Lots of activities planned for spring break

Next week, Homer students will be out of school for spring break. What’s a kid to do? Turns out, quite a bit. Here’s a round-up of what’s happening next week to keep your kids out of the doldrums.

Swimming: Open Swim will be from 1 to 3 p.m. every day except Sunday. $5 for adults and $2.50 for youth.

Playdates: On Saturday, March 8, The Pratt Museum is hosting a Pratt Playdate designed for babies, toddlers and their caregivers. Hands-on activities start at 10 a.m. in the Marine Gallery. Free.

Bonfire: Wynn Nature Center Community Bonfires happen every Sunday in March from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wynn Nature Center, Mile 1.5 on East Skyline Drive. Free. 

Skiing: The Homer Rope Tow will be open on Sundays, weather permitting, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Free snowboarding lessons will be offered for youth. Check Facebook or call 235-SNOW for the latest conditions.

Learning Workshops: Jeannie’s Learning Yurt is offering mini workshops during spring break. This exciting line-up includes gymnastics, acrobatics, art, yoga, drama and outdoor adventures. Call
235-6547 or visit Jeannie’s Learning Yurt on Facebook for more information and to sign up. $15 per class.

Spoken Word/Slam Poetry: The Homer R.E.C. Room is offering a free program for youth ages 13-19 years old to create and publicly perform their own written works. Writing, performance and music production workshops will be held from March 12-15 from 3 to 5:30 p.m.  Call 235-6736 or e-mail recroom@kbfpc.org for more information.

Open Gym: Open gym at the HERC Gym for kids 5 and younger is from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Monday and Friday. $2 per child.

Marine Debris Art: Join the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies and help out on a community art project. Process marine debris into unique art pieces and learn how to upcycle debris into useful take-home projects. Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at 2416 Clover Place. Free. 

Walk a Dog, Cuddle a Cat: Stop by the Homer Animal Shelter to play with cats or take a dog for a walk. The shelter is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 235-3141.

Cooking Classes: The R.E.C. Room is hosting a Langar FORK Club Cooking class on Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. This free class is open to teens aged 12 to 18. Call 235-6736 or e-mail recroom@kbfpc.org for more information.

Story Hour: Preschool story hour at the Homer Public Library is on Tuesday and Wednesday and runs from 10 to 11 a.m. On Friday, story hour is at the McNeil Canyon Fire Hall at 10 a.m. Free.

Lego: Lego at the Library for kids aged 7 to 12 is on Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. in the library meeting room. Free.

Museum: There’s free admission to the Pratt Museum on Wednesdays and Thursdays this month, sponsored by the Seldovia Village Tribe.

Rock Climbing: The Bay Club offers rock climbing for kids aged 6 to 12 Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The cost is $12 per child and you do not need to be a member to attend. For more information, call 235-2582.

Zumba: The Bay Club offers Zumba classes for teens. Monday to Thursday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 11. Classes are $10 each; you do not need to be a member to attend. For more information, call 235-2582.

Dog Training: On Saturday at 1 p.m. the Homer Dog Trainers starts a beginner nose work class for dogs and their handlers. E-mail homerdogtrainers@gmail.com for more information.

Skating: Public Skating times at the Kevin Bell Arena are Tuesday at 3 p.m., Wednesday and Friday at 1:45 p.m., Thursday at 5:45 p.m., Saturday (the 15th) at noon, and Sunday (the 16th) at 3:15 p.m. $5 and rentals are $3.

Fish Feeding: Help feed the intertidal creatures living in the Pratt Museum’s Marine Gallery. Tuesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. Free.

Bowling: The Homer TRAILs program is offering bowling at Kachemak Bowl on Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. $3.75 per game.

Night Skating: Turn down the lights and turn up the music. Night skating at the Kevin Bell Arena is on Friday night at 7 p.m. $5 per skater and rentals are $3.

Hockey: The Alaska State Hockey Championship is March 8, 9 and 10 at the Kevin Bell Arena. Bring the family by to watch a game or two. Free.

Sarah Richardson is a freelance writer and the author of the blog “Becoming Alaskan — Life at the End of the Road.” She and her husband, Bill, and their two children live in Homer.