ASTRONOMY

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