District 196 Community Education

Hop on board for a full day of adventure and learning in Southern Minnesota. Our first stop is the Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo along with the Oxbow Nature Center. We will have a 45 minute guided tour of the Zoo and Nature Center. The Dr. Paul E. Zollman Zoo houses over 30 species of wild animals native to Minnesota. In the nature center you will learn about animal life, natural history, outdoor recreation skills and ecology. Following our tour you will have time to explore the zoo, park, nature center exhibits and go on a walk. Bring a bag lunch and we'll meet at the picnic tables at noon. The park, zoo and nature center are connected and located just outside of Rochester, MN in Byron. Early afternoon we will hop back on the bus and head to Faribault for a guided tour of the Faribault Woolen Mill. Learn about this historic mill that started in 1892. Faribault Mill endures as one of the last vertical woolen mills in America. As you tour the mill, you'll learn about the history of the Faribault Mill and its importance to the local community. You'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the machinery and tools used in the manufacturing process. This tour is about an hour long. Afterwards you can visit the gift shop. You may want to bring money for souvenirs at the gift shops. Make sure to bring a bag lunch and beverage.There will be coolers available for you to store your lunch if needed. Bus departs East Lake Elementary School at 8:30am! Caregivers need to register for a space on the bus!

Get together with friends over coffee and catch up on summer happenings and plans. We'll meet at McDonald's in Apple Valley to start off the day! Remember to bring money for coffee!

The Project Explore annual Craft Fair is on for fall 2025! If you are interested in being a vendor, we'd love to have you join us. Contact Caroline at 952-393-5944 for details.

St. Paul Homeland Security representatives will lead this vital and informative session to empower you for staying safe in the cyber world.

Come join us and make a big difference in the lives of children around the world! We will help pack food and label bags at Feed My Starving Children to feed children around the world. At the end of our session we will find out exactly how many meals we produce to eliminate hunger in the world. Please leave your jewelry at home so no loose items end up in the food.

Have fun hiking on the rolling hills and wooded trails around Jensen Lake in Lebanon Hills Regional Park. The trail is about two miles long and unpaved. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy walking shoes. Hikers must be able to stay with the group or have staff with them. Meet at the picnic pavilion. Snack and refreshments provided after the hike.

Let's meet for lunch and some socializing! It's a great time to enjoy lunch, see old friends and make some new friends. If you're available we hope you can join us! Remember to bring money for your meal.

Join your friends for a fun day of mini-golf at King Park. You will be paired with another player for a round of nine holes. Following mini-golf there will be a hot dog lunch including chips, fresh fruit and dessert. There will be giveaways and a raffle! This event is hosted by the Lakeville Lions Club. Please arrive at 10:45 am so teams can be organized.

Join your friends for some fun outdoors playing mini-golf at the fully accessible nine-hole course at King Park in Lakeville. It is adjacent to a fully accessible playground area, so before or after you play you can enjoy the playground or walking trails. There is a picnic shelter at the park. Golf putters and golf balls provided. There will be a concession stand open, so bring money if you'd like to purchase a hot dog, snack, beverage or ice cream.

Come on out for a great evening with friends on the courts! You will have 90 minutes to learn the basics of pickleball and play some games while you learn strategies. Bring a racquet if you own one. If not, racquets and balls will be provided. Dress for playing - shorts and a t-shirt along with sneakers are recommended. We will be on indoor courts at the Apple Valley Community Center, so we play rain or shine! Bring a water bottle too.

This high-spirited new adaptation transforms this classic take into a toe-tapping musical with original pop songs. Dorothy, a restless Kansas farm girl eager to see more of the world, is transported by a cyclone to the magical world of Oz where she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, who quickly become her new friends. Together, they overcome their fears of witches, flying monkeys and a haunted forest to learn if the Wizard can make their dreams come true.

Come and watch the St. Paul Saints at CHS Field as they play the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in June, the Worcester Red Sox in July and the Iowa Cubs in August. This beautiful field in Lowertown is sure to help you enjoy a great time watching Saints baseball! After the July and Augusts games we will stay for the fireworks!. The pig will be there along with the usual Saints' craziness that we all love! No doubt, there will be some new and fun surprises as well. We will be sitting in reserved seats. Bring along some extra cash if you would like to purchase refreshments or souvenirs. Dress appropriately for the weather. Be aware that the June 8th game starts at 2:07pm. The July 25th and August 8th games begin at 7:07pm and we will stay for fireworks after the game. We must receive your registration and payment by May 9 for the June game and by June 26 for the July game and by July 10 for the August game, or until tickets have sold out. Every person attending the game, including caregivers need to register and purchase a ticket for each game.

We’ll walk around Sunset Pond (1.75 miles). If the parking lot is full, please park next door in the office parking lot. (It’s okay to park there in the evening.) We will have bottles of water and a snack after the walk that you can enjoy while we visit.

Take a nice walk around the paved path and look for geese, ducks and other wildlife. The path is suitable for wheelchairs, mostly flat, but there may be some small hills. Meet on the grass by the parking lot and shelter to sign in. Please arrive 10 minutes ahead of time so we can set off on our walk together. At the end of our stroll we'll have some social time to enjoy bottled water, a snack and visit with friends.