April Outdoors Calendar

Calendar item submissions for Xplore are accepted at outdoors@standard.net or by fax at 625-4299. Deadline is 3 p.m. Thursday.

Wednesdays -- Wildlife Wednesdays are at 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday. See snakes, owls, eagles, desert tortoises, hawks, tarantulas and more. Admission is $3 for ages 12-64 and $1.25 for seniors and children 2-11. Ogden Nature Center members are free. The center is located at 966 W. 12th St. For more information, call 621-7595 or visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org.

Today-April 5 -- Call for entries for the Ogden Nature Center's 15th annual Birdhouse Contest and Exhibit. Entries will be accepted March 31-April 5 at the Nature Center's Visitor Center at 966 W. 12th St. in Ogden. Artists may enter up to two works and there is no entry fee. The exhibit will be on display outdoors April 19 -Aug. 31. All birdhouses must be on a post and ready to plant 2.5 feet in the ground. For more information, contact the Ogden Nature Center at 801-621-7595.

April 5 -- Baby Bird Basics class for ages 12 and older 1-2:30 p.m. The class is free, but donations are accepted. This class is required for new volunteers wanting to work in song bird rehabilitation. The class is led by ONC Wildlife Specialist DaLyn Erickson. Pre-register by April 4 by calling 621-7595.

April 19 -- Come celebrate Earth Day at the Ogden Nature Center. Expect earth-friendly vendors, exhibitors, entertainment, food and activities from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $1 per person or free if you ride the bus, bike or walk. Donations will be gratefully accepted. All proceeds will benefit the Ogden Nature Center. For more information, call 621-7595 or visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org.

Today-April 25 -- Registration is now open for the sixth annual Fly With the Flock 5K Fun Run. Enjoy the great outdoors and a fun, physical morning at the Ogden Nature Center. The 5K Fun Run and 2.5K Kids Run are slated for May 3. Registration fees are $18 for adults and $12 for children. After April 25, late registration is $22 for adults and $15 for kids. To register online go to www.ogdennaturecenter.org. To register in person go to the Ogden Nature Center 966 W. 12th St., Ogden, Utah or call 621-7595.

April 26 -- Nestlings, Fledglings and Birds ... Oh My! 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. General introduction to birds in the backyard, nesting habits and accident prevention. Instructors are DaLyn Erickson and Teresa Anderson. Class is for ages 6 to adult and great for families. Cost is $5 for members and $6 non-members. Pre-register by April 25. Call 621-7595 for more information.

April 9 -- Bird Walk at Fielding Garr Ranch with the Wasatch Audubon Club. Meet at 7 a.m. at McDonald's Riverdale Road and 900 West for breakfast or at 7:30 a.m. to car pool or at 8 a.m. at the Antelope Island entrance lot. We'll drive directly to the ranch. For more information, contact Mort Somer 782-5668.

April 15 -- John Bellmon, originator and member of the Wasatch Audubon since 1981, will speak on birding in the South Pacific while showing a glimpse of tropical island habitats and inhabitants. Located at the Ogden Nature Center. For more information, call Jack Rensel 399-0240.

April 19 -- Sage Grouse Lek and East Canyon field trip with the Wasatch Audubon Society. Meet at 5:15 a.m. at the DWR office 515 E. 5300 South, South Ogden for carpooling. We'll end the trip with breakfast at the Spring Chicken Inn. For more information, call Les Talbot 731-4925.

April 23 -- Kays Creek Parkway bird walk with the Wasatch Audubon Society. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at McDonald's 5745 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, for breakfast or at 8:15 a.m. to car pool. For more information, contact Mort Somer 782-5668.

April 30 -- Birdsong trail area bird walk with the Wasatch Audubon Society. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at Dylan's 12th street and Monroe, Ogden, for breakfast or at the south west corner of the Rainbow Gardens parking lot at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact Mort Somer 782-5668.

April 8 -- Join river runner and author Hal Crimmel for a slide show and talk entitled "Dinosaur: Four Seasons on the Green and Yampa Rivers." River runners, desert aficionados and lovers of wild lands will enjoy hearing more about Dinosaur's dazzling high-desert landscape, a place that needs to be appreciated and protected. The presentation is at 7 p.m. at the REI, 3285 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City. For more information, call 486-2100 or visit www.rei.com.

April 15 -- Come for a visual tour of Utah waterfalls from Logan Canyon to Moab and St. George, from roadside to distant hikes. Dick Wunder has been documenting Utah's waterfalls for the past 10 years and has published the hiking guide "100 Utah Waterfalls." This presentation is his selection of favorite waterfalls in the state, chosen mostly for scenic and photogenic qualities, many from his book but also including many located since the book's publication. The presentation is at 7 p.m. at REI, 3285 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City. For more information, call 486-2100 or visit www.rei.com.

April 19 -- The first Wasatch Front Gear Swap is being held to raise money for the Ogden Kayak Park and Slalom Course from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the kayak park. Bring your old kayaks, skis and snowboards, camping gear, bikes, canoes, rafts, etc. Come enjoy live music, food, kayak slalom demos, local vendors and especially great deals on used outdoor gear. All profits will be donated to the Ogden Kayak Park, located along the Weber River. From Interstate 15 northbound take the 24th Street exit and travel east, turn left (north) on B Avenue then turn right (east) and travel two blocks. For more information, call Alan at 920-3303.

April 24 -- The Beehive Rock and Gem Club meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Ogden-Hinkley Airport Terminal, 3900 S. Airport Road. At each meeting a different program topic is presented. These programs are great learning opportunities. For more information, contact program chairman Ray Rutledge at 732-8331 or visit www.beehiverockandgem.com.

Today-April 10 -- Registration for the Ogden City Youth Fishing Club is open until April 10. The fishing club starts April 10 at Glasmann's Pond, 1880 E. 4600 South. Classes will be from 6-8 p.m. This year the fishing club will have class levels for beginner, intermediate and advanced anglers. Cost is $15 per child ages 6-13. Limited to 35 children and their parent or guardian. For more information, call Ogden City Recreation 940-0391.

April 3-5 -- Beaver Mountain Snowmobile Hill Climb and Points Championship to be held at Logan Ski Resort. Up to 600 snowmobilers will race for more than $20,000 in cash and additional prizes in Logan Canyon. The championship hill climb is sanctioned by the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association. Events will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. There will be competition on the Pro Course and the Semi-Pro Course. Both are easily visible from the lodge at the base of the mountain. Spectator admission is $5 and rides on the ski lift are $5 for aerial views of the action. Riders must walk back down the hill. Food will be available. Call 435-752-1892 for more information.

April 5 -- Soap Box Derby at Wolf Mountain resort in Eden. Go digging in your garage to create the fastest, craziest, creative and most unusual form of transportation to get down the hill at Wolf Mountain. Just about anything goes. Push, pull, ride, slide, or drag your way to prizes, trophies, and bragging rights. Contraption must include, skis, snowboard or ski poles. Soap Box Derby entry fee is $25 per family or business or $15 for individual entry. Registration is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the derby is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Call 745-3511 for more information.

April 12 -- 400 inches of snow this season has resulted in modifications to the eighth annual Meltdown Race at Snowbasin Ski Resort. Replacing the Pole, Pedal, Paddle will be the Pole (downhill ski), Kombi (gates, rollers, jumps and fun) and Criterium Bike (Mountain or road). Awards ceremony at 1 p.m. on the Plaza at Earl's Lodge with live music by Flew the Coop. All competitors will be entered in a drawing for a Snowbasin 2008-09 winter/summer combination season pass and an overnight stay at Lakeside Village. Athletes may pre-register at the snowsports desk in Earls Lodge for $25. Downhill will start at 8 a.m. For additional information, please call 620-1000.

April 12 -- See and learn more about the mountain goats in Little Cottonwood Canyon at a free wildlife-viewing event. The event will be held at the park-and-ride lot at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County. DWR biologists will be at the lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spotting scopes and binoculars will also be available to get a closer look at the goats. Free activities for kids also will be offered from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, call Walters at (801) 538-4771.

Volunteers

April 19 -- The second annual Ogden River Clean Up. Celebrate Earth Day by joining in an Urban River Clean Up from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. In conjunction with other concerned volunteers, we will clean up the Ogden River. Lunch will be provided. Plans are ongoing and the extent of the project will be determined later in the spring as runoff levels are determined. Meet at Big D Sports Park on the Ogden River Parkway. For more information, call Ranee 985-0158.

Off Road Expo

April 25-27 -- Off-Road Expo returns to South Towne Expo Center. The nation's largest off-road consumer products show series to debut off-road toys for enthusiasts. This three-day off-road extravaganza showcases the latest toys, technologies, gear and accessories from national and local exhibitors. There will be live-action entertainment, including freestyle motocross demos and UROC rock crawling demos. Admission is $10 for adults, children ages 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under are free. Visit www.offroadexpo.com for more information.

April 26 -- Hiking on one of the newest trails at Antelope Island State Park, the Sentinel Trail will take 3-4 hours, is approximately 6 miles round trip and has a moderate intensity. The trail leads to a high spot on the island's south side for beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountains. Call Larry at 731-3701 for more information.