Anchorage Daily News

ARCHERY

Learn to shoot

WHEN: 10:30 A.M. Saturday

WHERE: Kincaid Outdoor Center

WHAT: Northwest Archers will help archers at least 8 years old learn to shoot a bow and arrow at the Kincaid Archer Range. All skill levels welcome; some equipment available. Preregistration required.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 343-6566 or 343-6397

CYCLING

Fireweed number pickup

WHEN: Noon-2 p.m., 6-8 p.m. Thursday

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

Dirt Divas head to Kincaid

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

WHERE: Prospect Heights trail head (Wednesday), Kincaid Raspberry trail head (Thursday)

DETAILS: Join Alaska Dirt Divas for a ride to Near Point and back on Wednesday and advanced singletrack riding in Kincaid on Thursday. Helmets required.

COST: Free, but membership is encouraged.

CONTACT: www.alaskadirtdivas.blogspot.com

Dirt Divas offer beginner skills, Kincaid rides

WHEN: 7 p.m. July 14 and July 16

WHERE: Hilltop trail head in Far North Bicentennial Park (Monday), Kincaid Raspberry trail head (Wednesday)

DETAILS: Join Alaska Dirt Divas for Beginner Skills Level I seminar on Monday. Learn the basics from shifting and braking to climbing and descending. On Wednesday, enjoy the wide, smooth trails of Kincaid with some hills.

COST: Free, but membership is encouraged.

CONTACT: www.alaskadirtdivas.blogspot.com

DENALI ROAD LOTTERY

Apply for permit this month

WHEN: Apply in July; those selected drive Sept. 12-15

WHERE: Denali National Park

WHAT: Mail entries accepted through July 31 for up to 400 vehicles a day permitted to drive 92-mile Denali Park Road. Include a nonrefundable $10 check or money order payable to National Park Service. Winners will be posted on the park Web site. On application envelope, entrants must include a return address including a first and last name; and choice of dates in order of preference, written on the back of the envelope. One entry per person, addressed to: Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 588; Talkeetna, AK 99676. Applicants will be notified by mail on the status of their entry. Those selected will receive a confirmation letter.

CONTACT: www.nps.gov/dena/whatsnew.htm or 1-907-683-2294

FISHING

Alaska Fly Fishers meeting

WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Millennium Hotel in Spenard

DETAILS: Subject of the group's monthly meeting is "Taimen in Mongolia: The River Wolf." Taimen are the largest known trout in the world.

COST: Free

CONTACT: slambert@gci.net, 250-5984

FLORA AND FAUNA

Outdoor art adventures

WHEN: 6-8 p.m. July 17 for lecture; 1-6 p.m. July 19 for hike

WHERE: Anchorage Museum, 121 W. Seventh Ave.; various locations for hikes

DETAILS: Learn about art at the museum and create your own art inspired by Anchorage's trails in these fun and interesting art adventures offered in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Recreation. "Quick Draw Bragaw" is the first course, July 17 and 19. "Pioneers' Perspective" is 6-8 p.m. Aug. 8 and noon-7 p.m. Aug. 10

COST: $15

CONTACT: 343-4260

Verna Pratt talks wildflowers

WHEN: 2 p.m. today

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Learn about Alaska's wildflowers with expert Verna Pratt, who will lead a hike along the Iditarod and Albert Loop trails looking at what's blooming now.

COST: Free, but parking is $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

See busy beavers

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center

DETAILS: Bob Nichols will lead a 2.5-mile walk for adults to view an active beaver colony. Bring binoculars.

COST: Free; parking $5 for nonmembers

CONTACT: 694-2108

Potter Marsh grand opening

WHEN: Noon-4 p.m. July 26; ceremony and eagle release 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Potter Marsh, Mile 112 Seward Highway.

DETAILS: Mark the $3.1 million improvements to Anchorage's popular wildlife viewing area. Includes nature-related games and prizes, invertebrate sampling, birding stations along the boardwalk, shuttle tours for wildlife viewing around the marsh, educational animals from The Alaska Zoo, a rehabilitated eagle release and more.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 267-2168; elizabeth.manning@alaska.gov

Using radio telemetry

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Campbell Creek Science Center, 6865 Elmore Road

DETAILS: Biologist Jessy Coltrane of Fish and Game describes how scientists use radio telemetry to track the movements and activities of wildlife.

CONTACT: 267-1247

HIKING/BACKPACKING

Alaska Outdoors hikes

WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m. Monday and Thursday

WHERE: Bicentennial Park, Smokejumper parking lot on Monday; Bicentennial Park North Bivouac parking lot on Thursday

DETAILS: Monday is a family hike, generally flat, easy trail. Thursday is more hilly.

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

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 guided Mat-Su hikes during the summer. Successive hikes will increase in length and difficulty.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 1-907-746-2795

Walk-4-Well Being program

WHEN: 6-7 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Kincaid Chalet

DETAILS: Want to enjoy the trails at a relaxed pace? Join Parks and Recreation as it explores Kincaid's trail system. Learn about local wildlife and history of the park.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 343-6397, 343-6566

Mid-week nordic walking

WHEN: 6:15-7 p.m. Tuesday; 6:15-8 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Various parks

DETAILS: Low-impact approach to increasing health outdoors. Concentrate on quality workouts over moderate and longer courses. Pair up with others of similar speed and intensity to practice technique and increase mileage. Ages 12 and up.

COST: $5 a day or pre-paid with pass or punch card.

CONTACT: Ronn Randall, 343-4260 or randallr@muni.org

Big wild trails at Kincaid

WHEN: 6-7 p.m. July 16

WHERE: Russian Jack Springs Park

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

COST: Free

CONTACT: 343-6397, 343-6566

KIDS

Family safari at Russian Jack

WHEN: 6:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 12

WHERE: Russian Jack Springs chalet

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 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: Kincaid 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

WHEN: Through Aug. 8

WHERE: Kincaid Park chalet

DETAILS: Enjoy the summer exploring Kincaid Park with weekly themes, including pathfinding, discovery, water week, summer smorgasbord, and wilderness skills.

COST: $75 per week

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

Play outside 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 and talk

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

Kathy and Joyce's Junk-O

WHEN: Wednesday Mass start at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Jodphur parking lot at Kincaid Park

DETAILS: Access the park via Jodphur Road. This is a mass-start event.

COST: $5 members, $6 non-members

CONTACT: Joyce Goodell, 348-0012, www.oalaska.org

PARAGLIDING

Learn basics at Kincaid

WHEN: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Kincaid Park Chalet

DETAILS: Learn the basics of aerodynamics, glider design and function, control techniques, site selection and equipment options. Indoor instruction coupled with outdoor demonstrations. A controlled trial on a gentle practice slope will be directed by an experienced paragliding instructor from the Alaska Paragliding Club. Wear sturdy shoes. Must be 18.

COST: $35 a session

CONTACT: Ronn Randall, 343-4260

SHOOTING

Skeet shooting championships

WHEN: July 13

WHERE: Chugach Skeet Association, 7230 Dorchester St., Anchorage

DETAILS: Scholastic Clay Target Program Alaska Skeet State Championship. Teams in five divisions will compete for state titles in skeet and a chance to represent Alaska at the national championships July 31-Aug. 5 in Sparta, Ill. For young shooters in the 12th grade and under. Teams compete in trap, skeet and sporting clays as well as the Olympic versions of trap and skeet. The scholastic target program is considered the Little League of shooting sports. Some 8,000 to 9,000 students from over 45 states are expected to compete this year.

CONTACT: 428-0001

WILDERNESS SAFETY

Glacier travel and crevasse rescue

WHEN: July 19-20 or Aug. 23-24

WHERE: Matanuska Glacier, outside of Palmer

DETAILS: Two-day workshop provides instruction on climbing techniques necessary to travel safely on glaciers. Learn crampon use, self arrest, ice screw placement, anchor building, belaying, fixed-line ascension and hauling systems.

COST: $350 per person

CONTACT: Alaska Mountaineering School, 1-907-733-1016 or e-mail info@climbalaska.org

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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