Microbes in space
WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center
WHAT: Scott Girard leads a presentation on microbes from space. If the skies are clear, star gazing will take place after the program.
COST: Free ($5 parking for nonmembers)
CONTACT: 694-2108
BIKING
Saturday spin and espresso
WHEN: 8 a.m., Saturdays
WHERE: Chain Reaction Cycles
WHAT: Free espresso drinks after a two-hour spin.
COST: Free
CONTACT: 336-0383
Winter maintenance clinic
WHEN: 6 p.m., Feb. 25
WHERE: REI
WHAT: Learn day-to-day maintenance to keep your bike in good shape through the winter.
COST: Free
BOATING
Become water wise
WHEN: 9 a.m., Feb. 27
WHERE: Atwood Building
WHAT: Class approved by the national Association of State Boating Law Administrators and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard satisfies boating safety education requirements for most states.
COST: Free
CONTACT: 269-6042
Yacht cruising stories
WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday
WHERE: Snow Goose Restaurant and Pub
WHAT: Seward Yacht Club members present slide shows of recent sailboat cruises. Ken and Judy Pendleton describe a voyage from Mexico to Hawaii to Alaska and Tom and Theresa Newins talk about a charter in Croatia.
COST: Free
CONTACT: 263-4823
Floating the Chulitna
WHEN: 7 p.m., Feb. 25
WHERE: Z.J. Loussac Public Library
WHAT: Brian DeMarcus shares his adventure down the Chulitna with Jerry Hupp in inflatable kayaks. He will talk about the logistics and shares slides of the trip starting from the fast-moving East Fork through the canyons and braided streams of the Chulitna River.
COST: Free
CHUGACH STATE PARK
Discuss access plans
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Feb. 23
WHERE: Indian Valley Bible Chalet's Fellowship Hall
WHAT: The first of four sessions scheduled to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions and get more information on developing access points along the boundary of Chugach State Park. Open houses will also be held at the Atwood Building Room 240 at 11:30 a.m. on March 5; Eagle River Town Center Community Room at 6:30 p.m. on March 9; and at the Campbell Creek Science Center Multipurpose Room at 6:30 p.m. on March 10.
COST: Free
CONTACT: Visit http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/chugach/planning.htm or contact Monica Alvarez at 269-8145 or monica.alvarez@alaska.gov.
CLIMBING
Ice climbing festival
WHEN: March 5-7
WHERE: Hunter Creek, about an hour north of Anchorage near Knik River
WHAT: 2010 Alaska Ice Climbing Festival is aimed introducing newcomers to the sport. Clinics, instruction and gear available. Kickoff spaghetti dinner is 6 p.m. Friday with a slide show by Black Diamond athlete Sam Elias. Clinics and competitions follow on Saturday and Sunday. A barbecue at 4 p.m. Sunday wraps up the weekend.
COST: Varies. Clinics $50-$80.
CONTACT: www.akicefest.com/contact.html
Shrinking Eklutna Glacier
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday
WHERE: BP Energy Center
WHAT: Dr. Michael Loso, APU assistant professor of geology and graduate student Louis Sass will present research on the shrinking Eklutna and Eagle Glacier at the Mountaineering Club of Alaska meeting.
COST: Free
FILM
Oceans film festival
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24 and 8 p.m. Feb. 25
WHERE: Bear Tooth Theatrepub
WHAT: Alaska Oceans Film Festival includes 10 films over two days, including "Paddle to Seattle" on Feb. 24 about two friends who build their own kayaks and paddle for 97 days from Alaska to Seattle.
COST: $8
CONTACT: www.beartooththeatre.net
HIKING
Hike in Bicentennial Park
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays
WHERE: Thursday at O'Malley Trailhead, Monday at Taku Lake Park 2
WHAT: Alaska Outdoors holds hikes every Monday and Thursday. Monday hikes are for beginners and families. Thursday hikes are more challenging.
COST: $1 for non-members (yearly membership $20 per person and $30 per family)
CONTACT: 770-0440
Finding your way(points)
WHEN: 6 p.m., Wednesday
WHERE: REI
WHAT: Learn additional skills in GPS 201. Participants who know how to establish waypoints and other basic functions will get the most out of the clinic.
COST: Free
Middle Fork Loop hike
WHEN: 11 a.m., Feb. 27
WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center
WHAT: A nine-mile round trip hike on Middle Fork Loop trail from Prospect Heights. Hikers need to be in good shape and bring food, water, warm clothing and warm layers. Snowshoes and ice cleats may be needed for the hike which gains 1,200 feet in 3 miles. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Limited to first 12 people (18 and up) who register.
COST: Free
CONTACT: 694-2108.
HUNTING
Cogdell at Safari Club expo
WHEN: 5:30 p.m., Feb. 26-27
WHERE: Dena'ina Center
WHAT: Two days of raffles and auctions to raise money for wildlife conservation. Features firearms, furs, jewelry and hunts from around the world as well as a taxidermy display and photo contest. Olympic bronze medal shooter Corey Cogdell will be at the Feb. 27 banquet.
COST: Friday admission is free. Saturday admission with dinner costs $80 (purchase by Feb. 22).
CONTACT: 980-9018 or aksafariclub.org
KIDS
Sing-a-longs at the Zoo
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Mondays
WHERE: Alaska Zoo
WHAT: Musician Annie Reeves leads groups in singing children's songs while she plays guitar. Sessions will include animal songs along with classic childhood favorites. Kids can join in the singing and play instruments provided by Reeves.
COST: $12 adults, $9 seniors and military, $6 youth ages 3-17, ages 2 and under free.
CONTACT: 346-2858 or alaskazoo.org
Going batty
WHEN: 2 p.m., Saturday
WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center
WHAT: Discover the secret world of bats: how they use echolocation to fly and hunt and the role they play in Alaska ecosystems. Learn about reporting sightings to the Alaska Citizen Science Program and help paint bat houses for a research project.
COST: Free ($5 parking nonmembers).
CONTACT: 694-2108
PHOTOGRAPHY
State parks photo contest
WHEN: Through March 1
WHERE: A laska state parks
WHAT: In celebration of the Alaska State Parks 40th anniversary, six photos will be selected and used to create color posters that will be distributed throughout the state. Images should be from within state park managed areas -- any year or season.
COST: Free.
CONTACT: www.dnr.alaska.gov/parks/photocontest.htm
SNOWBOARDING
Backcountry clinic
WHEN: 7 p.m., Feb. 24
WHERE: REI
WHAT: Clinic on basic gear and what you need to start snowboarding in the backcountry.
COST: Free
SNOWMACHINING
WOW rides fight cancer
WHEN: Feb. 27
WHERE: Clam Shell Lodge, Clam Gulch
WHAT: Way Out Women snowmachine ride aims to raise $50,000 to help cancer patients. Begins 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at Clam Shell Lodge, with a continental breakfast 9 a.m. the next morning. First team leaves at 11 a.m. Costumes encouraged. All levels of riders can participate. About $150,000 has been raised by the five previous WOW events. "We have helped those from 8 to 88 regardless of gender or type of cancer," organizer and oncology nurse Kathy Lopeman said in a press release.
COST: $100 entry fee
CONTACT: Kathy Lopeman, 714-4490 or 283-7602; www.cpgh.org.
SKIING
Learn to wax skis
WHEN: 6 p.m., March 4
WHERE: REI
WHAT: Learn the latest tips and techniques from a Swix Wax representative to maximize glide and speed.
COST: Free
Improve your skiing
WHEN: 6:30 p.m., today
WHERE: Beach Lake Ski Chalet, Chugiak
WHAT: Skiers of all abilities invited to learn how to ski, improve technique, become faster and get in better condition with the Chugiak/Eagle River Masters and Adult Nordic Ski Program. Work on classical and skating techniques during three-month program.
COST: $120 to $225
CONTACT: 376-2169
SKATING
Fun skate days
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturdays
WHERE: Westchester Lagoon
WHAT: Shake the winters blues and get some exercise skating at the Westchester Lagoon. Music and warming barrels make it festive.
COST: Free
CONTACT: 343-4121
WINTER SPORTS
Winter gear demo
WHEN: 10 a.m., Saturday
WHERE: BLM Campbell Creek Science Center
WHAT: Check out the latest winter gear -- snowshoes, skis, avalanche beacons, geo-caching and winter biking, running and camping gear. Includes skijoring, dog mushing, free clinics and refreshments.
COST: Free
CONTACT: 267-1247
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