Mankato Area Public Schools

Frosting, flowers, and fun! Join us to learn to make beautiful cakes to share with your family and friends. We'll start at the beginning by making silky buttercream and finish with a spritz of sparkle. Bring a friend to share in the sugar swirls!

Make shining sweets with your friends when you discover the difference between flooding and frosting. Begin with creating your own royal icing and end with special springtime treats to take home and share. You will also experiment with sprinkles and sparkles!

Discover the magic of the throwing wheel by turning a lump of clay into vessels to share! Build on skills each week as you practice and grow strength. Learn about various types of glaze to turn you creations into shining showpieces. This course is taught by Pottery Studio mentors who are skilled in wheel work.

Are you the LEGO Master? Join fellow builders to create and compete in LEGO building challenges using the Brickit app. Test your speed, creativity, and engineering skills while having fun with LEGOs!

Is math your thing? What if you could compete in an actual tournament alongside other math enthusiasts? Math Masters of Minnesota gives you that opportunity. If you love the thrill of a contest format or just love math, this opportunity is for you. Math Masters of Minnesota, along with South Central Service Cooperative, hosts annual Math Masters Tournaments for youth in Mankato at Bethany Lutheran College. Mankato Community Education is offering an opportunity for youth who want to compete (as a team), but are not already on a team sponsored by your school. Sign up, form teams (up to 5 students per team), practice and then compete! It is really that easy. In 2026 we will host teams at 4th & 5th Grade Math Masters on Friday, April 24, 2026. They will be Community Education Teams with a unique sub title created by the team. Saturday practice sessions at Lincoln Community Center will prepare you for the experience. On Friday, April 24, 2026 all team members will gather at Bethany Lutheran College at 8:30 am, ready for a fun morning of “problem solving!” The contest concludes with an award ceremony at approximately 11:30 am. Everyone gets a t-shirt! Transportation is not included with the fee. Parents or guardians transport to and from the contest site (and ideally stay to watch the excitement from the bleachers). About Math Masters & This Course This opportunity is only for students currently in grade 4 or 5 (home school, charter, or online school students are welcome to participate as well as public and private school students) Fee is per person and includes all fees to participate in the contest, on Friday, April 24 + practice opportunities to prepare Transportation to the Friday, April 24, 2026 contest is not included in the fee. Parents or guardians will transport their students to and from the contest location (Bethany Lutheran College) To learn more about Math Masters Of Minnesota, visit their website at math-masters.org No advancement beyond the local contest is available. Individual and Team Awards will be announced at the conclusion of the contest. Students will complete in 4 individual and 3 team rounds. Awards based on scores.

The American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training course provides youth ages 11–15 with the information and skills necessary to safely and responsibly care for children. Participants develop skills in leadership and professionalism, basic care, safety and safe play and first aid. Class fee includes the Babysitter Training manual. Participants earn certification in pediatric first aid, CPR, and AED. Participants should bring a water bottle and a cold lunch.

Do you love Social Studies? What if you could compete in an actual tournament alongside other kids who love Social Studies and topics that include, but not limited to: state/country geography, bodies of water, government/civics, maps, weather, habitats/species/migration, flags, economics, famous people, and more!? “ The Social Studies Spectacular Tournament” gives you that opportunity. If you love the thrill of a contest format or just love learning, this opportunity is for you. South Central Service Cooperative hosts this annual tournament for youth around the region on Thursday, May 14. 2026 at the South Central Service Cooperative Conference Center (on Lookout Drive) in upper North Mankato. Mankato Community Education is offering an opportunity for youth who want to compete (as a team), but are not already on a team sponsored by your school. Sign up, form teams, practice and then compete! It is really that easy. Saturday practice sessions at Lincoln Community Center will prepare you for the experience and help you bond as team members On Thursday, May 14 all team members will gather at South Central Service Cooperative for the contest Transportation is not included with the fee. Parents or guardians transport to and from the contest. An awards ceremony for all will follow the contest at about 12:00 noon on May 14. About Social Studies Spectacular & This Course This opportunity is only for students currently in grade 5-8 (home school, charter or online school students are welcome to participate, as well as public and private school students) Fee is per person and includes all fees to participate in the contest, on Thursday, May 14 + practice opportunities to prepare Transportation to the Thursday, May 14, 2026 contest is not included in the fee. Parents or guardians will transport their students to and from the contest location (South Central Service Cooperative) 2075 Lookout Drive, North Mankato. The contest is in the conference center No advancement beyond the local contest is available. Individual and Team Awards will be announced at the conclusion of the contest.

Our regional chess tourneys are fun, competitive, and an all around good time. When it's feeling cold, let's have a fiesta! Pack your sombrero and poncho and play a friendly game of chess. We will award medals and ribbons to grade level and division champions. Costume awards, too! Check in begins at 8:30 am, first round is at 9:00 am. Awards presented at 12:00 pm. This event is co-sponsored by South Central Service Cooperative and Mankato Community Education.

New and returning students invited! Join this fast-paced, inclusive (everyone participates) Olympic Sport. YEL’s Teach It, Practice It, Play It® approach teaches fencers new skills each class, practices those skills in kid-friendly fencing games, and then encourages students to use those skills in fencing bouts (matches). All equipment provided. Sign up today! For more information visit YELKids.com.

{YEL!} Robotics: Rescue ‘Bots For 1st-5th grades There is a panda bear trapped in a ravine. Build a robot helicopter to rescue it and then learn skills to create a floodgate, earthquake machine, or a helpful robot to better society. Learn coding and building to make a difference. Enroll now!