Minneapolis Public Schools

Have you always wanted to glide effortlessly across the snow? Speed down the hills or just gently coast without falling? Join the Sierra Club North Star Chapter to learn how to cross country ski on either classic or skate skis and start loving snow :) Ski rentals are available for a fee. We recommend that folks join us on both days to build up their skills and confidence. If the event is sold out, please add your name to the waitlist. We will contact you if a tickets become available.

This lunch will re-create the traditional Italian Sunday lunch. Sunday lunch was more than just food, it is a social institution. Instead of grandparents, passing down family recipes to a younger generation DeGidio’s Restaurant will be passing down their family recipes for us to enjoy. As we step through the doors of this Saint Paul landmark, we will be transported back in time immersed in a rich history that has shaped DeGidio’ Restaurant. We will learn about DeGidio’s history from the current family members. Dave Bredemus local historian will also make a short presentation on Italians in Saint Paul. Our special family style Italian meal will be crafted from cherish family recipes of the DeGidio’s family. Menu: Family Style DeGidio’s Italian Chopped Salad Stromboli Italian Bread with herbed butter Italian Olives Broccoli and Sausage Pasta Burrata Caprese Rigatoni Alla Vodka Pesto Pasta Tiramisu Coffee or Soda Tax and gratuity included. Free Parking Meet at DeGidio's Restaurant & Bar located at 425 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102. . Please enroll on the waitlist if the tour is full. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Join us for our Minnesota Mushing Experience! After an introduction of dogsled driving and equipment we'll meet the Siberian and Alaskan Huskies. Everyone will have a chance to ride in the sled and drive a team. When you are not sledding you will have more time to play with the huskies. Dog sleds can hold 1 or 2 adults. Enjoy conversation around the bonfire while sipping a warm beverage and roasting marshmallows between rides! Class meets at Lakes Byllesby Regional Park near Cannon Falls.

Fly Fishing in the winter? YES! Most of the trout streams in the Driftless region flow freely throughout the winter and can offer a unique angling experience. While the metabolism of fish slows during the colder months, they still must eat to survive! This half day experience provides a unique way to experience the winter outdoors. The streams are often less crowded, if not completely vacant. If we’ve explored the area in the warmer months, but are curious to learn more about winter fly fishing, this is a great way to get started, however no experience is necessary. We provide all the equipment necessary and will provide tips for dressing for a winter day on the river. Location: Wisconsin, 1hr drive from Twin Cities (exact location will be communicated to students prior to event). Cost Per Person: $175 (Plus, one day WI fishing license and trout stamp @ $25) NOTE: Space is limited to 4 participants. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Family Hang Out & Warm Up! Join us in community for a healing afternoon of Drum, Dance, Yoga, Art and Open Mic led by the Black Youth Healing Arts Center. Try a station for making DIY Body Oil, Herbal Tea and Rice bag! All ages welcome. Targeted youth ages are 10-19. Transportation is on your own. If event is sold out, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Meet at Loons Cafe in Minneapolis Come see an ice cave in your local national park with a former Park Ranger. We’ll hike in the gorge section of the Mississippi River National River and Recreation and view how natural springs and seeps can turn into ice caves in the winter. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a cup of coffee together at Loons Coffee (no special hiking skills required, but be prepared for icy walking). If the event is sold out, please add your name to the waitlist. We will contact you if a tickets become available.

Join us at Khâluna for a personal tour of Asia with Chef Ann Ahmed at the helm. In this immersive dining experience and cooking demonstration, guests will have the opportunity to explore the taste, smell, and style of food reminiscent of SE Asia; a culinary adventure transporting guests across oceans and continents alike. This experience will feature a 3-course menu composed of four small plates, four entrees, and dessert that will be shared family style at the table, emblematic of the dining style most popular in SE Asia. Chef Ann will also be leading a cooking demonstration of one of the entrees and sharing her chef tips and tricks as well as her own personal culinary journey. We can’t wait to welcome you into the kitchen! Includes dinner and gratuity. (Additional beverages are available to purchase directly from the restaurant). NOTE: Ann has been nominated for James Beard Award - Best Chef Midwest. Khâluna is located at 4000 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409 If event is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Curious about curling or looking for a one-of-a-kind Minnesota experience? Learn how to curl at Frogtown Curling Club! Our instructors will teach you the basics of the game including sweeping, throwing stones, scoring, and strategy. You’ll soon be ready to play a game, while our instructors offer tips and cheers of encouragement. Curling offers long-term enjoyment no matter the age, fitness level, or athletic ability. It provides regular physical exercise, a chance to exercise your brain, and social engagement. It involves a great deal of camaraderie both on and off the ice. For those with mobility constraints, we can offer stick curling as an alternative to lunging or bending the knees. The four-part course will be held on Wednesdays for two hours. If event is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

Insomniacs and bicycling lovers unite. Enjoy a 45- or 36-mile ride through the metro on the "Midsummer's Night Dream-of-a-Ride." Make a stop at late-night shops like Mel-O-Glaze Bakery on your way to the sunrise finish and gourmet breakfast. Registration by July 13. Cost includes breakfast and t-shirt. Cancellation for partial refund must be made by July 13.

Team work will be key as you race to be the fastest group to finish a 500-piece puzzle in the Team of 2 or Team of 4 Divisions. After the simultaneous puzzle reveal, each team will strive to finish first to win fun prizes and the claim to the Jigsaw Championship Crowns.

Come experience the romance of the Mississippi on a singular cruise featuring a fabulous combo that brings all of the classic love songs in the Great American songbook to life. As you drift along the river you can relax and enjoy the music and watch the moon from the deck. There may even be an opportunity to perform a number yourself! Plus, you'll learn about the history and lore of some the nations most cherished songs sung by some of the most legendary crooners. Meet at the Watergate Marina, 2500 Crosby Farm Road, Saint Paul Minnesota, 55116. Crosby Farm Road is at the intersection of Shepherd Road and Gannon Road. Transportation to the Watergate Marina is on your own. Beverages will be available to purchase on board the boat. You may bring your own food. Note: There is a ramp down to boat. Lower level of boat is enclosed and accessible to all. Ages 21+. If the tour is full, please add your name to the waitlist. If enough interest, we will try to schedule a second cruise.

Join us at the American Swedish Institute for a private guided tour of two special exhibits: Nordic Echoes — Tradition in Contemporary Art is the first major traveling exhibition of contemporary Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions from the Upper Midwest (North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). Featuring 55 works by 24 contemporary artists whose practices are informed by Nordic traditional skills, the exhibition will showcase the malleability and persistence of these traditions in the U.S. Looking at painting and textile traditions as well as works in wood and metal, Nordic Echoes highlights how variations on traditional themes and innovations have led to the emergence of living, evolving forms. No longer static objects rooted in an imagined past, these works explore themes of identity and belonging as well as how traditions have been shaped by their U.S.-based environments. Featuring artists living and practicing within the pan-Nordic regions of North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the exhibition demonstrates how traditions have been passed down and changed or altered by new generations, often shaped by the Upper Midwestern environment and landscape by using local materials. A skinnfeld or hudteppe (usually a sheepskinlined coverlet in Norway) takes on new dimensions in Robin Carlson’s fullsized buffalo hide, while Lisa Wiitala’s ryijy (Finnish pile rugs) pay tribute to the local berries of the Upper Peninsula. The exhibition also looks at how artists explore questions of identity and belonging. Tia Keobounpheng’s weaving and film speak to her Finnish family connections as well as her newly discovered Sámi heritage, and Talon Wilson’s metalwork creates a meeting place between the skills and knowledge he gained in studying blacksmithing in Sweden and the Dakota traditions that are his heritage. Handwoven: Between Chaos and Order - Experience the vibrant sensory textile works from expressive Swedish artist Emelie Röndahl in a new exhibition at the American Swedish Institute. Emelie Röndahl (b. 1982) creates large-scale figurative textiles that challenge and expand the possibilities of rya, a traditional Scandinavian weaving technique. Based in Falkenberg, Sweden, Röndahl holds a PhD in Fine Arts and Crafts from HDK-Valand in Gothenburg, where her research explored the contemporary potential of rya weaving. Her work spans textiles, sculpture, and moving image, often addressing themes of the body, identity, and self-perception. As a textile artist, Emelie challenges tradition by showcasing new aspects of rya, creating depth and duality in her works, which can be viewed from both sides to tell a deeper story. Her large, woven pieces can be unclear at first, but they reveal themselves upon closer examination. Her works ask viewers to slow down and look closely. Instead of trimming the excess threads, she intentionally lets them hang, where they appear to be “crying.” Your registration is good for admission during their open hours of 10 am - 8 pm. Meet inside the main entrance at The American Swedish Institute located at 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407. For questions or to register, please contact SW Community Education at 612-668-3000. If tour is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.

In this hands-on class, you’ll learn to make rosehip syrup—rich in vitamin C and known for its immune-supporting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. We'll blend this healing ingredient into refreshing kombucha mocktails and talk about simple ways to use herbal remedies in everyday life. If event is sold out, please add your names to the waitlist. We will contact you if tickets becomes available.

Discover the art of making oxymels—an old-school remedy blending vinegar and honey with medicinal herbs. In this class, you’ll learn how to balance flavor and function as we create shelf-stable, immune-supporting formulas that are easy to take by the spoonful or mix into drinks. Perfect for beginners and home herbalists alike. If event is sold out, please add your names to the waitlist. We will contact you if tickets becomes available.

Join Linda Black Elk, Director of Educational Programming and Community Engagement at NATIFS, as we learn about traditional plant medicines and utilize that knowledge to prepare our own wellness kits consisting of tea blends, fire cider, and elderberry elixir. Group meets at Indigenous Food Labs inside the Midtown Global Market located at 920 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407. We will direct you to our room. If event is sold out, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if tickets become available.

NEW TIME: 6-8 PM In the Anishinaabe 13 Moon System, February is called Suckerfish Moon. Suckerfish Moon is the 11th moon, a time when the ice begins to loosen its hold on the lakes and rivers and the fish return to life beneath the thawing waters. It marks the quiet awakening of Mother Earth, a reminder that renewal begins beneath the surface long before we see it. In this class, participants will prepare a warming Tempary Bean, venison, and kale soup, a recipe inspired by the season’s return of movement and flow. The hearty beans and nourishing greens represent the first signs of vitality after winter’s stillness, while the light broth honors the clarity and renewal of the melting waters. Cedar and peppermint teas accompany the meal, offering grounding and balance for the body’s transition into spring. April shares teachings of the Suckerfish Moon, participants will explore how each dish becomes a story, a reflection of how the land provides exactly what we need, when we need it. If the tour is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

NEW TIME: 6-8 PM January marks the Spirit Moon, the 10th moon in the Anishinaabe 13 Moons calendar system. It is a time for reflection, renewal, and preparing our spirits for the year ahead. In this class, participants will prepare a meal of bison and wild rice meatballs with a blueberry reduction sauce called Wojapi, a dish that symbolizes strength, balance, and gratitude for what the Winter historically provided for the Ojibwe people. You’ll also enjoy cedar and mint teas, plant medicines that help clear the mind and ground the heart during the long Winter months. Throughout the evening, April shares cultural stories and insights about the 13 Moons Teachings, exploring how Indigenous foodways align with seasonal rhythms and holistic wellness. Participants will leave not only with new recipes, but with a deeper appreciation for food as medicine and as a living expression of relationship with the land, spirit and with one another. If the tour is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

NOTE: New Time: 6-8 pm April Smith is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is also an Indigenous Educator and Facilitator, an Herbalist from Cornell University, a Curriculum Designer, and her work is rooted in Ojibwe cultural education and nutrition, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, and community wellness. With over 16 years of experience designing and facilitating learning experiences for communities and organizations, April brings a unique approach that blends Anishinaabe foodways with modern wellness practices. Her work is grounded in reciprocity, sustainability, and respect for ancestral knowledge. She teaches that food is medicine and that every ingredient has a story, one that connects us all through shared humility and care for Mother Earth. April’s Indigenous Cooking Class Series runs from January 2026 through May 2026, featuring five seasonal classes that celebrate traditional Anishinaabe foods and share how the Anishinaabe people lived by the 13 Moon System. Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food Series invites participants to rediscover the relationship between food, culture, and the land, an experience that nourishes both body and spirit. If the tour is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

NOTE: New Time: 6-8 pm Moon calendar system is known as the Snow Crust Moon, the 12th moon is known for a time when the days begin to lengthen, and the snow hardens under the sun’s warmth. The earth is still resting, yet life stirs quietly beneath the frozen surface, preparing for the renewal of spring. This moon teaches patience, endurance, and trust in the natural rhythm of the land. In this class, participants will prepare a nourishing wild rice and venison soup, reflecting the strength and resilience needed during this in-between seasonal time. Venison, a traditional winter sustenance, provides grounding energy, while wild rice known as manoomin, symbolizes abundance and the promise of renewal. We’ll enjoy Cedar tea which offers spiritual cleansing and hibiscus tea adds a bright citrus, heart-strengthening property that mirrors the returning light of Spring. Participants will discover how traditional ingredients hold the wisdom of the seasons, reminding us that even in the coldest months, nourishment and renewal are quietly taking root. If the tour is full, please add your name to the waitlist. We will notify you if a spot opens.

Not so very long ago, in the Dakota homelands of Imnizaska (St Paul), Sisseton Tribal people relied on our knowledge of and ancestral relationships with native plants - including stinging nettle, bulrush, cattail, willow, basswood, cedar, ash, elm, and spruce root - to create cordage, rope, nets, woven textiles, and shelter. Please join us for a learning journey of reconnecting with our plant relatives. All participants will learn about Dakota weaving plants and traditions, how to twine fibers into cordage, and how to apply what you learned to exploring oth local plant fibers. Fern is a 2022-2023 Native Artist in Residence at the Minnesota Historical Society, where she has been researching the role of nettles in Dakota material culture. ENGLISH NAME: Common Stinging Nettle / Urtica Dioica SISSETON DAKOTA NAME: Hosbe [hosh-BAY] OTHER DAKOTA NAMES FOR UTICA DIOICA: Chanicahpehu and pazipa are two other names for nettle used by Dakota communities. DAKOTA NAME FOR STRING OR CORDAGE: Wikan [WEE-KAHN]… derived from the root words for ‘sun’ and ‘braid’. DAKOTA WORD FOR WEAVING: Opazan (to weave something) Fern Naomi Renville is a storyteller, artist, playwright, and enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Note: This is a 4-part workshop. If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.