The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center will offer cross country ski lessons from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. Pre-registration is necessary and the cost is $6 for adults and $1 for children. Poles, boots and skis are included. Classical ski lessons will include instructions for beginners as well as tips for intermediate skiers. Sign up or get more information at the nature center. For more information call 507-437-7519.

Ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Adults may rent cross country skis for $6 and snowshoes for $5. Children 18 and under may rent either for $1 which is made possible by Belita Schindler in memory of Dr. Richard Schindler. The fees are daily fees per person for three hours.

 Outdoor rinks

Warming houses are open at two of the outdoor ice rinks.

Galloway Park is located on Eighth Street and Second Avenue Southwest and the hours are: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday night and 1 to 5 and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is a hockey and land rink at this park. Kaufman Park is located at 8th Street and 11th Avenue Southeast. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

PTTP

Paint the Town Pink activities are popping up all over. Check out the calendar of events at www.hi.umn.edu/pttp/. Event information can be found by clicking on the event.

There are so many events it is hard to list them all, so please check the website for all events scheduled to date. Paint the Rink Pink, the event that started it all, will be on Feb. 6. Thank you to all that put in the time to host an event and thank you to those that participate; it takes everyone to make a difference.

 Packer Arena

Adult Open Hockey is at Packer Arena from 6:45 to 8 p.m. this Wednesday’s through Feb. 17. The cost is $6 per person, you must be at least in high school, no checking, no alcohol and a helmet is required. Goalies are free and must have full gear.

Public skate at Packer Arena will be 4:45 to 6 p.m. Friday; 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12; 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Feb. 13; 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. Feb. 14 and 2:30 to 4 p.m., Feb. 20. The cost is $4 to skate and $1 to rent skates if you should need them. The arenas are also available to rent for private parties at $130 per hour. Call our office of availability.

 Dome

Get your team registered to play in the eight-team Co-Ed All-Nighter Softball Tournament in the new dome on Feb. 20. There will be championship t-shirts awarded in the double elimination tournament.

You will be playing with a wood bat and a 16-inch ball which will be provided. One homerun will be allowed, innings will end if more than one home run is hit. You must have 12 players on a team — no less, no more. Co-ed league rules will apply. This is on school property so no alcohol or tobacco products allowed. Register your team for $210 by Feb. 15. Call Jake Solberg at 507-396-5027 or his cell at 507-438-0409. His email is jakes@ci.austin.mn.us.

Mark your calendar for the Austin High School Baseball and Austin All Stars Youth Baseball fourth annual Austin Area free baseball clinic on March 19-20 in the Austin Packer Dome. The clinic is for area boys and girls ages 8 to 12. Register on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on March 19. Clinic is 10 to noon. On Sunday register at 11:30 a.m. and the clinic is from noon to 2 p.m. Participants will need to bring their baseball gloves, tennis shoes or turf shoes only. No food, beverages or candy are allowed in the dome. For more information please call Tracey Murphy: 507-438-8619 or Chris Gogolewski:507-460-1825.

 Bruins

Check out the Bruins on Friday when they host Brooking. Saturday, Feb. 6 is Paint the Rink Pink as they host Coulee Region in Riverside Arena. Tickets can be purchased at the following sponsor locations; Hy-Vee, Holiday Inn, Jim’s Marketplace and Games People Play or at the box office on game day. Visit their website at www.AustinBruins.com for more info.