The Games offer opportunities for all Utah residents to experience winter sports. Last year's events featured more than 5,500 participants, ages 3 to 90, who took part in 20 competitions in 15 sports and 32 instructional clinics at venues throughout northern Utah.

The nonprofit Utah Athletic Foundation seeks to promote a legacy of Olympic winter sports development in the state of Utah.

Online registration for Utah Winter Games clinics and competitions is now available at www.utahwintergames.org. Clinics began in November and continue through February. For more information call 866-OLYPARKS.

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Jack Rensel, a volunteer with the Ogden Nature Center, is the recipient of the 2007 Wasatch Outdoor Volunteer Award presented by REI.

This award was created to draw attention to the crucial role of volunteers.

Rensel is a retired wildlife biologist with the Division of Wildlife Resources, is past chairman of the center's board of directors and has helped guide at the center for more than 30 years.

He is also actively involved with land management and is responsible for much of the restoration work on center's property.