Anchorage Daily News

CANOEING

Test your canoe paddling skills

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. June 26

WHERE: Jewel Lake picnic pavilion

DETAILS: Join Knik Canoers and Kaykers club for a barbecue and canoe-paddling skills clinic. Club provides burgers and flatware; participants bring potluck dishes for sharing. Solo and tandem skills clinic. Connect with friends (new and old) and enhance your paddling skills. Bring desired gear/equipment.

COST: Free (door prize drawing for members; annual membership encouraged; $10/individual or $15/family)

Contact: 345-6642; www.kck.org

CYCLING

Women's mountain-bike class

WHEN: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and June 25

WHERE: Kincaid Park and Campbell Tract

DETAILS: Arctic Bicycle Club hosts a women's mountain-bike skills clinic to learn basic maintenance, field repair and trail skills. Bring inner tube, multi-tool, tire levers, chain tool, hand pump helmet and bike.

COST: $25

CONTACT: 245-3669, 830-0121, www.arcticbike.org

Road cycling class at Kincaid

WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Kincaid outdoor center

DETAILS: Anchorage Parks and Recreation offers a road-riding class for experienced road cyclists interested in racing and training. Class is led by Arctic Bicycle Club road racers Matt Novakovich and Jim Peot. Participants provide their own bikes and helmets.

COST: $80

CONTACT: 343-6566, www.muni.org/parks to register

Fireweed number pickup

WHEN: Noon-2 p.m., 6-8 p.m. July 10

WHERE: Kincaid Park Chalet

DETAILS: Number pickup, mandatory safety meeting for riders and support crew and vehicle inspection for the Fireweed, Alaska's biggest bike race. Start times posted on race Web site.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Annette Cartier (272-1933) on number pickup; Jim Mendenhall (272-0160) on vehicles. www.fireweed.400.com

Denali Highway ride

WHEN: 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday

WHERE: Glennallen

DETAILS: Three-day self-supported solstice ride. Leave campground just north of town and ride north to Paxson (60 miles), staying overnight at campground; on Saturday, ride 20 miles to Tangle Lakes and camp there; on Sunday, return 90 miles to Glennallen.

COST: Free, but membership in the club is encouraged.

CONTACT: 566-0177 (press 3); www.arcticbike.org. Doublecheck with ride coordinator Eileen at 952-9964.

Crescent Lake/Tern Lake ride

WHEN: 9 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Carrs Huffman coffee shop

DETAILS: Advanced ride down a wide, well-packed trail 6 1/2 miles to the shores of Crescent Lake. Expect a couple of rocky spots and some snow. Will leave trail head at 11 a.m.

COST: Free, but membership in the club is encouraged.

CONTACT: 566-0177 (press 3); www.arcticbike.org

South Anchorage road ride

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Carrs Huffman coffee shop

DETAILS: Ride around south part of town; route to be determined

COST: Free, but membership in the club is encouraged.

CONTACT: 566-0177 (press 3); www.arcticbike.org

FLORA AND FAUNA

Bird ecology course

WHEN: June 23-25

WHERE: Denali National Park and Preserve

DETAILS: Murie Science and Learning Center is offering an "Ecology of Birds" course by park ornithologist Carol McIntyre. Polish identification skills, explore avian behavior and new research. Course will be based out of a field camp along the Teklanika River.

COST: $330

CONTACT: courses@murieslc.org, www.murieslc.org, 1-888-688-1269

Dall sheep and predators

WHEN: June 27-29

WHERE: Denali National Park and Preserve

DETAILS: Murie Science and Learning Center course will be taught by sheep expert Ken Whitten. Dall sheep were a catalyst in the formation of Denali National Park. Learn about their habitat and predators that depend on them.

COST: $320

CONTACT: courses@murieslc.org, www.murieslc.org, 1-888-688-1269

Watch the busy beavers

WHEN: Friday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Meet at the center and bring binoculars on 2.5-mile hike to see beaver colony.

COST: Parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Avoid annoying insects

WHEN: Sunday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Naturalist Ute Olsson will offer a slide show on annoying insects and plants. Then encounter them on a walk.

COST: Parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

HIKING/BACKPACKING

Alaska Outdoors weekly hikes

WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays

WHERE: Monday, Kincaid Park, Raspberry parking lot; Thursday, Turnagain Arm, Potter trail head.

DETAILS: Family/beginner hikes on Mondays, intermediate on Thursdays. Dogs welcome.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 770-0440, www.alaska-outdoors.org

Hike with dad

WHEN: 2 p.m. today

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Bob Nichols leads families on leisurely 2-3 mile hike. Limited to first 16 who register.

COST: Free; parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Mat-Su Hike Series

WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 16

WHERE: Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer

DETAILS: Join Spring Creek Outdoor Adventures for nine guided Mat-Su hikes during the summer. Successive hikes will increase in length and difficulty.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 1-907-746-2795

Big Wild Trails at Kincaid Park

WHEN: 6-7 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Kincaid Outdoor Center, 9401 Raspberry Road

DETAILS: Discover new trails while increasing your personal fitness on this more-advanced hiking series.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 343-6397, 343-6566

HUNTING DOGS

AKC hunt test

WHEN: June 27-29; entry deadline Thursday

WHERE: Point MacKenzie

DETAILS: Southcentral AKC hunt test is open to retrievers 6 months and older. Tests will be on land and water, using live and dead ducks. No place awards. There will be dogs of all levels tested in three divisions -- junior, senior and master.

COST: $65-$70 per dog. Club membership information available.

CONTACT: Bud Bass at 1-907-240-4090 or 373-6208; www.alaskaworkingretrieverclub.com

KIDS

Junior naturalist camps

WHEN: June 29-July 3 for junior naturalists; later sessions for teens

WHERE: Wynn Nature Center at Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies in Homer

DETAILS: Camps are four to five days, led by trained naturalists. Campers go by boat to Peterson Bay Field Station across Kachemak Bay.

COST: $210

CONTACT: 1-907-235-6667; www.akcoastalstudies.org

Urban mountain biking for kids

WHEN: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in June

WHERE: Kincaid Outdoor Center, 9401 Raspberry Road

DETAILS: Instructor Rose Lahti teaches this "Kids Urban Mountain Bike" class for beginners. The basics of bikes, along with the knowledge of how to get around town on your bike to destinations you want via trails and the bus system, will be covered. Participants provide their own bike, helmet, water bottle and spare tube. For ages 10-15.

COST: $80

CONTACT: 343-6397, 343-6566 to register

Family Park Safari at Russian Jack

WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 12

WHERE: Russian Jack Springs chalet, 1600 Lidia Selkregg Lane

DETAILS: Explore Anchorage's municipal parks using a mix of treasure hunting and navigation called "letterboxing." Families will meet at designated parks with maps and clues to letterboxes that hold interesting facts, a stamp to mark your park map and more clues to the next letterbox. For families of all ages.

COST: $19 per family

CONTACT: Anchorage Parks And Recreation. 343-6992, www.muni.org/parks

Parent and Me Walks

WHEN: 11 a.m.-noon Tuesdays through Aug. 12

WHERE: Hilltop Chalet

DETAILS: Moms, dads and children are invited to learn the trail systems in Anchorage with Parks and Recreation staff. Trail strollers and backpacks are welcome.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 343-4217, www.muni.org/parks

Kincaid Adventure Camps begin

WHEN: 9-11:45 a.m. weekly through Aug. 8

WHERE: Kincaid Park chalet

DETAILS: Explore Kincaid Park with weekly themes, including pathfinding and wilderness skills.

COST: $75 per week

CONTACT: 343-4217, www.muni.org/parks

Outside play program in Palmer

WHEN: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 20

WHERE: Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer

DETAILS: "Come Outside and Play" is Spring Creek Outdoor Adventures-sponsored program for kids of all ages. Outdoor games featured each week; snacks included.

COST: $2 per child, no registration necessary

CONTACT: 1-907-746-2795

Nature walk, talk for kids

WHEN: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 19

WHERE: Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer

DETAILS: Nature walk around Spring Creek Farm. Then sit back with a snack while listening to a storybook. For ages 5 up; children must be accompanied by adult. Bring your own snacks.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 1-907-746-2795

ORIENTEERING

Andrew's Orienteering Meet

WHEN: Wednesday starts are 5-7 p.m.

WHERE: Mile 1.1 Campbell Airstrip Road

DETAILS: Turn south from Tudor onto Campbell Airstrip Road

COST: $5 members $6 nonmembers

CONTACT: Andrew Lee 562-2448 www.oalaska.org

SOLSTICE

Celebrate at Eagle River

WHEN: 2-5 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: A three-mile hike on Albert Loop Trail to gravel bank on Eagle River to build a bonfire and celebrate solstice with s'mores.

COST: Free, but parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Solstice Mat-Su hike

WHEN: 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Sutton Library, off Glenn Highway on Jonesville Road.

DETAILS: Solstice day hike on Eska Creek Falls Trail.

COST: Free

CONTACT: Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers, info@vmbah.org or 1-907-746-6010

WOMEN'S EVENTS

Outdoors woman workshop

WHEN: Friday-Sunday

WHERE: Lost Lake Boy Scout Camp, Mile 306 of Richardson Highway

DETAILS: Build hunting, fishing and other outdoors skills. First designed for women, now open to anyone wishing to learn outdoors skills. Participants pick four classes of interest taught at the beginner level. Among them: firearms safety, chain saws, big game hunting and salmon fishing.

COST: $225 if bring tent; $250 to stay in cabin.

CONTACT: Nancy Sisinyak at 1-907-459-7346 or www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region3/programs/bow/.

Compiled by Daily News outdoors editor Mike Campbell. Deadline for submission is 9 a.m. Monday. E-mail items to outdoors@adn.com, fax to 258-2157 or mail to Anchorage Daily News, P.O. Box 149001, Anchorage 99514-9001.

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Site of the week

www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/aktrails/ats/matsu/nanclk.htm:

Vist this site to learn how to canoe through Nancy Lakes system.

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