen or been exposed to the possibility of college," Hill said. "They'll get a chance to see what a college is like and, if they choose to come to CSUN, see they can get hands-on experience working with kids while in college."

The visit will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The school is located at 18330 Halsted St. in Northridge.

The Lab School serves preschool and kindergarten children. The school and the center are part of CSUN's Department of Family and Environmental Sciences and are dedicated to fostering a partnership with the child's family. The school also serves as a learning environment for CSUN students interested in working with children.

California State University, Northridge has more than 31,500 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor's and 41 master's degree programs as well as 28 educational credential programs. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."