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

The great benefits you receive include $5 off each child’s fee for all Summer Adventure Programs (parent/guardian must be a member), $5 coupon to use at the Thanksgiving Feast fundraiser, participate in members-only events and classes for youth and families at the nature center and enjoy a members-only bus tour day trip.

Cost of the bus is paid for by the Friends; participants take care of their own admission fees (when applicable) and food.

Friends also enjoy a subscription to Nature Center News, a semiannual publication of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, delivered by post or email; support and promote environmental education programming, receive an invitation to the Friends annual meeting, give a free one-year gift membership to a non-member and, of course, help to preserve the incredible Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for future generations.

You can even sign up online. Go to www.hormelnaturecenter.org, click on “get involved” and then Friends of Hormel Nature Center. It is as easy as that to start to enjoy the benefits.

The following are two of those great benefits just for Friends members:

•Saturday, Sept. 15, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Join us on a trip to Winona for a guided boat tour of the Mississippi River with Captain Aaron Repinski. Bring your picnic lunch to enjoy in Levee Park. After lunch, we will participate in an interactive guided tour of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.Space is limited to 50 people. Cost of bus paid for by the Friends. Admission fees are $15 per person (cash or check only). Please register in person at the Interpretive Center.

• Saturday, Sept. 22, 1-3:30 p.m.

Wild, Edible and Delectable: Mushrooms with Sammie Peterson for Friends members.  Fall is the most delicious time of the year in Minnesota woodlands. Join Quarry Hill Nature Center Naturalist Sammie Peterson (our former 2014 intern) and become acquainted with the wide variety of gourmet edible mushrooms found in our region. Sammie is a certified edible mushroom identification expert and has over 10 years of mushroom-specific foraging experience. She will share mushroom biology, identification and uses, followed by a guided foray.

You must be a current Friends member to register for this free event.  Space is limited to 30 participants and preregistration is required.  Join now and participate.

Riverside Arena

Riverside Arena public skate times:  5:45-7:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, 13 and 20.

Stick-time dates are:  4-5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25.

We add times as different opportunities arise, so check our Facebook page as we will update this calendar as they happen.

How about renting Riverside Arena for your special event?  Call our office to check on availability.

The Austin Bruin’s will host their first regular season game on Friday, Sept. 28.

Tryouts

The final summer season of baseball tryouts for the 2019 season will happen on Sept. 8- 9 at Todd Park.  All the information can be found on their web site at www.austinallstarsbaseball.com  or on our Parks and Rec Facebook page.

Halloween Warm-up

Fall is around the corner.

Halloween Warm-up tickets go on sale Sept. 8 at Super Fresh Produce and Bakery.  The event takes place this year on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13.

New this year, during the 6:50 p.m. time slot, will be 12 extra tickets available for those who cannot walk the trails.

If you have questions, please call the nature center.  Interested in participating in the event?  Auditions will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Paramount Theatre from 6:30-8 p.m.  Call Matchbox at 507-437-9078 if you have questions.

Deer hunt

For those interested in the 2018 city deer hunt, you must first pass your proficiency test and also complete the NBEF/Advanced Bowhunter Education program hosted by the Minnesota DNR. You can find that information online.

The proficiency test is taken at the Cedar River Archery Range, 54691 270th St, Austin MN 55912. The fee will be $5 per shooter and will take place from an elevated platform at a distance of 20 yards.

Your last chance to take the proficiency test is on Sept. 8 -9, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. You can also shoot in this event while you are there if you would like.

If you pass the test, please ask Tim Hansen for our City application, which must be returned to us by Sept. 14.  Remember, in order to turn in your application, you must also have a copy of the bowhunter ed certificate.