After all the presents are unwrapped, but before the holiday season is over and school is back in session, kids have a lot of time on their hands. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is offering families an opportunity to make the most of that downtime. The refuge visitor center will host an afternoon of family-friendly entertainment and education on Dec. 27 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“We wanted to have something that was available because kids are on break right now,” Michelle Ostrowski, education specialist with Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, said. The free event will include screenings of the 25-minute film “Stranger In the Woods,” a live-action adaptation of a children’s book about a snowman and his animal friends.

“It’s cute. It’s funny,” Ostrowski said.

The visitor center will provide free popcorn during the two screenings of the film, and families are encouraged to make themselves comfortable.

“People are welcome to sit on floor with pillow or bean bag,” Ostrowski said.

Throughout the four-hour event, kids can make winter-themed crafts, participate in an indoor scavenger hunt or just explore the center and the refuge.

The winter break event is just one of many activities hosted by the wildlife refuge throughout the year. The visitor center hosts weekly winter walks around the refuge on Fridays, and screens wildlife movies every Saturday. In January, the visitor center will host an avalanche awareness class, a history talk by Alaska guide author Catherine Cassidy, a full moon snowshoe walk and a dog mushing demonstration and book signing. For more information, visit the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Facebook page or call 260-2820.

Reach Erin Thompson at news@peninsulaclarion.com