The Olympia Mountaineers will hold its annual Orientation Night on Jan. 10.
The local branch of the Mountaineers offers activities including hiking, wilderness conservation and social activities, courses in kayaking, mountain climbing and alpine scrambling.
The Olympia branch has around 750 members, said Elaine Fischer, one of the event organizers.
The event will take place 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s University, Norman Worthington Conference Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey.
As an incentive, new member initiation fees of $35 will be waived that night.
For more information on the Olympia branch, go to olympiamountaineers.org.
BEGINNING BIRDING CLASS BEGINS JAN. 14
Retired ornithology professor Scott Mills will teach a beginning birding class starting Jan. 14.
The course will provide an introduction to birding with an emphasis on developing identification skills.
The class, offered by the Black Hills Audubon Society, will be held for five Saturday mornings, through Feb. 11, 9-11 a.m. at the Education Building at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
The cost of $60 includes two field trips. Some scholarships are available. The class is limited to 24 people. For more information and to register, contact Deb Nickerson at 754-5397 or debranick@gmail.com.
FLY-FISHING DEMO COMING TO FIRCREST REC CENTER
The public is invited to attend a free fly-fishing demonstration Jan. 14, sponsored by the Puget Sound Flyfishers.
The event will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fircrest Community Center, 555 Contra Costa Ave., Fircrest.
“This is not a sales event. Demo Day is where some of our favorite outfitters come to show off their latest fly-fishing gear,’ said Ned Krilich, a member of the group. “You can try out new rods, reels, lines and other gear just for fun.”
Participating fly shops and manufacturers expected to take part are Anil Srivastava from Puget Sound Fly Co., Blake Merwin from Gig Harbor Fly Shop, Leland Miyawaki from Orvis, Garry Sandstrom (Scientific Angler, Hardy, Royal Wulff Products) and Dick Sagara (Temple Fork Outfitters, Rainy Flies, Rodmounts).
Several certified fly-casting instructors and fly tyers also will be on hand.
The fly-fishing group also will hold a raffle to benefit its programs, including education, conservation and the Northwest Youth Fly Fishing Academy.
RESOLUTION RUN HONORS FALLEN POLICE OFFICERS
A number of Gig Harbor businesses are sponsoring the third annual New Year’s Resolution Run for the Heroes on Jan. 14. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Behind the Badge Foundation to support the families of fallen police officers in Washington. The goal this year is to raise more than $10,000.
According to the foundation, there were more than 158 line-of-duty officer deaths nationwide in 2011, up 11 percent. Washington averages two to three line-of-duty officer deaths per year. Since 2000, there have been 31 line-of-duty officer deaths in the state.
The event features a 5k walk/run and a 10k run through downtown Gig Harbor to Crescent Valley Drive and back. Check-in is at Skansie Park at 8 a.m., and the race starts at 9 a.m. Registration is $35.
There will also be information booths from 8 a.m.-noon, raffles and more at Skansie Park, 3211 Harborview Drive.
Donations can be made by nonrunners in person on race day or by going to behindthebadgefoundation.org. For more information about the event, go to CIGinsurance.com.
Compiled by Jeffrey P. Mayor
jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
