Orono Community Education

Bring your paddle. Balls provided. Courts separated by level of play. All levels welcome. All players must check in at the Orono Activities Center front desk. For ages 18+. No children for safety reasons. Season Pass: $120 purchased online only (Sept. - Dec.) Drop In Fee: $5 cash (paid at the front desk upon arrival) Orono Activities Center Members: Free

This is full body Pilates strength training with a focus on your core. Receive the extra “bonus” using prop work with weights, bands, and exercise balls to strengthen all large muscle groups including your glutes, legs, arms, and shoulders.

This blended learning (online learning and in-person skills) session will help participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies. Successful participants will receive a 2-year Red Cross certificate for Adult and Pediatric (infant and child) CPR, First Aid and AED. Register at least 10 days prior to the in-person skills date, as adequate time is needed to complete the online learning portion PRIOR to testing in person for the skills. This will allow you the time to complete lessons at your own pace. You will need to provide the instructor with proof of online completion in order to take part in the skills testing. Additional details regarding online learning session will be sent via email. A personal email address is required to receive class content. Registration Deadlines: Monday, October 14 | Registration Deadline: October 4 Monday, November 11 | Registration Deadline: November 1 Monday, December 9 | Registration Deadline: November 29

Decorate holiday cupcakes with buttercream using beginner-level piping techniques. You will receive four vanilla cupcakes, buttercream, piping tips, and bags. Join us for an evening of fun! A supply fee of $20 due to instructor at class.

Celebrate the holiday season with a festive cooking class led by Chef Noah from The Iron Exchange! Make three elegant holiday appetizers: canapé bites with gingerbread, blue cheese, pear, and fig, maple bacon rolls, and a goat cheese ball with assorted toppings. Watch a live demo of one appetizer, and create the other two yourself, guided by Chef Noah’s expert instructions. Sample all three appetizers during class, and take home a recipe sheet to recreate these delicious dishes for your holiday celebrations. Food and beverages will be available for purchase during class.

Join Chef Noah, from The Iron Exchange, and create three mouthwatering Thanksgiving themed appetizers: cranberry brie pull-apart bread, bacon wrapped dates, and whipped feta pumpkin dip. You’ll watch a live demo of one appetizer, and then make the other two yourself, guided by Chef Noah’s expert tips. Sample all three appetizers during class, and take home a recipe sheet to recreate these delicious dishes for your Thanksgiving celebrations. Food and beverages will be available for purchase during class.

Purchase a Fitness Punch Card and drop into any adult fitness class on your time and your schedule. This is the perfect option if you cannot commit to a full class or want to try multiple different types of classes. Punch cards are valid for 6 months. Purchase another card if you run out of punches! Punch cards are kept in the Activities Center Fitness Room (30 & 31). The punch card is NOT VALID for pickleball classes, aquatics programs, virtual classes, private lessons or open gyms. Senior and Activities Center Membership discounts can not be applied toward a Punch Card purchase. Please contact our office at 952-449-8350 to confirm that a class has enough enrollments to run before dropping in for the first time.

Fused Glass Open Studio provides time and space to create fused glass projects for beginner and advanced participants. A facilitator is in the studio for advice and support. Participants are asked to bring their own glass (COE90-preferred), cutting tools and molds (sharing of materials is also an option). It is recommended that participants have taken at least one fused glass class before joining Open Studio. Punch cards have 8 punches and are valid for 12 months. A $25 supply fee will be collected at the studio for each new punch card.

With a marker or a pen, use lettering to create a calligraphy look for your holiday tags and envelopes. Jessica will break down the steps to create the styles you’ve seen on chalkboards at coffee shops. Relax, have some fun, and leave with your own cards, tags, or keepsakes. Children age 14 and older are welcome to register if attending with a registered adult. All materials are included in the cost.

Elevate your holiday gatherings this season with a beautifully crafted charcuterie board. Laura, from Fig and Ivy Charcuterie, will provide step-by-step guidance in the arrangement of fine cheeses, meats and additional accompaniments. Your board will be a perfectly festive (and edible) centerpiece! Have fun with family and friends at Iron Exchange in Maple Plain. Food and beverages are available to purchase during class. A link to pay the ingredient fee of $40 will be sent out one week prior to the class. Bring home a new experience, a helpful grocery list for future boards, PLUS an artfully arranged 10” round charcuterie board (serves 5-6 people) to enjoy right away!

If you are looking to start a new holiday cookie baking and decorating tradition, look no further! This virtual, familyfriendly, class will teach you how to create Tess’ cheesecake and brownie stuffed chocolate chip cookies. Learn the foundations of holiday cookie decorating with royal icing! Participants will receive two sugar cookie recipes prior to the class, which will need to prepared in advance. An ingredient list will also be sent ahead of time so that you are able to bake along with Tess during class.

Patric Richardson, the ‘Laundry Evangelist’, is a household name! Enjoy his vivid storytelling and southern drawl as you learn things you thought you always knew about laundry but really didn’t. Patric will reveal his secrets in stages, and then give out tips of the trade. Sort, wash, and care for your clothes with confidence. Wash the unwashable and care for textiles and clothes at home. Learn how to save money and toss those chemicals. You will never look at laundry the same again! Patric’s book will be available for purchase (credit card only).

Does navigating the different parts and options of Medicare seem like an overwhelming task? It doesn’t need to be! This educational presentation with licensed agents, Ann Turner and Sandy Sleck, will answer your question. You’ll receive a breakdown of the different parts of Medicare, including Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), Medigap and prescription drug coverage plans (Part D). We will also discuss enrollment deadlines and provide valuable information for anyone looking to make informed decisions about you or a loved one’s healthcare needs. All ages welcome!

Create a beautiful piece of decor in this hands-on workshop brought to you by Board & Brush! Stain, paint, and assemble your own North Pole themed tray. Choose from a variety of paint and wood stain colors. All you need is your creativity and a willingness to learn! Board & Brush will guide you through step-by-step instructions. Gather friends and family for a fun and creative evening!

Join us for an enriching bus tour led by local historian, Bob Gasch! Immerse yourself in captivating stories of early Native Americans, discover how the Orono district began, uncover the secrets of Noerenberg Gardens, and more! The tour includes short walks in between stops, so please wear comfortable walking shoes. Meet at the Western Hennepin History Center for this unique journey through local history

Join historian Bob Gasch for an engaging museum history tour, where you’ll explore a rich tapestry of the past through local artifacts. Delve into more than 150 years of area history, featuring the oldest watercraft in Minnesota, an impressive fully furnished dollhouse, a beautiful historic quilt collection, and Long Lake’s very own sea monster! Meet us at the Western Hennepin History Center.

Spend a fun and relaxing night painting. Local artist Kevin Kluever will guide painters of all abilities through a piece from start to finish. Explore your creativity and create your own masterpiece. REQUIRED MATERIALS: 11" x 14" or 8" x 10" canvas board. September: Mountain Cascade October: Fall's Radiance November: Autumn Bouquet December: Snow-Capped Serenity

If you’re looking for a higher level of pickleball competition, this group is for you! The drilling in this program will be minimal with some focus on the 3rd shot drop and the advantages of stacking. The majority of the time will be used for competitive play. An instructor will be present for court rotations, filling in for match play, answering questions, and providing helpful hints upon request. This group is more competitive, but still fun! This program will accommodate skill ratings of 4.0 and higher. Please visit USA Pickleball to best match a skill rating to your level of play. There are monthly sessions. Please register online to reserve a spot for each month. You may register for multiple months at one time. There is not a drop in opportunity for these sessions. *Orono Activities Center membership discounts do not apply for this program.