Summer is a great season to become a volunteer and the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is just the place to start.

Opportunities include opening the new interpretive center or greeting patrons visiting the new center as well as helping them through the center.  Trail access vehicle drivers are also needed to give the trail tours.

If you want to volunteer please give the Nature Center a call at 507-437-7519, they would pleased to help you out.

We at the Austin Park and Recreation as well as the nature center offer rental opportunities for your family and friend get-togethers.

Check us out to see what fits your needs. Call the nature center to inquire about the Ruby Rupner Auditorium and stay tuned to find out about the availability of the new library or classroom space.

We also have many parks that you are able to reserve a pavilion which ensures that you can plan a successful event.

Todd Park has three pavilions as well as the Izaak Walton Cabin, Bandshell Community Park has the Veterans Pavilion and the bandshell, smaller pavilions are located in Lafayette Park, Lions Park, Horace Austin, Shirley Theel Memorial Park and the East Side Lake Gazebo.  We also rent both arenas and the Municipal Pool.  For more information please call our office at 507-433-1881.

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.

Sola Fide Observatory

Hey star gazers.

The next Sola Fide Observatory date is Saturday, May 27 at approximately 9 p.m.  This is open to the public so stop on out to the observatory and check it out.

Keith Snyder and other volunteers staff the observatory to assist the public in viewing the heavenly bodies.  Another volunteer opportunity exists if the stars are your passion.  Contact Keith Snyder at 507-440-1244 or the Nature Center at 507-437-7519.

The parks

Just a reminder that parks have rules:  Parks are closed from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.

There is no camping, no driving or parking on the grass, no glass, and no hitting golf balls allowed in the parks. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour.

For your safety and the safety of others, please follow these rules.   The city of Austin also has a policy prohibiting the use of tobacco in all city facilities and at any playground/park location. Please be considerate to others and abide by this policy.

Riverside Arena

Riverside Arena schedule:  We will have summer ice. Think about renting the arena for a skating party, call our office for details. It’s a great place to cool down this summer and still get the benefit of some exercise.  Make sure to like us on Facebook so you receive up to date information.

Riverside Figure Skate Club Spring: Watch for their summer ice schedule.

Adult Open Hockey: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.  Cost is $6 per person for each event. Must be 16 . Goalies are free.

Public skate: 6:30 to 7:15 a.m. May 23 and 30; 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. May 28.  The cost is $4 to skate plus $1 if you need to rent skates.  Watch for Friday nights during the summer.

Stick time:  Tuesdays in May from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Newly added: 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. on May 28.

Free goalie clinic:  6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 16; 4:30 to 6 p.m. May 28; 1 to 2 p.m. June 4 and 4:30 to 6 p.m. June 11 and 5 to 6 p.m. on June 18. More dates to come.

Summer programming

Have you signed your kids up yet for the summer programs or swimming lessons we offer?  What about the nature center programs?