By Kevin D. Nelson

Austin Parks and Recreation

Are you looking for a gift for that person that has everything? You might consider gifting a one-year membership to join the Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center!

Gifting a membership or joining yourself would be helping to preserve the incredible Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for future generations! Check online at www.hormelnaturecenter.org, click on “get involved,” and then “Friends of Hormel Nature Center.” It is as easy as that to begin enjoying the benefits!

Adult Flag Football

There will also be Adult Flag Football offered and played in the Wescott Dome beginning Jan. 8 and will run for eight weeks. Deadline to register your team is 5 p.m. on Dec. 18, in our office. The team fee is $480. Players must be 18 years of age by July 1, 2019, and a minimum of seven players are needed with a roster limit of 20 players. Games times will be 6:15 p.m. or 7:15 p.m.

Pickleball

Did you know that you can play pickleball for free? Your opportunity is waiting for you on Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Ellis Middle School in the Auxiliary Gym. Equipment is provided for use each night. The following dates are locked in yet this year: Dec. 11 and 18. Watch for January/February details in the near future.

Youth archery

Youth archery begins in early January and will be held in the 4-H building at the Mower County Fairgrounds. Youth Archery will run on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Jan. 8-March 11. Register at the Parks and Rec office by Jan. 3.

A spot to gather

Looking for a spot for a family gathering hear the holidays or for birthdays and anniversaries? Check out the Izaak Walton Cabin in Todd Park at www.ci.austin.mn.us or the venues at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center on their site at www.hormelnaturecenter.org.

Packer Arena public skate dates:

• 7:15-8:30 p.m., Dec. 18
• 3:15-4:45 p.m., Dec. 21
• 3:45-5:15 p.m., Dec. 26
• Noon-1:30 p.m., Dec. 28
• 2-4 p.m., Dec. 29
• 3-5 p.m., Dec. 30
• 5-7 p.m., Dec. 31

Riverside Arena

Austin girls hockey vs. Waseca, 7 p.m., Tuesday night, 7 p.m., Dec. 12, against Rochester Century.

We’re still days to weeks away from making outside rink ice. Once predicted near zero temps materialize for several days, frost will begin to go into the ground a bit further, and we’ll be that much closer to making ice for the rinks.