Mankato Community Education

Become a certified lifeguard through the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training course, offered in a blended learning format. This course combines online learning with in-person skills sessions to provide a flexible and comprehensive training experience. Participants will complete online coursework at their own pace before attending scheduled in-person sessions to practice water rescue techniques, CPR, AED use, and first aid. Prerequisites: Participants must be at least 15 years old by the last day of the course and pass a swimming skills evaluation, which includes a swim-tread-swim sequence and a timed retrieval of a 10-pound object from a depth of 7-10 feet. Certification Requirements: To earn certification, participants must complete all online coursework, attend all in-person sessions, demonstrate competency in required skills, and pass the final written and practical exams. Note: Please bring a swimsuit and towel to in-person sessions. Detailed instructions for accessing the online portion will be provided upon registration.

Your one year-old is busy, curious and ready to play! Together you and your child will play with a variety of toys, use art materials, learn songs and finger-plays and enjoy lots of movement. A benefit of this class is that you and your child will remain in the same room together while parent education takes place. Outdoor experiences will be provided weather permitting.

This is a loaded value of game ticket in the Legends Landing area of Target Field plus all you can eat concessions! We have taken care of all the details! You will be dropped off at the field to enjoy the game, eat your favorite concession treats, sip on soda or water and most importantly, cheer on our beloved TWINS! All the value for one registration fee paid up front. Leave the trip plans to us. Your job will be to support the home team! Concessions are located conveniently behind our seats for easy access to food, drink and your favorite Ballfield snacks. Registration Deadline: April 25th NO REFUNDS can be given for trips after the registration deadline, as we have to purchase tickets ahead of that deadline. *The all you can eat feature does not include alcoholic beverages or merchandise.If you wish to purchase such items, be reminded that Target Field accepts only credit or debit cards (no cash). Trip Itinerary: Arrive at WOW Zone, Mankato - 9:00 am Arrive at St. Peter Community Center (Washington Street) 9:35 am Game Begins - 12:10 Game Ends - 3:00 pm Arrive in St. Peter - 4:30 pm Arrive home in Mankato - 5:00 pm

"Paint, chalk, shaving cream, glue, glitter, spray bottles, squeegees, our hands and feet" what do all these items have in common? They are some of the tools we will need to "mess around" in the Messy Art class. Come prepared to get messy while you explore, create and have fun. The messy time will include children and their parent. There will be time for parents to discuss everyday parenting topics for ages 13-35 months as well as the value of art and creativity.

Come and enjoy music, movement and books with your toddler! This class provides a time for parents to participant in music, movement and book activities with their child. During this class, we will use songs, books, and larger motor skills to help foster literacy development, active learning and physical health.

Picky eating is a common challenge many parents face, but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. This presentation is designed to help parents understand why picky eating happens and equip them with effective strategies to manage it with patience and confidence. Whether your child refuses vegetables, insists on eating the same foods, or simply seems to be averse to trying new things, this session will provide actionable tips for making mealtimes more enjoyable and less stressful for everyone. In this session, we will cover: - Why Picky Eating Happens: Understanding the developmental, biological, and psychological reasons behind picky eating and how it’s a normal phase for many children. - Strategies for Encouraging New Foods: How to introduce new foods in a non-stressful, gradual way that encourages exploration without forcing it. - The Power of Modeling: How your own eating habits and attitudes toward food can influence your child’s behavior, and how to model positive eating without pressure. - Creating a Positive Mealtime Environment: Setting up a calm, relaxed atmosphere that reduces mealtime stress and encourages your child to feel comfortable with a variety of foods. - Avoiding Power Struggles: Techniques for staying calm and patient during mealtimes, and how to avoid turning food into a battleground. - Dealing with Common Challenges: How to handle food refusal, food aversions, and how to navigate situations where your child’s preferences seem to be getting more limited. - Encouraging Independence and Autonomy: How to give your child a sense of control over their food choices and portion sizes, fostering independence while still providing balanced meals. - Long-Term Strategies: How to maintain a positive approach and what to do if picky eating persists into later stages of childhood. By the end of this presentation, parents will have practical tools to reduce mealtime stress, increase food variety, and help their child develop a healthier, more adventurous approach to eating. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of picky eating as a normal phase in child development, along with a toolkit of strategies to make mealtime more positive, fun, and less fraught with tension. Join us to take the stress out of feeding your child and turn mealtimes into enjoyable family experiences!

Help your child explore the world using their senses. Join us as we explore, investigate, calculate, & experiment with hands-on math and science concepts. Learn with your child how fun, easy, and important it is to incorporate math and science into your everyday life. This is a non-separating class taught by an Early Childhood Teacher. Outdoor experiences will be provided weather permitting.