BOATING

Get prepared for boating

WHEN: 10 a.m. Nov. 14

WHERE: REI

WHAT: Alaska water wise boating course for power boaters, paddlers and sailers. Segments include legal requirements, preparation, boating operations, boating hazards, emergencies, cold-water survival and navigation rules. Course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 269-6042

Yukon River Quest entries open

WHEN: Ongoing

WHERE: By mail

WHAT: Yukon River Quest, a 460-mile around-the-clock race from Whitehorse to Dawson City beginning June 30, is taking registrations. Entry deadline is April 15. A ceiling of 100 canoe and kayak teams includes 23 solo kayakers and seven solo canoeists. Race purse is $36,500. Last summer, 73 teams started and 56 finished, including several from Alaska.

COST: $850 (Canadian) for tandem canoes and kayaks; $475 for solo canoes and kayaks; $250 per person for voyager canoe teams of six or more paddlers.

CONTACT: info@yukonriverquest.com; (867) 333-5628

Flora and Fauna

Polar bear show at zoo

WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 11

WHERE: Alaska Zoo

WHAT: "Adventures in Churchill: A Photo Diary of Life with Polar Bears" is at the Zoo Gateway Building. Polar bear keeper Stephanie Hartman shares experiences and photographs from a trip to the Polar Bears International Camp near Churchill in Hudson Bay.

COST: Free. $9 for optional behind-the-scenes encounter

CONTACT: www.alaskazoo.org

GEAR SWAPS

UAA, ski club benefit from swap

WHEN: Noon Saturday; 9 a.m. Sunday

WHERE: West High School

WHAT: UAA's ski team and the Alyeska Ski & Snowboard Club hold their annual Ski Swap & Expo. Equipment check-in is at 9 a.m. each day, with gear sales noon-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Waxing seminars and sign-ups for winter sports programs available. Vendors have deals on new equipment, too. Buy a $10 raffle ticket before the swap to get in early and earn a chance to a $1,000 gift certificate at World Cup Sports.

COST: Free

CONTACT: www.alyeskaskiclub.org

GPS

Part 2 of GPS clinic

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: REI event room

WHAT: Part two of the store's GPS series. Participants should know how to establish waypoints and the basic functions of GPS.

COST: Free

CONTACT: REI

HIKING

Hike before first snowfall

WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Monday and Thursdays

WHERE: Prospect Heights Trailhead (Thursday), Ruth Arcand Park (Monday)

WHAT: Alaska Outdoors has hikes every Monday and Thursday with the Monday hikes geared to beginners and families and the Thursday outings being more challenging.

COST: $1 for non-members

CONTACT: 770-0440

KAYAKING

Learn kayaking basics at Service

WHEN: 3 p.m. Nov. 14

WHERE: Service High School

WHAT: Class teaches fundamental skills common to all disciplines -- sea, whitewater, fishing and surf kayaking. Wet exits, effective strokes and maneuvers, safety awareness and simple rescues covered. Instructors certified by American Canoe Association or British Canoe Union.

COST: $110 by credit card, $105 cash or check CONTACT: 235-2090

KIDS

Getting children outdoors

WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 12

WHERE: Spenard Recreation Center

WHAT: Martin LeBlanc, vice president of the Children and Nature Network, will lead a discussion about how parents can raise healthier children by getting them outdoors in natural settings more often. LeBlanc has been instrumental in forming partnerships with the military and health organizations to promote exposing children to nature. Kids can make their own trail mix at the session.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 786-3351

Learn about porcupines

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

WHAT: What's a baby porcupine called? Can porcupines throw their quills? Get answers to these questions and more as volunteer naturalist Ginamaria Javurek explores the often misunderstood porcupine.

COST: Free; $5 parking for non-members.

CONTACT: 694-2108

Naturalist talks about squirrels

WHEN: 2 p.m. Nov. 14

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

WHAT: Naturalist Beth Baker will discuss squirrels. How do they stay alive in winter? Are there really flying squirrels?

COST: Free; $5 parking for non-members.

CONTACT: 694-2108

Learn how animals cope with winter

WHEN: 2 p.m. Nov. 15

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

WHAT: Naturalist Beth Baker will discuss how various animals adapt to winter, including behavioral and physiological changes and hibernation.

COST: Free; $5 parking for non-members.

CONTACT: 694-2108

SKIING

Figure out those ski waxes

WHEN: 6 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: REI

WHAT: REI staffers offer tips on how to wax skis properly. Tools and techniques covered.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 272-4565

Teach skiing, snowboarding

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Round Table Pizza

WHAT: Learn how to become a volunteer ski or snowboarding instructor at Challenge Alaska Ski & Snowboard School. Meet staffers and ask questions about the adaptive ski program.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 783-2925

Learn avalanche skills

WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday

WHERE: REI

WHAT: Be Snow Smart is a 90-minute presentation by the North American Outdoor Institute aimed at traveling in avalanche country. Works as an introduction or refresher.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 272-4565

Get acquainted with snowshoes

WHEN: 6 p.m. Nov. 11

WHERE: REI

WHAT: Introductory indoor clinic focuses on gear selection and skills.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 272-4565

Backcountry skiing and randonee

WHEN: 6 p.m. Nov. 18

WHERE: REI

WHAT: Join REI for this introductory clinic on the basic gear needed for backcountry alpine and randonee skiing.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 272-4565

TALKS

Sherwonit book talk, reading

WHEN: 5 p.m., Monday

WHERE: UAA Campus Bookstore.

WHAT: Bill Sherwonit, the author of "Changing Paths: Travels and Meditations in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness," will read from his new book and also present "Notes from a Literary Journalist: The Importance of Passion, Persistence, and Paying Attention."

COST: Free