We still have room in our indoor soccer class for second- through fifth-graders which will begin Tuesday. Groups will meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings with second and third-graders meeting from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., and fourth- and fifth-graders from 6:15 to 7 p.m. at Banfield Elementary. Cost is $17.

For those of you that like some adventure, rent cross country skis for $6 or snowshoes for $5. Children 18 and under are only $1. The cost covers three hours. Thank you to Dr. Richard and Belita Schindler for their generous donation, which allows the Nature Center to rent equipment to children at a reduced cost.

The Dammen Nordic Cross Country Ski Race will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11.

There is an 8K classical, 13K freestyle and one-mile beginners/children’s race. Registration forms and more information are available at hormelnaturecenterskirace.info and skinnyski.com, or by contacting Michelle Johnannsen at 507-440-0449.

Would you like to learn how to cross country ski?

Sign up for a class scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Jay C. Nature Center by calling 507-437-7519. Cost is $6 which includes the poles, boots and skis. So get outside and enjoy some brisk fresh air.

Come on down to Packer Arena and ice skate indoors — the cost is $4 and $1 to rent skates. Inquire about family or individual memberships, which can be purchased at our office or at the arena during open skates.

Here are the following dates and times open for skating: 4:45 to 6 p.m. Wednesday; 5 to 6:15 p.m. Friday and 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

The outside ice rink warming houses at Kaufman Park (Eighth Street and 11th Avenue Southeast) and Galloway Park (Eighth Street and Second Avenue Southwest) are open. Kaufman is open daily from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Galloway is only open Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ice rinks may be utilized during daylight hours when the warming houses are not open.

For those youth grades five to 12 in Mower County, stop in and check out the Youth Activity Center, which is located in the east rooms of Riverside Arena.

During no-school days we will open at 1 p.m. daily. All activities are free and supervised. We have pool tables, air hockey, DDR, “Guitar Hero,” Wii, PlayStation 3, hi-speed Wi-Fi and a computer lab, large screen TVs and the list goes on. As a treat, there is always free popcorn to snack on. Grab some of your friends and stop in to check it out.

The next home games for Austin girls hockey will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Owatonna and 5 p.m. on Jan. 14 against Rochester John Marshall.

Check out the Austin Bruins on Jan. 10-11. Gametimes on both days are 7:05 p.m.