Big Lake Community Education Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Big Lake Community Education provides a wide array of learning opportunities for residents of all ages. With a diverse catalog of courses, from early childhood programs to adult enrichment, there's something for everyone in the community to discover, create, and wonder. Big Lake Community Education offers more than 50 classes throughout the year to our community's adults and offers more than 100 classes throughout the year to our community's youth. Scholarships are available for all courses.

Early Childhood Programs

Big Lake Community Education recognizes the importance of early childhood development and offers an array of programs designed to support young learners and their families.

Early Childhood Screening

Early Childhood Screening begins at age 3. In Minnesota, all children must be screened before entering Kindergarten. Early Childhood Screening is required for children before public school kindergarten entrance (Minnesota Statute MS 121A.17). The state of MN recommends all children be screened as early as possible. Early Childhood Screening is a free snapshot of how your preschooler is growing developing and learning. Early Childhood Screening is held 5 times per year at Liberty Elementary. Screen at 3!!

Please note that screening is NOT a readiness test for kindergarten. It is a developmental snapshot of your child at the time of screening. Your appointment will include a quick and simple check in the areas of vision, hearing, speech, motor skills and thinking skills, as well general health and growth. Parents follow their child through the process and have the opportunity to discuss their child's development with the screeners.

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Are you pregnant or have a child who hasn't started kindergarten yet? Are you looking for something fun to do with your child to wear off energy and talk with other adults? Discover. Create. Wonder. Ignite your child's natural curiosity through hands-on exploration in this playful ECFE STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) class designed especially for young learners and their caregivers.

Read also: Community Education in Prior Lake

Youth Enrichment Programs

Big Lake Community Education offers a diverse range of youth programs designed to engage and inspire young minds. These programs cover various interests, from sports and recreation to technology and creative arts.

Sports and Recreation

Basketball: Boys and girls will learn the basic skills of basketball, shooting, passing, dribbling, and defense while having fun and staying physically active! Several basketball programs are available for different age groups:
- 2nd Grade Boys & Girls | Thursdays 5:15-6:15 pm | Liberty Elementary | Nov. 13-Feb 5 - Not meeting Nov. 27, Dec. 25, & Jan.
- Kindergarten Boys & Girls | Mondays 5:15-6pm | Liberty Elementary | Nov. 10-Feb 2 - not meeting Dec. 22, 29 & Jan.
- 1st Grade Boys & Girls | Mondays 6:15-7pm | Liberty Elementary | Nov. 10-Feb 2 - not meeting Dec. 22, 29th & Jan.
TWO-THREE PARENT/GUARDIAN COACHES NEEDED per group! Indicate during registration if interested. Parent coaches must clear a background study and will receive a free t-shirt. Picture night with the Hornet banner is Thursday, Nov 20 (students should wear t-shirt). Please note if the class is showing full to put your child's name on the waiting list. What to wear for practices? Parent Coach/Volunteer meeting on Mon. Cafeteria.
DASH Sports Programs: DASH Sports offers a variety of introductory sports experiences.
- DASH Sports Basketball Tykes camps provide players with an introductory experience to the great game of basketball through fun skill-based drills and mini-games. Players will be taught how to properly dribble, pass, shoot, and play defense in a fun and positive environment. Athletes should bring a water bottle & wear athletic clothing & shoes. Balls are provided.
- Soccer: DASH Sports soccer camps provide players a well-rounded soccer experience covering a broad range of soccer skills training (dribbling, passing, shooting, & defense) and skill-based games. Players will be challenged and grouped at an appropriate level while receiving instruction in a fun, positive environment while learning values of ‘Respect, Hustle, and Pride’. Camp ends with a scrimmage on the final day. Athletes should bring a water bottle and wear tennis shoes (shin guards are optional).
- DASH Sports Soccer Tykes camps provide players with an introductory experience to the game of soccer. Key elements of dribbling, passing, and shooting will be taught and practiced. Fun, skill-based games will be played to practice newly learned skills. Athletes should bring a water bottle and wear athletic clothing & shoes ( shin guards optional). Soccer balls are provided.

Technology and Coding

Code Championship Series: Build a computer bot to compete against other coders! Whether you're new or experienced, this is the perfect way to explore competitive coding. No previous coding experience is necessary. The Code Championship Series is four online tournaments hosted on Google Meet. If you have a modern browser, no download is required. Players must be able to navigate the internet. Ms. Snacks will be provided but students are also welcome to bring their own snacks and/or snacks to share.

Creative Arts and Hobbies

Lego Creations: Participants will unleash their imagination and creativity by building unique Lego creations. They will experiment with various building techniques, colors, and designs.
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D): Join us on an epic adventure for all ages and experience levels. D&D is a timeless role-playing game that helps kids develop math, storytelling, and collaboration skills. Learn the basics of Dungeons and Dragons. Pick and develop your character and join us for a Minecraft one-shot campaign! *Minecraft is a Mojang Studios trademark. Home Technical Requirements: ● Computer: PC (Windows 10 or later) or Mac (OSX) with at least a 2GHz processor and 4GB of RAM ● Internet: Broadband internet ● Webcam, Microphone and Speakers ● Zoom Installed on Computer, zoom link will be sent before class.
Fragrance Science: Become a fragrance scientist and create your own scent of lotion and lip gloss.

Adult Enrichment Programs

Big Lake Community Education provides a variety of courses designed to enrich the lives of adult learners. These programs cover a wide range of interests, from culinary arts to creative crafts.

Read also: Enhancing Education in Lake County

Culinary Arts

Steamed Bao Buns: The word "Bao" is derived from the word "Baozi" which means, "to wrap" in Mandarin. Bao buns are often described as "steamed pillows" of deliciousness that are becoming increasingly popular in North America. They are created by freshly steaming yeasted velvety dough, and are then filled with a variety of fillings. During this fun-filled class participant will learn to create delicious Steamed Bao that will be used "to wrap" almost like a little jacket, the fantastic filling of Korean Bulgogi BBQ Chicken, and a wonderful variety of Asian inspired quick pickled veggies! What fun! Equipment Needs: A bamboo steamer is a "nice to have", but not necessary. While cooking-along is loads of fun and highly recommended, it is optional. This class will take place on Zoom, free online software. Participants will receive instructions on how to access the class prior to it starting. A list of ingredients and class details will be received in advance of the class with enough time for shopping and preparation. Note: The instructor's recipes are copyrighted and are only shared with those who register for this class. Everyone will receive an invite to the groups although joining is optional. Note: One registration fee for this online virtual interactive class can include: immediate family members living full-time in the same home ONLY. If children are participating, adult supervision is required.

Creative Crafts

Personalized Recipe Book: Turn your favorite recipes into a beautiful, personalized keepsake! In this creative, hands-on class, you'll transform a phot brag book into a stunning recipe book using decorative paper, embellishments, and your unique flair. Learn tips for organizing recipes, designing eye-catching pages, and incorporating thoughtful details to make your book truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you want to preserve family recipes, create a thoughtful gift, or showcase your culinary favorites, this class is perfect for all skill levels. Bring your creativity, and we'll supply the inspiration!

General Information

Registration and Waitlists

Is the class showing full? Join our waitlist, we may add more spots closer to start date.

Scholarships

Scholarships available for all courses!

Read also: Office of Education Initiatives

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