Fergus Falls Community Education Programs: Fostering Growth and Inclusion

Fergus Falls offers a variety of community education programs designed to strengthen the community by providing resources and support for learning, growth, and overall well-being. These programs range from initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion to fitness and recreation opportunities, and academic support for students.

Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project

The City of Fergus Falls is actively involved in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all its residents. In early 2023, with the support of the Human Rights Commission, the City received a $10,000 grant from Otter Tail Lakes Country Association to implement a Welcoming Communities Assessment and Plan. This initiative is part of the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality's Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project.

Project Goals

The purpose of the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project is to provide a platform for working with rural Minnesota communities to connect, train, and equip community stakeholders to lead local welcoming efforts in their hometowns, ensuring all voices are heard. The project aims to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in rural communities through a community readiness assessment and guided program.

Steering Committee

The Fergus Falls Steering Committee oversees and guides the effective implementation of the Learning Cohort and the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities assessment. The committee comprises 18 members, including all members of the Fergus Falls Human Rights Commission, representing a variety of backgrounds and interests. The responsibilities of the Steering Committee include:

Engaging in team meetings over a period of 6-9 months to guide the process
Identifying and recruiting participants to join the Learning Cohort and to complete the community assessment
Ensuring diverse representation of community across demographics, identities, and sectors
Filling necessary roles & responsibilities required to implement the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Plan (WICP).

The Steering Committee members include: Abby Newman, Ali Haugerud, Amy Beckman, Amy Mayo, Carrie Brimhall, Desta Hunt, Ellen Eastby, Gail Hedstrom, Jeff Drake, Jonathan Judd, Katie Bressler, Krystyne Frandson, Mary Weaver, Mike Trudeau, Nancy South, Nancy XiaoRong Valentine, Donald Mayo, Shawn Donais and staff members Klara Beck and Jean Bowman.

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Learning Cohort

The goal of the learning cohort is to work collaboratively with community residents across the sectors of health care, education, law enforcement, local government, industry, non-profit, and religious organizations to engage in learning, share resources, and develop action plans to support inclusion efforts.

Learning cohort members are invited to attend six sessions led by U of M Extension educators where they will engage in hands-on learning activities with stakeholders, subject matter experts, and community members. Potential themes include: Leadership for equity and inclusion, cultural agility, small town economics, community engagement/dynamics, stewardship, and creating a welcoming community. The final goal is to create a community action plan that builds on assessment findings and community feedback and provides opportunities for greater unity and belonging.

Each session is scheduled to be approximately two hours long and was held on the following dates between September 2023 and April 2024:

Sept 12, 6-8 PM (Fergus Falls Public Library)
Oct 10, 6-8 PM (Community Education Office)
December 19, 6-8 PM (Zoom)
January 9, 6-8 PM (Zoom)
February 13, 6-8 PM (Community Education Office)
March 19, 6-8 PM
April 9, 6-8 PM

Community Assessment and Action Plan

The Welcoming & Inclusive Community Assessment was completed December 10, 2023. Findings were shared with the community at a public meeting January 9, 2024. The results presentation from the University of Minnesota can be found HERE.

The next step is for the Learning Cohort to review and discuss these findings in person. at the Fergus Falls Community Education Community Room. Now that we have community input, we'll begin working on an action plan, followed by implementation in the spring. Thank you to all who participated. Fergus Falls was commended on the number of survey responses we received (483), more than any community to date!

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Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA Programs and Policies

The Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA is committed to strengthening the community by providing resources and support for individuals and families to learn, grow, and thrive. The YMCA offers a variety of programs and activities focused on health and wellness, youth development, and social responsibility.

General Policies

To ensure a safe and respectful environment, the Fergus Falls YMCA has established several policies for its members and guests:

No weapons, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco are allowed on the premises.
Appropriate attire is required at all times. Shirts, bottoms, and shoes must be worn in the facility.
Members' privacy must be respected, especially in locker rooms.

Facility Use

The YMCA provides various equipment for members and guests to use:

Members and guests 15 and older may check out equipment from the front desk, including basketballs, volleyballs, footballs, soccer balls, pickleball items, and racquetball items.
Lockers are available for day use. Members using lockers in the Family Changing Room must bring their own narrow size lock to secure the locker. Adult members and guests must exchange a membership card or other collateral for a locker key. Locker rentals are also available.
Members and guests must provide their own towels for use in the facility.
Paper towels and sanitizing spray are available in each fitness area to wipe down machines or equipment after each use.

The Fergus Falls YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Lost items will be held for one month.

Youth Programs and Policies

The YMCA offers several programs and policies specifically for youth:

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Children age 12-14 are eligible to join the Kids Fit Club, a program that teaches children age-appropriate and safe use of the cardio machines and walking track. Kids Fit Club members with wristbands are allowed upstairs in the fitness facility.
Children must be at least 9 years old to be unaccompanied at the YMCA. Children under 15 who are at the YMCA for longer than 3 hours will have a guardian called or be sent home.
Youth ages 12-14 are eligible to participate in the Smart Start: Cardio Training, which allows access to the upstairs cardio equipment. Youth ages 13-14 are eligible to receive the Smart Start: Weight-Room Training, which allows access to the free weight room and upstairs weight machines. Youth participants in these trainings must follow the member pledge, and parents and youth must sign the Weight Room Agreement.
In the ILC, children must be at least 7 to be unsupervised.
In gym spaces and the lobby, children must be at least 7 to be unattended, but a guardian needs to remain in the building.
Individuals must be at least 15 to be unaccompanied, at this age they can use the track or use the weight machines unsupervised.
Small children must be within arm’s reach of their parent/responsible adult when on the track.

Pool Policies

The YMCA has specific policies for pool use to ensure the safety of all swimmers:

Children 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (aged 16+) in the pool unless they are able to pass a shallow water swim test, in which case the parent must be nearby in the pool observation area.
All children 6 and under must be within arm’s reach of an adult 16+ at all times while in the pool regardless of passing a swim test.
The Family Changing Room is an ADA-accessible changing space for families and those with accessibility needs or care providers. This is also the designated changing space for males under the age of 18. Clothing or swimsuit is mandatory in all open spaces of this room including showers.
All swimmers must behave per the YMCA Core Values. Horseplay & foul language are not allowed in the pool or locker rooms. There is no diving of any kind. Members must always walk while in the pool or locker rooms.
Kids ages 7-9 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 16+ at all times. Parent/Guardian must be within arm's reach at all times unless the child can pass an appropriate YMCA swim test.
Kids ages 10-14 do not need to have a parent or guardian present.
Swim tests are administered by lifeguards at their discretion and availability. If a child 7-14 years passes the swim test, they may be given a one-time swim bracelet that signifies they passed the test.
Swimmers may be asked to do a shallow water test if they are weaker swimmers. To do this, the child will enter the water to armpit depth, front float for 5 seconds, transition from floating to standing, black float for 5 seconds, and return to standing.
To swim in water deeper than the swimmer’s armpits, the swimmer must pass the Deep-Water Swim Test: Jump into deep water and submerge over the swimmer's head, right themselves, tread water for 30 seconds, and then swim the length of the pool to the stairs. The swimmer can use a combination of freestyle, breaststroke, or backstroke (for backstroke the swimmer must demonstrate rolling from front to back and then continue swimming).

The YMCA staff may close the pool at any time for safety reasons, including but not limited to chemical imbalance, mechanical issues, water clarity, pool contamination, and natural dangers. Lightning within 10 miles will constitute immediate closure.

Program Registration and Cancellations

Credits/refunds will not be given for individual program days missed. You must cancel at least three business days prior to the start of the SACC/SOC/SDC week or program to receive full credit or refund. If you cancel after the deadline, we are not able to issue a credit or refund. The YMCA reserves the right to change, cancel or combine programs as necessary. If a program is cancelled, a full credit or refund will be issued.

Facility Updates

Two downstairs racquetball courts are finished and open to the public! The third court and cycle studio are not available at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Online Resources

The Fergus Falls YMCA offers online resources through YMCA360, providing access to livestream and on-demand opportunities to work out, play, learn, and more from the web, smartphone, or smart TV. Members can also register for YMCA programs, including swimming lessons and youth sports, through the MY ACCOUNT button.

Fergus Falls High School Weighted Grading System

Fergus Falls High School utilizes a weighted grading system to recognize the increased rigor and academic challenge of select courses. Courses that receive weighted credit include those aligned with college-level expectations, industry certifications, or advanced honors content. These courses demand greater depth of knowledge, critical thinking, and application skills. The weighted courses listed include College in the Schools (CIS), Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO), and designated honors courses. Students will have both an unweighted GPA and a weighted GPA recorded on their transcript. However, class rank will be determined using the unweighted GPA. The high school remains committed to regularly reviewing and updating its list of weighted courses.

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