The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center will be hosting the first Dammen Adventure Race on Saturday.

The event is named in honor of Kevin Dammen, an outdoor enthusiast who passed away in 2011 while kayaking on Lake Superior.

The Kevin Dammen Memorial Mentorship Program was created in 2012 to give junior high through college students valuable work experience while providing the Nature Center with essential additional staff members to handle the very busy Nature Play days and Summer Adventure classes.

The event was developed after this year’s annual Dammen Nordic Cross Country Ski Race was cancelled.

Teams of two will race to complete a variety of surprise nature-themed tasks throughout the Nature Center. All proceeds will be donated to the Kevin Dammen Mentorship Program.

Race-day registration and packet pickup begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The race will start at 9 a.m.

Pre-registration by 1 p.m. on Friday, July 27, is $15 per pair. Registration after 1 p.m. on Friday is $20 per pair. Registration forms can be picked up at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Interpretive Center, or downloaded at www.hormelnaturecenter.org/dammen-adventure-race.

Race categories are age 6-9 and adult, age 10-13 and adult, age 14-17 and adult, two youth age 14-17, and two adults.

Awards will be presented to first and second place winners in each age category. Each pre-registrant will also receive a fleece headband (while supplies last), in honor of the original Dammen Nordic Cross Country Ski Race.

In the event of race cancellation due to weather, entry fees will not be refunded.

For more information, call 507-437-7519.

Schedule of Events

Friday

• Kids Studio Camp – Virtual Art Museum Visits, 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Austin ArtWorks Center. With Beth Hamilton. Explore art museums around the world without leaving Austin. Our Virtual Art Museum kids camp will visit a new art museum in each class, starting with learning about each museum in a lecture format followed by an art project relevant to the museum. Sign up for the full camp or individual days. For kids ages 4 -14, $5 per session. For more information or to sign up go to www.austinareaarts.org. Day four will be to the Taj Mahal in India and the art project a mosaic.

• Picnic in the Lot, 11:30 a.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. Grill time again. Food, fun and fellowship, featuring grilled brats or a hamburger, baked beans, chips and dessert. Member cost is $5, non-member $6. For more information, call 507-433-2370.

• Family Fun Night at the Pool, 7-9 p.m. at the Austin Municipal Pool. Free fun for the family, with DJ DeeAnn Randall, games and prizes. For more information, call 507-433-1881.

• Jammin’ at the Bandshell, 7-9:30 p.m. at Bandshell Community Park. Great and unique opportunity for less-experienced musicians to play with very seasoned, experienced musicians. Musicians, bring your instruments and voices. If possible, please bring 4 copies of chord charts for the house band, Ventura Highway, to follow along. Music lovers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, etc. Free-will donations are gladly accepted to cover production costs.

Saturday

• Inaugural Dammen Adventure Race, 8-11:30 a.m. at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Multi-sport event in memory of Kevin Dammen. Teams of two will race to complete a variety of surprise nature-themed tasks throughout the Nature Center. All proceeds will be donated to the Kevin Dammen Mentorship Program. Pre-registration $15, day of $20. Age categories – 6-9 and adult, 10-13 and adult, 14-17 and adult, or two adults. For more information, call 507-437-7519.

• Austin High School Class of 1998 Reunion, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. at various locations. 9 a.m. golf outing, contact Shan Sorenson at 507-279-7058. 10 a.m. tour of AHS, meet at the office, east side doors will be open (flag pole side). Noon to 2 p.m. family picnic at Todd Park. Location to be determined the day of so drive though and look for the red and white balloons. Bring your own food and drinks for your family. There will be games and fun for kids. 6:30-11 p.m. main event in the Holiday Inn ballroom, featuring food, music, karaoke, magician and time to reminisce. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite at https://austin98.eventbrite.com or at the door. Up to date info on the reunion can be found on our Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/2009133619304430/?ti=cl. For any other questions, email Spamtown98@gmail.com.

Sunday

• Community Friendship Day, 1-5 p.m. at Todd Park. Make new friends and have a lot of fun. Food, games, cultural presentations, music and entertainment – it’s all here. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/events/1023424294489159/?active_tab=about or call 507-434-2863.