Sign up online for our “Learn to Play Hockey” for 3- to 8-year-olds. Class is on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. in Riverside Arena, from Feb. 21 – March 28, cost is $35. Players will begin to learn the basics of hockey and be separated by their skating skills. Full gear is required; we have 29 sets available with a cash deposit of $75, first-come first-served. Mouth guards must be provided by the participant. We encourage you to follow the instructions below to register for the class. Please email rileyd@ci.austin.mn.us if you are in need of equipment or call 433-1881.

Online

We would like to invite you to set up your online account. This will allow you to register for Park & Recreation and Nature Center programs. Currently, you may sign up for the youth volleyball camp and archery. You will also be able to request facility rentals for your private events.

The link will be on our city web page at www.ci.austin.mn.us; click on City Departments; click on online registration. From there, click on the Registration tab, click on youth and the programs will be listed.  If you have not created your account when you click on the register tab it will ask you to log in or create an account. If you have questions, please call.

Paint the Town Pink

Paint the Town Pink events are going on.  Some of the bigger events are:

•Today, Feb 3 is Fishing for A Cure, Paint the Rink Pink is on Feb 10 and Smashing Cancer Demo Derby is on Feb 11. Check out the full list of events that run through February by searching Facebook at austinpttp or follow the link on www.ci.austin.mn.us web page.

Nature center

Mark your calendar to see Alex Watson in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium for his program “The Birds from the Bookshelf”  at 7-8 p.m. on Thursday.

American birds have been documented in writing since Europeans first set foot in North America. From the written word left behind, learn about the tools and tactics of shotgun naturalists who required a bird in the hand, to present-day smartphone-clad wildlife photographers.

Can their choices tell us anything about how wildlife has been valued? How will the tools available to us today change how we interact with nature? During the program you will examine these questions with readings and song as you explore the birds from the bookshelf.

This is a free program, however, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center would like it if you could RSVP by phone at 507-437-7519 or email info@hormelnaturecenter.org.

Did you know that you can rent the Izaak Walton cabin year-round? There have been many renovations to the building in the past two years. The cabin is available Monday-Thursday for meetings at $25 per hour and a $150 deposit.  The weekend rate is $200 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and requires a $300 deposit. This is a great venue for family gatherings.

Warming houses

Open warming house hours are as follows:  Kaufman Park, Monday-Friday 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Galloway and Skinners sledding hills are open Friday 6-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Patrons are allowed to use the skating rinks when warming houses are not open.

There may be times that the warming house is not open as we are still filling spots! There are also times that an operator may be coming from another schedule so it may not open until 6:30 p.m.

Pickleball

Pickleball open gym continues for Wednesday evenings through February at Ellis Middle School.  Pickleball nets will be in the auxiliary gym from 6:30-8 p.m.  The cost is $4 per person at the door.

Dome

The Austin High School Dome will be offering some open times on the following dates: Feb. 6 and 20, March 6 and 20, April 3 and 17. The cost is $2 per child and $5 per adult. During these same dates they will offer the use of the golf nets at $5 per player.

Riverside Arena

Riverside Figure Skate Club: Sunday’s from 1 to 5 p.m.

Austin Bruins:: Next up is Paint the Rink Pink on Feb 10.  Get your tickets now.

Packer Arena schedule

Public skate: Saturdays: Feb. 3, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Feb. 10, 6-8 p.m. Sundays: Feb. 4, 3:45-5:30 p.m.; Feb. 11, 2:45–4 p.m. Possible time on Thursday, Feb. 1, 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.

Stick Time: 12:15-1:15 p.m. today. Watch Facebook for more times.