Exploring Community Education Programs in District 196

District 196 is committed to the idea of lifelong learning and offers many ways for the community to get involved. Through its Community Education programs, the district provides diverse learning and engagement opportunities for residents of all ages and interests. These programs aim to enhance the quality of life, foster personal growth, and strengthen community bonds.

Accessing and Managing Your Account

To take full advantage of the opportunities offered, creating and managing an account within the District 196 Community Education system is essential.

To begin, if you have not ever registered for any of our classes, you will need to create a new account in order to register for classes. Please click on log in box in the upper right corner and then select create account to begin the process.

Once your account is created, you can easily manage your information. Log in to you account, click on the profile in the upper right hand corner. Your current information will be displayed with an option to edit. This is important, especially for classes that have age or grade specific restrictions require that all participant records include a birthdate and grade level. Add this information by updating the personal information on your account.

Discovering Available Programs

The sky's the limit! Chart out a season full of fun and learning where there are infinite possibilities. Finding the perfect class or activity is made easy through the online registration system. Enter a keyword(s) into the search bar and find the class of your choice. Click on the magnifying glass and search by any combination of time, days, start date, category, age/grade, location and more! Have a night free? Choose a date and see what engaging learning opportunities we have for you! Know the instructor's name? Enter their name into the search bar to find all classes taught by that instructor.

Diverse Program Offerings

District 196 Community Education offers a wide array of programs designed to cater to various interests and age groups. Here's a glimpse into some of the available options:

Fitness and Wellness

Aikido: Discover Aikido, a strictly defensive, non-aggressive martial art, that emphasizes skill and knowledge of movement, rather than strength. Learn balance, coordination and how to defend yourself without violence or strength. An excellent aerobic exercise; appropriate for all ages and abilities. All skill levels are welcome, ages 12 and older.
Strength Training: Enjoy a strength training class focused on strong arms, igniting your core and powering up your glutes. Be guided through a series of fun and effective exercises that are suitable for all fitness levels.
Dance Fusion: Learn dance technique, Pilates conditioning and yoga balance in a series of total body movements to leave you feeling lengthened, toned and energized.
Functional Fitness: Improve your body's overall functional strength, balance, coordination and cardio endurance. Learn to challenge muscular endurance, balance and coordination by moving through all planes of motivation with multi-joint and compound exercises. All levels welcome. Exercises can be modified to meet individual goals.

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Family Fitness: Looking to move your body, but also maximize bonding time with your kids? Follow the Leader Fitness is for you! Adults and children will find joy in movement and create a positive fitness experience together. Designed to work for all ages, and anyone willing to let go, and have a good time with fitness!
Gentle Yoga: Enjoy the relaxation and stress reduction that comes from gentle yoga. Move through standing, seated and floor poses with minimal transitions between standing and floor. A chair is helpful for balance, and poses are modified for all levels. Class ideal for those new to yoga, those who enjoy a gentle pace or students with physical limitations.
Pilates: Enjoy a low-impact, full-body workout that strengthens your core, improves posture and boosts flexibility.
Mindful Movement: Join us for a mindful movement class that will slowly incorporate one movement practice per session with many styles of Qigong and Tai Chi for health, or Tai Chi Chih and Tai Chi for better balance.
Heated Yoga: Reboot your mind, body and spirit in an 80-degree heated studio lit with candles to provide a comfortable and calming yoga experience. From flow sequences to deep stretches, let your stress melt onto your mat.

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Sports and Recreation

Tennis: Learn basic stroke mechanics of forehand, backhand, volley, serve, footwork, rules and scoring. Designed for the player with little or no tennis experience. Players should have their own racket.
Golf Lessons: Want to learn to play golf, return to the game or refresh your skills? Develop skills that allow you to be comfortable and competent on the course. Discover the skills of full swing, putting and chipping. Understand the basic etiquette and equipment of the game. Lesson package includes two, one-hour lessons on the driving range, two one-hour lessons around the green and a three-hour on-course lesson to practice what you have learned under the patient guidance of instructors. Range balls, clubs if needed, tees and training aids provided. Limited to a maximum of eight to allow for individual attention within the group setting.
Intermediate Golf: Continue to develop your golf skills. Learn to be more consistent with woods and irons. Hit it farther with more accuracy. Improve your shots around the green, including bunkers. Small class sizes (maximum 8) allow for individual attention within the group setting. All sessions include three one-hour driving range lessons, a one-hour short game lesson and a three-hour on-course lesson where you will practice the skills you have learned under the patient guidance of skilled staff. Seven hours total instruction. Range balls, clubs if needed, tees and training aids provided.
Advanced Golf: Learn and develop solid golf skills by working on correcting your hook or slice, and more! Review the fundamentals for solid contact with irons and woods. Improve around the green, including bunkers. Understand your putter and sink those putts. Each session includes full swing and short game lessons under patient guidance of a skilled golf instructor. Small class of eight students or fewer allows for individual attention.
Match Play Tennis: Learn strategies in competitive drills and match play experiences. This is intended for players that have experience in match play, not suitable for beginners.
Fly Fishing: Join us for a one-day session to discover the enjoyment of fly fishing! Did you know that, in addition to trout and salmon, you can catch bass, sunfish, northern pike and muskie on a fly? Or, saltwater fish like redfish, bonefish, permit and tarpon? Finish the class knowing about fly rods and reels, lines and leaders, casting, fly selection, knots, safety, clothing and gear. All gear provided. Dress for indoor and outdoor instruction. Class will take place rain or shine.

Financial Assistance and Discounts

District 196 Community Education strives to make its programs accessible to everyone. Limited financial assistance is available for community members. In the past, some classes qualified for a senior discount. Yes! Seniors can take a 10% discount on selected courses.

Facility Use and Policies

District 196 makes its facilities available for community use, subject to certain policies and procedures. Here's an overview:

Application Deadlines

Applications for use of district facilities for events at which 200 or more people are expected to attend, must be received by the Facility Services Center at least six weeks prior, but not more than one year prior, to the event.
Applications for use of fields and grounds must be received by the Facility Services Center each year by February 1 for spring and summer use, and by June 1 for fall use.
All other facility use requests must be received no less than three weeks prior to the date of requested use.

Eligible Spaces

Elementary school gyms, cafeterias, multi-purpose rooms and media centers/libraries may be scheduled for community use as school activities permit.

Camps, Clinics, and Tournaments

Camps, clinics and tournaments may be sponsored and/or conducted by area athletic associations, school-recognized booster clubs, District 196 schools, District 196 employees or outside entrepreneurs. Special rules apply to camps and clinics run by school employees.

Liability, Cancellation, and Signage

The applicant and/or organization agrees to assume all responsibility for damage or liability of any kind and further agrees to hold the district harmless from any expense or costs in connection with the use of district facilities. The district may require the applicant and/or organization to furnish a certificate of insurance to guarantee the conditions of the facility use agreement or any liability incurred by it and to name the district as an additional insured.
The user accepts responsibility for their costs and liabilities should their event be canceled due to scheduling conflicts or inclement weather.
Lawn signs related to the permitted event may be placed on the lawn of the scheduled building one day prior to and the day of the event. The user is responsible for the removal of the signs. Signs or banners posted on district property for events must not violate any city ordinance or any relevant district policies

Supervision and Staffing

Community Education-approved supervision must be in place each time schools are used for activities scheduled through the Community Education Department.
The Facility Services Center will inform the Facilities Department or building chiefs when additional custodial hours are needed and will also determine when a custodian is needed for weekend activities.
The Facility Services Center will inform the Food and Nutrition Services Department when a permit is issued to use school kitchen facilities. When a school or school group requests use of kitchen facilities, the Facility Services Center will refer them to the Food and Nutrition Services Department to determine costs.
American Red Cross-certified lifeguards employed by District 196 and approved by Community Education must be on duty for all pool rental activities and public swimming. Certified lifeguards will be provided by the Community Education Department to meet lifeguard/swimmer ratios. The Community Education Department will designate a person responsible to supervise the pool operation.
The Facility Services Center will confirm use of the high school theaters with the appropriate theater managers. Use of audio visual equipment in a high school theater will require that an audio visual technician be hired.

Equipment

Requests for school equipment must be included on the application for a facilities permit. Specific audio visual equipment may be available and a fee will be assessed as noted in the Fees for Facility Use table. General physical education equipment is available for use to include volleyball standards and gymnastic mats where available. Community groups will be responsible for any damages to school equipment while the equipment is being used.

Fees and Reporting

Users will be charged a one time processing fee for each permit processed. In case of cancellation you may receive a refund minus a $25 processing fee. The Lifeguard Instructor or Water Safety Instructor class is $25.

Annual reports will be filed with the Minnesota Department of Education.

Important Policies

District 196 adheres to all relevant Minnesota Statutes, including:

Minnesota Statute 124D.19, subd.
Minnesota Statute 144.4165, Tobacco Products Prohibited in Public Schools
Minnesota Statute 609.66, subd.

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