June 5 is World Environment Day — how will you celebrate? If you’re not sure, there’s plenty of opportunities happening soon, including sandhill crane monitoring, checking out the KBNERR Community Council, and fixing up some of Homer’s favorite trails. For details on these and more, check out this week’s Best Bets.

BEST CITIZEN SCIENCE BET: Sandhill crane colts will begin hatching the first week of June! “Fuzzball season” continues until close to the end of June as the later nesting pairs’ eggs hatch. Please keep your dogs on leashes and cats inside during this early and vulnerable time for crane colts and other young wildlife. Contact Kachemak Crane Watch with information about your nesting pair and their newly hatched colts. This important data helps KCW count the total number of colts in the area and track nesting success. Email reports to KCW at reports@cranewatch.org or call 907-235-6262. Please include the date of hatching, time, location, number of colts, mortalities and your contact information in case KCW needs to reach out for further details. For more information, contact Nina Faust at 907-235-6262.

BEST COMMUNITY COUNCIL BET: Join the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for their next Community Council public meeting on Thursday, June 5 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the KBNERR conference room. The KBNERR Community Council meets quarterly, and members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about their local NERR and stay up to date on what’s happening. 2181 Kachemak Dr.

BEST COMMUNITY CELEBRATION BET: Join South Peninsula Hospital and your fellow steppers to celebrate the participants of this year’s Homer Steps Up challenge! The party is happening Thursday, June 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the Homer Chamber of Commerce lawn. There will be fruit and cupcakes, door prizes, live music by the ukulele club and an awards ceremony recognizing the teams of top steppers and revealing the nonprofits to whom the winners are donating their prizes. 201 Sterling Highway.

BEST TRAILS FIX-UP BET: Do you want to have some fun in the woods? Join the Homer Trails Alliance and the Homer Soil & Water Conservation District for National Trails Day on Sunday, June 8 and help fix up stretches of the Homestead Trail and the Homer Demonstration Forest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! This event is expected to include easy, light work adding new mulch to the trail surface. Cookies and beverages will be provided. For further details and to volunteer, contact Sandy at homertrailsalliance@gmail.com or 907-399-7678.

BEST LOCAL AUTHOR TALK BET: Local historian Clark Fair and former Kenai National Wildlife Refuge park ranger Gary Titus have collaborated on writing and publishing a new book that covers the complex and wide-ranging history of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge cabins. Join Fair on Tuesday, June 10 from 6-7 p.m. in the Homer Public Library Fireside Reading Lounge as he shares insights from their book, “A Vanishing Past: Historic Cabins of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,” with a slide show accompaniment. Following the author talk and presentation, there will be a book signing. Copies of Fair’s and Titus’ book will be available for purchase for $30 through the Homer Bookstore. 500 Hazel Ave.

BEST FAMILY STORYTIME BET: Join Homer Public Library’s youth service librarian, Cinda Nofziger, for Family Storytime at Bishop’s Beach on Thursday, June 12, starting at 10:30 a.m.! Meet Miss Cinda at the beach for stories, games and a visit with BOB the Bookmobile. This event is for families with kids who like stories.