With our very warm weather we regret to say that the outdoor ice rinks and warming houses have been closed.

The same goes for our ski trails in the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. On the bright side the majority of our trails may be passable but please use caution in shaded areas as we do not maintain them in winter months.

Riverside Arena

Public skate will move to Riverside Arena from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 and 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 1. 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 for availability.

Something new

Stick Time will start March 15 at Riverside Arena for youth and adults that want to work on some skills. Players under age 18 must wear full gear, and those over 18 must wear a helmet, gloves and skates. There will not be any scrimmaging, slap shots and/or horseplay when on the ice.

Stick Time is designed to work on skills and have fun with friends, family members or coaches. This runs 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Skills and Drills will start on Monday, March 7 and Saturday’s will be the 3 on 3 for mites, squirts, girls 10U, 12U, 14U, Peewee and Bantams.

The cost is $45 for the eight times (four Mondays and four Saturdays).Pre-register at the Park and Recreation Office. The flyer is available on Facebook and the Austin Youth Hockey web site.

Youth wrestling

The Shamrock Open youth NYWA District Qualifier will be in Austin on Friday, March 11 at Austin High School.

This event is hosted by our Austin Youth Wrestling Association and will accept walk-in registrations until 5:30 p.m. Wrestling will begin approximately 6 p.m. for those wrestlers in kindergarten through eighth grade. Weigh-in starts at 4:30 p.m. We have registration forms in our office and we also posted this on Facebook.

Dome

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. 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 a.m. 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.

Nature center

Have you ever given it a thought to join the Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center?

The benefits of being a member include the semiannual newsletter, an invitation to the Friends Annual Meeting, $5 off each child’s fee for all summer adventure programs, $5 off tickets to the Thanksgiving Feast, members-only bus tour field trips, members-only events and classes for youth and families at the nature center, an opportunity to give a one-year gift membership to a non-member and an opportunity to support and promote environmental education programming. A membership can make a great gift to give, check it out.

More to come

Watch for information regarding adult softball, kickball and sand volleyball to come out soon. If you would like to receive information please let us know.

Bruins

Check out the Bruins on Feb. 26 as they host the Minnesota Magicians 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.