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 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

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.

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.

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. Please register online to reserve a spot for each month. You may register for multiple months at one time. Drop ins may be available if the space allows. Drop in rate is $10/night. *Orono Activities Center membership discounts do not apply for this program.

In this introductory class, you will learn all about the equipment, court, scoring and rules of pickleball. Pickleball is a combination of ping-pong, badminton, and tennis, yet is much easier to learn. This class is based on practicing the essential elements of the game such as: serve, return, forehand and backhand, dink shot, and importance of court positioning and shot selection. Soon you will understand why pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US!

Procrastinate no more! No matter what your age, give your loved ones an important gift by creating two legal documents - a Health Care Directive and a Power of Attorney. These documents are vitally important in the event you become incapacitated and cannot make decisions for yourself. A Health Care Directive is a legal document that communicates your health care wishes and allows you to name someone to make health care decisions for you when you cannot speak for yourself. A Power of Attorney allows you to choose someone to handle your finances and property and is effective immediately upon signing. In this class, you will prepare both of these documents so you won’t end up without these important legal plans in place. Leave class with two notarized documents, and give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind.

Stained Glass Open Studio provides time and space to work on your projects whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced worker. This is a great time to create smaller projects even if you have no experience cutting glass. A facilitator is available for advice and support. Purchase an 8-punch card and receive an area to store supplies, tools and your projects. Punch cards are valid for 12 months. Students can group order glass and supplies.