In this immersive creative writing and design class, you are an architect of the impossible! Inspired by the sprawling epics of Tolkien, the whimsical grit of Ghibli, and the mythical magic of Percy Jackson, you will build a universe from the bedrock up. What you will create: The Realm: Hand-draw a detailed map of your world, carving out hidden kingdoms, treacherous seas, and forgotten ruins. The Icons: Craft your noble hero and their quirky, indispensable sidekick. Give them a past, a family tree, and a destiny. The Lore: Invent the heartbeat of your civilization. What do they eat at a Midsummer feast? How do they swear an oath? What holidays do they celebrate? The Laws of Nature: Whether your world runs on ancient sorcery, clockwork technology, or mythical beasts, you set the rules! In this workshop, "logic" is secondary to imagination. If you can dream it, it belongs here. By the end of the course, you won't just have a story, you will have a living, breathing world ready to be explored!

Service Learning Days give middle school students the opportunity to learn through meaningful action in their community. Once a month, students have the opportunity to participate in a different service project focused on real-world needs such as supporting local organizations or helping others. Each service learning opportunity includes hands-on service allowing students to make a difference while learning why their impact matters. Lunch and transportation from the Mahtomedi DEC or Wildwood Elementary to our destination and back is provided for each day. Wednesday, June 24th - Paws for a Cause Day Students will visit the Animal Humane Society, where they will have an opportunity to safely interact with an adoptable animal at the Animal Humane Society, tour the facility, and learn about the daily operations of the shelter. During the visit, staff will share how the organization cares for animals in need and explain how individuals and communities can support local shelters. After returning from the Humane Society, students will participate in a hands-on service activity by creating homemade dog toys to donate to the Animal Humane Society. This project allows students to continue supporting the shelter while reinforcing the importance of compassion, responsibility, and community involvement! *If you have any donations at home from the Humane Society new or gently used donatable items list, please have your student bring them! Wednesday, July 22nd - Food for Thought and Action Day Students will begin the day by volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting global hunger. Students will learn about food insecurity then work in teams to pack nutrient-rich meals to be distributed around the world After returning from Feed My Starving Children, students will continue their service learning by packing basic hygiene bags for students. These bags are distributed to students in need this fall before school starts back up. This day allows students to practice making an impact on the global food crisis both worldwide and locally. Monday, August 3rd - Community Resource Service Day Students will begin the day by organizing and packing the remaining donated clothing from the Mahtomedi Community Garage Sale in preparation for delivery to St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center. We will travel to deliver donations in person at the Resource Center. While at St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center, students will tour the facility and learn about the services it provides to individuals and families in our community. Staff will explain how the center supports those in need through programs such as family sheltering, rental assistance, access to food and clothing, and the provision of basic household needs. This experience encourages students to develop empathy, responsibility, and an appreciation for the impact of giving back to the community.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATES CHANGED AFTER THE CATALOG WAS AT THE PRINTER - June dates are the correct dates. Apologies for the inconvenience. Get ready to play, compete, and celebrate en español! In this high-energy camp, kids explore the world of sports, games, and the Olympics while learning Spanish through interactive activities, songs, and teamwork. Campers will build vocabulary, practice mini conversations, and discover games and athletes from across the Spanish-speaking world—all while having a blast. Ready, set… ¡Vamos a Ganar! (No sports experience required) Tuition includes access to parent/student resource portal. Students will bring a nut-free snack and water bottle. Instructor: Futura

The Page Turners Challenge is a summer literacy program with author visits, challenges and games, group discussions, incentives and prizes, and four included books. Open to students who have completed grades 5–7, this program features five engaging evening sessions as well as a final book battle in the fall. Students will receive a book each session, to read before we meet again, and keep! During the following session, students will participate in an icebreaker, small and large group facilitated conversations about the text, interact in an author visit and discussion, enjoy a snack, and engage in fun competitions and challenges with incentives. There are also opportunities to earn more incentives and extend learning beyond our in person sessions at Wildwood Library! This program was designed to motivate students to read deeply and think critically while building a sense of community around books. At the end of the summer we will have a final book battle involving trivia questions from all of the texts, interactive games, and big prizes! We will also have a book swap during the final battle. Join us for fun, author visits, prizes, and summer learning! *We will need some parent/guardian volunteers to lead discussion groups. Please indicate your interest upon registration. Book titles: 'Turn Left at the Cow' by Lisa Bullard 'The Captured Eagle: Detective You - A Choose Your Path Mystery' by Deb Mercier 'Top of the Order' by John Coy 'True Colors' by Abby Cooper *Please encourage your student not to read these ahead of this program, if they have not already.

The Young Authors Conference (YAC) is a one-day field trip for grades 4-8 that takes place at Bethel University. Hundreds of students spend the day learning from and writing with professional Minnesota authors. They leave with new strategies, ideas, and skills to become stronger writers. The 2026 theme is "Stories Only You Can Write". Breakout sessions are engaging, interactive, and informative. A variety of topics have been offered over the years, including poetry, journalism, spoken word, short stories, memoirs, playwriting, songwriting, and more. Students attend a keynote and three breakout sessions. Live music, an open mic, and a book fair keep students busy and engaged during the day. This event aligns with Minnesota Academic Standards in English Language Arts. You can find more information about Young Authors here. This field trip is only open to Mahtomedi Public School students grades 4-8. Students will need to bring a lunch and a drink/water bottle. Your registration fee covers your student's registration and transportation. The bus will depart from OHA/MMS at 8AM. OHA Students will require early transportation to the school, as we depart before buses arrive for the school day. The bus will return at 2PM, for the remainder of the school day. ***Please note the date difference for grades 4-5 (OHA) and grades 6-8 (MMS)***

This exciting, hands-on program gives middle school students the chance to become real entrepreneurs! With guidance from experienced mentors, students turn their ideas into their very own small businesses. Over four weeks of interactive sessions, students learn how to build a business from the ground up, from brainstorming ideas to understanding money, marketing, and planning. Along the way, they will learn to shape and strengthen their business plans. The program (also known as FUSE®, which stands for Future U.S. Entrepreneurs) wraps up with a high-energy pitch event where students present their ideas to a panel of judges such as Royal Credit Union mentors, local business owners, and Community Education staff. Families are welcome to attend this presentation. Top projects earn prizes including gift card and every participant receives valuable feedback to help them grow their ideas even further. Royal Credit Union has designed the FUSE® program as a way for middle school students to get real-world business experience!