Imagine waking up to the splashing sounds of the dolphins swimming in their tank right next to where you are sleeping.

This and much more is part of an educational experience fourth- and fifth-grade students from Alden-Conger Elementary School get every other year.

It happens at the Minnesota Zoo, where the groups of students are shown by private tour guides places in the zoo that the public does not have the opportunity to visit — behind the glass tanks, closed cages and into the kitchens of the zoo. The students also get to spend the night at the Minnesota Zoo. When the public leaves and the lights go out for the evening, students spread their sleeping mats on the floor in the Discovery Bay area, right next to the dolphin and shark tanks.

The students work on many fundraising projects over a two-year period to obtain the necessary funding to ensure that each student, regardless of financial situation, will be able to attend this overnight adventure.

One of the main fundraising opportunities is the annual garage sale and bake sale to be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the school in Alden.

Items have been donated from several surrounding communities. There will be a large variety of items at the bake sale.

For more information, or to donate items for the garage sale, call the school office at 874-3240.

Following is a roundup of other events happening in the area this weekend.

Friday, May 8

 Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 320 W. College St., Albert Lea, wll hold a salad luncheon with sloppy joes and bars from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $6 per person. This is a fundraiser for Thoughts of Faith.

 Zion Lutheran Church, 924 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea, will hold a salad luncheon with garlic toast and bars from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. Proceeds will go toward mission projects.

 The Bonnie Broitzman, Steve Tubbs, Chris Charlson and Dustin DeBoer exhibits will be open at the Albert Lea Art Center from noon to 4 p.m.

Albert Lea Community Theatre will present “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at 7:30 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. For tickets, call 377-4371.

Saturday, May 9

 Hartland will hold a citywide rummage sale from 7 a.m. to noon.

 The Bonnie Broitzman, Steve Tubbs, Chris Charlson and Dustin DeBoer exhibits will be open at the Albert Lea Art Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Albert Lea Community Theatre will present “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at 7:30 p.m. at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.