NCSD receives grant, schedules art workshop

In conjunction with Mercer House, the Natrona County School District recently received a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts to help bring the arts to at-risk students through the Champions Mentoring Program, according to a release from the school district.

The program matches adult volunteers with at-risk fourth- through eighth-grade students, who then work together to develop long-term, positive relationships while promoting academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, positive lifestyle and community service.

As a result of the grant, artist Lynn Hays, a Wyoming native, will facilitate an art workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 17 and 18 at Frontier Middle School. There are plenty of volunteers to facilitate the workshop, but donated craft materials are needed. The project will not be able to be done without supplies like paint, brushes, fabric scraps, canvases, feathers, beads, etc.

For more information, contact student mentor liaison Gayle Eastridge-Revere or Helene Crouch at (307) 233-4279.

Natrona County Public Library will also host an informational meeting regarding the Champions Mentoring Program at 10:30 a.m. on Friday. For more information, call (307) 577-READ ext. 2.

Audubon seeks outdoor volunteers

The Audubon Center at Garden Creek is seeking volunteers for the Volunteer Outdoor Leader Program, according to a release.

The Volunteer Outdoor Leaders connect people to nature by interpreting the Center property for school and adult groups, and occasionally assisting with research and conservation projects. No previous experience is necessary.

A two-hour training session is tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Another session will be held in the spring.

To register or for more information, contact Jessica Ryan at jryan@audubon.org or (307) 473-1987.

Family Resource Center offers finance workshop

The Family Resource Center will offer a workshop on financial management from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Mountain View Elementary School, according to a release. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

David M. Anderson, director of development for New York Life Insurance Company, will discuss budgeting, cutting expenses, getting out of debt, saving for retirement and insurance.

For more information, call Traci Gardner at (307) 233-4282 or Ami Houck at (307) 233-4281.

Library hosts Teen Read Week

The Natrona County Public Library will host Teen Read Week Oct. 12-18 but will start with events on Friday, according to a release. This year's theme is "Book with Bite @ your library."

On Friday, the movie "Movie with Bite" will be shown at 5 p.m. in the Crawford room.

Teen Tuesday is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Oct. 4 and will feature "magnetic poetry," followed by the poetry slam at 7 p.m. at Metro Coffee. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call (307) 577-READ ext 101 or stop by the Teen Zone.

Red Cross swim lessons begin

The Casper Family Aquatic Center is accepting registrations for Learn-to-Swim lessons, according to a release. Registrations for weekday classes will be accepted through Oct. 16 and Saturday class registrations will be accepted through Nov. 8.

Classes are offered in the evenings and Saturday mornings and cover infants and toddlers through advanced swim strokes.

For more information, call (307) 235-8383 or visit www.casperwy.gov.

Nic hosts clay workshop for teens

The Nicolaysen Art Museum's Discovery Center and the Youth Empowerment Council are presenting "Handbuilding for Teens," a clay workshop, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the museum, according to a release from the museum.

The workshop, which is free, is for teens entering grades 7-12. All supplies will be provided.

To register for the program, call (307) 235-5247.

Walk in water at Aquatic Center

The Casper Family Aquatic Center will offer an "Introduction to Water Walking and Exercise" class, according to a release.

The class will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 in the Lazy River at the Aquatic Center.

Participants can attend as many classes as they choose. The classes are free to Aquatic Center pass holders and $5 each to nonpass holders.

The class is open to participants ages 13 and older, and classes will introduce participants to water walking and muscular conditioning.

For more information, call (307) 235-8383 or visit www.casperwy.gov.