Outdoors/Adventure

Go outside! A calendar of outdoors activities for kids

FRIDAY

Little Explorers, 11 a.m.-noon, Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Guided walk for families with preschoolers, ages 2-5. This short, guided walk is aimed at exploring nature at a child's pace. No pre-registration needed. Free program; $5 parking for non-members. (694-2108, www.ernc.org)

SATURDAY

Free archery class, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Kincaid Archery Range, 9401 Raspberry Road. Instructors from the Northwest Archers club will offer the expertise of NASP-certified instructors and supply equipment for your use. All skill levels welcome. For ages 6 and older. Parents must accompany children. If the weather is rainy, class will meet in the Kincaid bunker. (343-6397,www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Pages/ActivityGuide.aspx)

Moose and bear safety for families, 2-3:30 p.m., Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Junior Naturalist Program for grades K-6. Learn to stay safe by becoming "moose aware" and "bear aware." Free program; $5 parking for non-members. (694-2108, www.ernc.org)

MONDAY

Hillside Park hike, 6:30 p.m., 7011 Abbott Road. Alaska Outdoors hosts social hikes in Anchorage year round. Monday hikes are designed for beginners and families with children, on established wide and mostly flat trails. $1 for non-members. (440-9934, alaska-outdoors.org)

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ONGOING

Junior Master Gardener Day Camp. Alaska Botanical Gardens hosts this popular eight-week outdoor summer camp for second- to sixth-graders modeled after the Cooperative Extension Service's Junior Master Gardener program. Botany, soil science, ecology and gardening are covered. Children grow a crop from seed to harvest, with produce donated to Bean's Café and Children's Lunchbox. Retired first-grade teach Patrick Ryan, a 1999 BP Teacher of Excellence leads the program, with morning (9 a.m.-noon) or afternoon (1-4 p.m.) sessions once a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. $140 per child. (http://alaskabg.org/ 770-3692)

Sitka Sound Science Center Summer Day Camps offer science-based programs for kids, grades 1-8. Sessions run from 9 a.m.-noon. http://www.sitkascience.org/education/summer-camps/. Fees start at $85/week per child.

Hike it Baby Anchorage offers group hikes for parents and children of all ages. Participants must sign a waiver but all events are free, led by volunteers. For hike descriptions, check hikeitbaby.com. Free.

Creamer's Field Nature Walks: Daily walks through this migratory bird refuge in Fairbanks are suitable for all ages. Walks depart the visitor center at 10 a.m. Monday-Saturday, with an additional evening walk at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. www.creamersfield.org. Free.

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