The college search continues to become more complex, making it harder for families to identify right fit schools. Challenges include: Substantial changes to the FAFSA and financial aid may make college more expensive. Admission trends and how colleges admit students. Testing - some require it now and some don't - what path makes sense? Join us to learn how these changes may impact your family, and new strategies to consider to give your student the best opportunity to be admitted and maximize scholarships and financial aid. If you are the parent of a HS student in grades 9-11, this is incredibly important info you will not want to miss. Access to Zoom required.

In this advanced drawing class designed, we’ll explore the exciting world of anime! Artists will build on their existing skills as they learn to draw expressive faces, dynamic poses, and detailed features inspired by beloved characters. We’ll also dive into how to develop original anime-style characters, and artists will create and paint their own anime-inspired self-portraits on canvas boards, combining drawing and painting skills into one piece of artwork. This class offers an environment where students can challenge themselves, refine their artistic voice, and gain confidence in their art. It’s a great fit for artists who are ready to take their drawing skills to the next level! All materials included.

In this fun and engaging class, young artists will learn to draw popular anime characters while building essential anime art skills! From expressive eyes to creative character design, students will practice techniques that bring characters to life and inspire their own anime-style creations. Min 8 | Max 20 Instructor: Kidcreate Studio

We are Monsters is a hilarious new musical that follows human kids into a monster cabaret filled with quirky monster characters. The adventurous humans uncover vegetarian vampires and rock n’ roll werewolves, gradually realizing there may be more to these monsters than meets the eye! Most importantly these monsters and kids discover the importance of friendship and celebrating the attributes that make each of us different and unique. Every participant has the opportunity to have lines if they want them, and everyone will learn and perform all songs and dances onstage. Min 30/Max 65 Instructor: Ashland Theater At Ashland/Maplewood Community Center: Tech Week is Feb 22-24 from 630-830 PM and Shows are Feb 27 at 4 PM and Feb 28 at 1 PM. Transportation to Tech Week and the shows are the responsibility of the family.

Whether you consider yourself a beginner or intermediate player, join this club to meet and interact with other chess players in your school and play on a weekly basis! If they are new to the game, players will learn the basic rules and strategies of chess. Many chess variations will also be explored. Players will be able to complete a full game and recognize a checkmate and stalemate. Players will learn to set and use a chess clock during a game and resolve a disagreement.

Start your day off right with the Before School Walking Club! This club meets in the morning before school for a fun, relaxed walk around the school and nearby walking paths. It’s a great way to wake up your body and mind, spend time with friends, and enjoy some fresh air before the school day starts. Whether you're looking to get some light exercise, chat with classmates, or just enjoy a peaceful start to your morning, everyone is welcome! Come walk with us! Registration required.

Join us at OH for a fun, beginner-friendly embroidery class for kids! Students will learn six basic stitches and build confidence through hands-on practice. By the end, they’ll design and decorate their own personalized tote bag to take home. No experience needed—just bring creativity and enthusiasm!

Open painting is designed for students to enjoy an afternoon of creativity while socializing with friends. All materials are provided, including multiple canvases and a wide variety of painting supplies, as well as a hot chocolate bar! No prior experience is needed, as students will explore their imagination and create at their own pace. Join us for an afternoon of creativity, connection, comfort, and cocoa!

Build a computer bot to compete against other coders! Whether you're new or experienced, this is the perfect way to explore competitive coding. No previous coding experience is necessary. The Code Championship Series is four online tournaments hosted on Google Meet. If you have a modern browser, no download is required. Players must be able to navigate the internet. The Google Meet link will be emailed two days before the tournament. Instructor: Abamath LLC

Ninja Obstacle Training is extremely popular with kids and is a fun, unique way to develop confidence, strength, endurance, balance, and friendships! Sign up today to see how Ninja is easily one of the fastest growing sports today! Not only is it the fastest growing sport, but it is the fastest growing cross- training sport as well. Athletes benefit from training in agility, power, perseverance, and resilience; attributes that all athletes strive to improve. Our Conquer Rec Team is designed for youth, ages 8-13 of all experience levels. Our Rec Team will practice on real obstacles inspired by the tv show such as warped walls, salmon ladders, tilting ladders and so much more during their weekly practice. Rec Team members will learn the styles and techniques to develop their Ninja Skills with over 40 different obstacles! This 8 week long Rec Team consists of 6 practices and 2 competitions (week 4 and week 8).

Join us for a cozy, creative experience where students bring their dream gingerbread house to life! In this hands-on class, students will design, build, and decorate their own unique gingerbread creations using icing, candy, and a wide variety of fun materials. Students will explore creativity, basic design ideas, and a bit of “edible engineering” as they construct their houses. All materials are provided, and each student will take home their finished gingerbread house! This relaxed, welcoming class is perfect for students who love art, building, and a little bit of sweet fun. Come ready to create, decorate, and enjoy a cozy atmosphere with friends.

Get ready for some spooky fun in this Halloween Cookie Decorating class! Kids will unleash their creativity decorating festive cookies with colorful icing and sprinkles, creating everything from silly ghosts to creepy pumpkins to take home. Due to the popularity, please only register for one session! Min 8/Max 12 Instructor: Diane Hirte, Wilton Expert

This class is designed specifically for younger students, with age-appropriate content and instruction. Students will build independence and develop important safety awareness skills to help prepare them for staying home alone. The class also includes take-home materials that students and parents should complete together before the child begins staying home alone independently.

Get ready to explore the world of horses with an exciting, hands-on experience based on the Spark Equestrian curriculum. At Hardwood Creek Farm, students will learn the fundamentals of horse care, from grooming and halter leading to handling reins and beginner riding commands, just like in a first riding lesson! We will finish the day with some making homemade horse treats and playing a few games! Don’t worry about the weather, we have an indoor heated arena as well as outdoor spaces. Students should come dressed for adventure: long pants, closed-toe shoes, and layers for indoor and outdoor activities. Students will also need a water bottle and a nut-free lunch.

In this fun, beginner-friendly session, you'll learn the basics of Dungeons & Dragons, the world’s most iconic tabletop role-playing game. Full of exciting stories and endless possibilities, getting started on your own can feel intimidating. Joining us as a professional Game Master removes the many barriers that new players experience, allowing you to become engrossed in the story instead of the rule book. You'll be guided through the gameplay essentials, create your own unique character, and dive into your first adventure during a short segment of play. Prepare for an exciting world that allows characters to progress, level-up, and gain powerful abilities as choices shape your journey!

Celebrate the seasons in Spanish with Vamos con las Tradiciones y Celebraciones. Through songs, games, and festive cultural traditions, students build Spanish vocabulary and gain confidence using simple conversations. Fall lessons explore fall and winter themes, while spring introduces spring and summer topics. Along the way, students discover celebrations from Spanish-speaking cultures while practicing greetings, colors, weather, clothing, emotions, nature, and seasonal vocabulary. No prior Spanish experience required—just curiosity and a love of fun! Min 8/Max 15 Instructor: Futura Language Professionals

Dive into the exciting world of STEM with monthly hands-on challenges designed by the Mahtomedi High School STEM club to spark creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving! Each session, students engage in fun engineering and science projects, with all materials provided. Work in teams, experiment, and discover how real-world STEM concepts come to life. These activities are a perfect way to explore your curiosity and get a sneak peek at the high school Mahtomedi STEM Club! Projects: September - Egg Drop October - Bridge Building November - Snap Circuits December - DIY Marble Run

Mahtomedi Middle School Youth Night- Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon of fun, friends, and energy - just for Mahtomedi Middle School students! This year's theme (chosen by MMS student council): Surfs Up Social! Early Bird Fee: $20 (Register before Friday, November 6th at noon) Week of fee: $30 (Register between Friday, November 6th at noon and the deadline of Thursday, November 12th at 7 pm) *Please note this is due to fees needed to cover event expenses Included in your registration: All of the activities at youth night are included in your registration. Students will receive a ticket for the dirty soda station or a snow cone. Any FOOD purchases beyond that (pizza, candy, snacks, drinks, a second snow cone or dirty soda) are $1-$2 each and are cash only. Here's what's you can expect at this after-school event! - Tropical Thrill Zone - Bounce around in giant inflatables or battle your friends in our tropical obstacle course. Test your balance on the island slacklining challenge! - Pick-a-Lei Lounge - Students will get to pick a lei of their choice after checking in for the event! Additional leis will be for purchase for $1. - Pet Seashell Making - Choose a seashell, decorate it, give it a name, and take it home as a tropical keepsake! - Beach Volleyball - Play open gym volleyball with a tropical twist! - DJ Island Vibes and Limbo - Dance to today's hits and participate in limbo challenges for prizes! - Island Ink Airbrush Tattoos - Choose from a variety of tropical designs, to get a temporary airbrush tattoo! - Surfside Selfie Stations - Capture memories at our photo booth stations with tropical props. Print your photos in seconds for a keepsake! - Tropical Tattoo & Scratch Art Hut - Make some tropical art pieces to take home or deck yourself out with temporary tattoos! - Painted Paradise Rocks - Relax at the rock painting station! A perfect activity to express your artistic abilities and take home your creations at the end of the event! - Tropical Treat Station - Build your own 'beach in a cup' and enjoy a island themed treat. - Tiki Hoop Zone - Shoot some hoops on the open basketball court. - Tiki Twist Soda Station - Make your own flavored 'dirty' soda! (You can use their one ticket on this or a snow cone!) ($1 each if you are not using your ticket here) - Island Ice Treats - Enjoy a snow cone frozen treat. (You can use their one ticket on this or a dirty soda) ($1-$2 each if you are not using your ticket here) - Snack Shack - Concessions for sale for $1-$2. Snacks, treats, and drinks are cash only and Mahtomedi Middle School and Community Education are not responsible for lost money. Students must be registered by Thursday, November 12th at 7 pm (registrations at the door will not be accepted). We are also looking for parent volunteers/chaperones to help throughout the event! Please complete this form if you are interested in chaperoning!