We will be offering a Learn to Play Hockey for kid’s ages 3 to 8 partnering with Austin Youth Hockey and Austin Bruins beginning Nov. 11 through Dec. 16.

You may register in our office through Nov.6, the cost is $35. Austin Youth Hockey will provide the necessary equipment, skates can be rented from us and you will need to provide a mouth guard and a stick.

 Community garden

For those gardeners using the Community Gardens please note that you will need to have your space cleaned out by Oct. 15 as we will be plowing it up shortly after that.

 Riverside Arena

Riverside Arena is open for pubic skate. The next dates and times are: 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Oct 21. The cost to skate is $4. If you need skates we have rentals for $1

Adult open hockey is back.

Starting from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 14 and 21 and 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Oct 28. October sessions will be held at Riverside Arena, the cost is $6 per person, you must be at least in high school, no checking, no alcohol and a helmet is required. Goalies are free and must have full gear.

 Youth sports

Kids in kindergarten through sixth-grade can sign up for basketball which will begin Oct. 20 and goes through Dec. 3.

This is a non-traveling league played at Banfield Elementary School to teach and practice skills needed to perfect the game. Skills will be practiced on Tuesdays for all grade levels and on Thursdays those in second and sixth-grade will put them to use in game situations. The kindergarten and first-graders will continue to work on skills on Thursdays, while being introduced to games throughout the course of the program.

The fee to register is $20; the deadline to register is Oct. 16. Kindergarten and first-grade meet from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., second and third-graders meet 6:20 to 7:05 p.m., and fourth and sixth-grade meet 7:10 to 8 p.m. For more information you may contact our office.

Youth in grades fifth to eighth interested in volleyball can play games on Sundays beginning Nov. 1 and going through Dec. 13 in Austin High School’s Hastings Gym. Practice is on Monday’s at Ellis Middle School Oct. 26 through Dec. 7. The cost is $50 per player.

This program is designed for players to play in a competitive league while still learning skills, knowledge, sportsmanship and team building.

We are also hoping to include area towns with the potential of travel in the 50 miles radius on some Sundays or Saturdays. If a team desires to play in the MSF tournament in Austin on March 5, 2016, we will bring them together to practice prior to the tournament. Cost per player is $20. Those in eighth grade will have the opportunity to try out or the 14U team AAVB JO winter team in December. Any questions please call our office.

 Thanksgiving Feast

Be sure to mark your calendars and get your tickets early for the 13th annual Thanksgiving Feast, which will be held on Nov. 14 with a new venue.

This year the feast will be held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center beginning at 5 p.m. with the social hour, silent auction and raffles.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.; Hormel pork loin, sides and dessert followed by a short program and live auction at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets are $35 if you are a Friends of the Nature Center member and $40 for non-members. Call the Nature Center at 507-437-7519 or contact Rich and JoAnn Aho at 507-433-6928.

 Flag football

Dome football anyone? We will offer Seven-Man Adult Flag Football starting Dec. 1. Players must be 18 as of June 1, 2015, with a roster limit of 20 players and games will not start before 6:30 p.m. There will be one official provided per game. Team entry is due by Nov. 23, 2015 which breaks down to $42 per person on a 10 player roster or $7 per week.

 Birding class

Beginning birding class with the Austin Audubon will be held in two parts. A classroom portion from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 and in the field at 8 a.m. on Oct. 24.

This class is designed for ages 16 and up and limited to 20 participants, the cost is $5 and offered through the Austin Community Learning Center. You may call 507-460-1700 to register or contact Pete Mattson at 507-567-2570 or Leslie Meyer at 507-433-2615.