Get out to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to cure some of that cabin fever.  Test your knowledge of the indoor exhibits with the building scavenger hunts for various ages or try the one for outdoors. 

Most Saturdays, around 10 a.m. or 3:30 p.m., you can learn about how snakes survive in the winter and maybe even touch one.  Not into that, check out Guka, the barred owl, and Sha and Wiyaka, the red tail hawks, or just grab a book from the Gordon Lonning Resource room and sit by the fireplace to relax. 

The trails are always open; if not for skiing you can usually walk them. Layer up and get outside!

Saturday, Jan. 19, join the Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for their annual meeting at 12:30 p.m. in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium. There will be a luncheon and they will review their 2018 accomplishments and preview what’s ahead.  The luncheon is free, however, it is required that you RSVP by Wednesday so they can anticipate the number for lunch. Thank you for all your support, it is greatly appreciated!

Summer jobs

As we all wait for summer to arrive, it is never too early to apply for that summer job. 

Park and Recreation has many part-time job opportunities for ages high school and up.  Are you retired and looking for something to get you outside?  We may have something for you. 

We will have job openings in park maintenance, municipal pool positions, gardener positions and recreation positions.  Within the recreation positions, we will be hiring a summer recreation assistant position. Always check the city website at ci.austin.mn.us for the employment information.

Martin Luther King Day

Monday, Jan. 21, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. City offices, which includes the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Interpretive Center, will be closed.

Paint the Town Pink

Paint the Town Pink kick off was held at Business After Hours at the Hormel Institute on Tuesday, Jan. 8.  To find out which events interest you, go to the Hormel Institute site at www.hi.umn.edu and Click for Pink at the top of the page. This will take you to a calendar of events. Paint the Rink Pink tickets can be purchased now in the Bruin’s office at Riverside Arena and are available for venders.

Packer Arena

Public skate dates: Noon to 2 p.m., Jan. 19, and 2:30-3:45 p.m. on Jan. 20. These are also posted on our Facebook page.

Having a birthday party or getting your friends and family together – rent the arena!  Call our office for times; 507-433-1881.

Riverside Arena

Support our teams and check out a game. Get your tickets for the Paint the Rink Pink game on Feb. 2!