WEDNESDAY
Wrangell Bearfest, July 22-26. Forum on "Bears and Climate Change" featuring a scientific symposium, family events, photography and music workshops, a marathon and other events. U.S. Forest Service employees will lead discussions on managing the Anan Wildlife Observatory, and Bobbie Jo Skibo from the Chugach National Forest will share her experiences with bear-human interactions on the Kenai Peninsula. Wrangell is 30 miles northwest of the Anan Wildlife Observatory, one of Alaska's premier bear-viewing areas. An individual pass is required to visit the observatory. For a schedule, alaskabearfest.org (907-874-7550).
Little Explorers hike, 11 a.m.-noon, Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Guided walk for families with preschoolers. Free program; $5 parking for non-members. (694 2108, www.ernc.org)
Guided nature walks, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Eagle River Nature Center. Join a docent Wednesday through Sunday for a short walk around the Rodak Loop to learn about the history, flora and fauna of the Eagle River Valley. Sign in at front desk. (Free program; $5 parking for nonmembers. (694-2108, www.ernc.org)
Westchester Lagoon and Tony Knowles Coastal Trail summer bird walks, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1824 W. 15th Ave. Walks focus on birds that use the Anchorage Coastal Important Bird Area, a 20-mile coastal strip that includes Ship Creek, Westchester Lagoon and Point Woronzof. Meet at Westchester Lagoon and continue along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The pace will be leisurely with frequent stops to look for birds. Binoculars available. Free. (276-7034, www.audubonalaska.org)
Alaska Dirt Divas bike ride, 7-8:15 p.m., Kincaid Park, 9401 Raspberry Road. Bring snacks and plenty of water. Annual membership is $35. (350-1974, alaskadirtdivas.blogspot.com)
THURSDAY
Alaska Sierra Club hike, 5:45-7:30 p.m., North Bivouac Trailhead parking lot off of Campbell Airstrip Road. Easy local trails. Free. (276-4060, www.facebook.com/SierraClubAlaska)
Kincaid Park hike, 6:30 p.m., Kincaid Park Chalet, Raspberry Road. Alaska Outdoors hosts easy-to-moderate social hikes throughout Anchorage. Thursday hikes are for moderate hikers. $1 for nonmembers. (440-9934, alaska-outdoors.org)
FRIDAY
Courting High Seas Tragedy with author Dave Atcheson, 4 p.m., Fireside Books, 720 S. Alaska St., Palmer. Atcheson is an avid angler and hunter and author of National Geographic's "Hidden Alaska: Bristol Bay and Beyond" and the guidebook "Fishing Alaska's Kenai Peninsula." His latest book is "Dead Reckoning, Navigating a Life on the Last Frontier, Courting Tragedy on its High Seas," a memoir of his days as a commercial fisherman.
Jeff Dusenbury Sweat Fest, 7 p.m., West High School. 2-mile and 5-mile runs. First 350 racers who sign up get a T-shirt. Walk or run this race to honor the cyclist killed in a hit-and-run incident last summer. Proceeds will benefit the Alaska Boys & Girls Club. $35 adults, $20 ages 14 and under, price goes up $5 for day-of-race registration. (www.jeffdusenburysweatfest.com)
SATURDAY
Jewel Lake Park Fix-It, 9 a.m.-noon, 4401 W. Dimond Blvd. Join the Anchorage Park Foundation and Anchorage Parks and Recreation Neighborhood Park Fix-It series. Volunteers will plant the garden bed, paint the pavilion, thin vegetation, and spread pea gravel. Tools and lunch provided. (343-4587, www.muni.org/Departments/parks/Events/Pages/JewelLakeParkFix-It.aspx)
Race for Recovery: Mud Run, 9:30 a.m., Tozier Track, 3400 E. Tudor Road. Get muddy and raise money to support Anchorage Community Mental Health Services Inc. Alaska's only homegrown mud race combines military-style and natural obstacles on a challenging course. Funds raised support outreach programs for runaway or homeless youth. Alaska Youth Advocates provides a drop-in center, food bank, clothing and a safe space for teens. Register as a team or individual. $45 includes a free T-shirt and rally towel. Kid's Run 2-K for ages 7-13 is $10 and includes a free T-shirt. All funds stay in Anchorage. (261-5395,www.acmhs.com/support-us/2015-race-for-recovery)
Crow Pass Crossing, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Come cheer runners at the finish line of the 24-mile race over Crow Pass from Girdwood. (694 2108, www.ernc.org)
A Very Merry Chugach Christmas in July, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Alaska Geographic, 241 N. C St. For the first time, the Chugach National Forest will provide the 2015 U.S. Capitol Tree that stands on the Capitol's west lawn during the annual holiday season. More than 20 sponsors and partners will take part in the free family-friendly event. The holiday themed event features special appearances by Smokey the Bear, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and live reindeer, ornament decorating to adorn the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, games, educational activities for all ages, and music by Swing 49. (771-8463.)
Big Wild Bike: Commuter Stories, 1-3 p.m., Anchorage Museum, 625 C St. Anchorage Museum and Bike Anchorage will lead a bike tour based on the harrowing and funny experiences people have encountered using Anchorage's trail system. Riders are encouraged to wear helmets and pack their own water. Register online. $10. (929-9200, www.anchoragemuseum.org/exhibits-events/calendar)
Rock Skip in Lake Minchumina, 1-5 p.m., Lake Minchumina. The small community, with an airfield, post office and community library with Internet, holds this event each year. Rock skipping is dependent on the flying weather from Fairbanks. If it is bad, but the next day is expected to be good, the event likely will be held. Otherwise, check the Facebook page as the festival is often re-scheduled for the next week. Bring something for the barbecue. Soft drinks and juices are especially valued because there is no community well. Gasoline is also valued for the 4-wheelers and trucks that residents use to transport visitors. Also toilet paper for the outhouses. No imported rocks. (674-3113)
SUNDAY
Bike and bird day, 1-5 p.m., Valley of the Moon Park, 610 W. 17th Ave. Join Audubon Alaska and ride your bike along the Chester Creek and Coastal trails to learn about the area birds. Learn birding basics or exercise your birding skills. Experienced birders will have binoculars and spotting scopes to share. The Alaska Zoo will show a live bird of prey at the start and finish. Free. (276-7034, www.AudubonAlaska.org)
Itch, prickle, and sting, 2-3 p.m., Eagle River Nature Center. Join naturalist Ute Olsson to learn which plants to avoid and how to deal with bothersome insects. Free. (694 2108, www.ernc.org)
MONDAY
Kincaid Park hike, 6:30 p.m., Kincaid Park Raspberry Road Parking Lot. Alaska Outdoors hosts easy to moderate social hikes throughout Anchorage. Monday hikes, for beginners and families with children, are on established and mostly flat trails, lasting about 90 minutes. $1 for nonmembers. (440-9934)
TUESDAY
Lunch on the lawn, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Anchorage Museum, 625 C St. Live music, hands-on activities, science demos and animal encounters. Brown bag it, or pick up lunch from food stands operated by Muse Restaurant and local food vendors. Weather dependent. Free. (929-9200, www.anchoragemuseum.org/exhibits-events/calendar)
Wildlife Diaries: Snow Leopards, 7 p.m., The Alaska Zoo, 4731 O'Malley Road. Learn about the mountainous terrain of snow leopards in the central Asian mountains. Regular zoo admission rates apply. (alaskazoo.org/wildlife-diaries)
Board of Forestry meeting, 8 a.m.-5 p.m, International Arctic Research Center, Room 501, University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. The board will meet in Fairbanks and by teleconference to discuss statewide forestry issues and participate in a reforestation forum. Teleconference sites will be available in Anchorage and Juneau. The Anchorage location is the Division of Forestry conference room, Atwood Building, Suite 1450, 550 W. 7th Ave. The Juneau site is conference room A on the 4th floor of the Department of Natural Resources building, 400 Willoughby Ave. To teleconference, contact Marty Freeman at marty.freeman@alaska.gov or call 907-269-8467 by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
COMING UP
Running With the Bulls, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2, Musk Ox Farm, 12850 E. Archie Road, Palmer. A 1K kids fun run, a 5K run/walk, and a challenging 10K run included. Bib pick-up and race-day registration begins 11 a.m., with races at 1 p.m. Entry fee includes bib, race T-shirt, water bottle, snacks and door prize ticket. Pre-register atwww.muskoxfarm.org/events.
Learn to camp programs for families, Alaska Public Lands Information Center offers two weekend family camping programs in Denali National Park and Preserve, Aug. 7-9 and Aug. 14-16. National Park Rangers and Alaska Geographic education staff will facilitate these programs, designed to teach the basic skills of camping responsibly in Alaska. Families will get plenty of hands-on experience working on campsite set-up, cooking, and dealing with wildlife at the Savage River Campground. The Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center will provide camping gear and Alaska Geographic will provide meals and snacks. Families must drive themselves to and from Denali and pay the $10 per person (age 16 and older) park entrance fee. Space is limited. (907-459-3731 or emailmaria_berger@nps.gov)
To submit an event, go to adn.com/events. Submit events at least 10 days in advance.