Area girls ages 11-18 are invited to attend a free volleyball open gym from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Ellis Middle School beginning Monday, Nov. 25 and continuing through Dec. 2, 9 and 16. This is an excellent opportunity to receive some one-on-one instruction from qualified volleyball coaches.

New this year is a traveling volleyball league for girls 12 and under or 14 and under and boys 14 and under. Team registration fee is $40 with a roster limit of 12. Matches will be scheduled on Sunday afternoon and early evening. Register as a team and select your own coach. Matches will begin Jan. 5, 2014.

Deadline to sign up is Dec. 13. For more information please call our office and ask for Valerie Pitzen at 433-1881.

Adult Volleyball Winter Roll team deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 10. You may register on or before the deadline day.

If you need a roster form or information letter, you may view and print it from the city website at www.ci.austin.mn.us. Click on departments for Park and Recreation, sports and the volleyball net.

Austin Youth and Intermediate Wrestling sign up forms are available at the Park and Recreation office. You may also find them on the city’s website at www.ci.austin.mn.us to print off and mail or bring in to our office. Please fill out one form per participant.

New this year is the addition of sixth-grade participants for the entire season.

The intermediate wrestlers will hold practice at Ellis Middle School and will be combined with fifth-grade and experienced fourth-grade students. For more information you may call our office or contact Randy Smith at 507-273-5470 or Jeremy Wilson at 507-438-1145.

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

The following dates and times are from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30; 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays Nov. 14, 20 and 22; 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 27 and 1:45 to 3 p.m. Friday Nov. 29.

Upcoming free events at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center include Stan Tekiela at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19 with his “Bears: Black, Brown & Polar” presentation. At 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 Ken Lonnquist, Tom Pease & Friends will be in concert and Saturday Dec. 7, they will present two musical theater performances of “Old Befana” at 2 and 7 p.m.

Are you looking for a place to host a family or friend gathering? Check out what we have to offer with the Izaak Walton Cabin in Todd Park or the Ruby Rupner Auditorium located at the Nature Center. The Izaak Walton cabin rents for $170 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is rated for 109 people.

Please call our office at 507-433-1881 for more details and availability.

Call the Nature Center at 507-437-7519 for details and availability on the Ruby Rupner Auditorium.

Check out the Austin Bruins at Riverside Arena. Their next home game will be Nov. 8 and 9. Game time is 7:05 p.m.