Explore the five phases of an IRA and learn strategies to reduce taxes on your retirement savings while helping protect your assets for your heirs.

Bring the beach to your doorstep. Assemble a delightful combination of shells, beads, beechwood, and bells to create a whimsical wind chime for your home or garden.

Create a Bob Ross-inspired painting with certified instructor Julie. Learn canvas prep, brush techniques, and "Wet-on-Wet" oil painting. Step-by-step guidance provided—no experience needed. Step out of your comfort zone and paint! All supplies are included. January 17th - Mountain Scene March 14th - Cabin Scene May 16th - Beach Scene

There are more bridges crossing the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities than any other place along the entire river’s length. Visit The Stone Arch Bridge. It is recognized as a National Civil Engineering Landmark. It was built in 1883 by James J. Hill’s Great Northern Railroad as a railroad bridge. It is now reserved for pedestrians and bicycles with panoramic views of St. Anthony Falls and the milling district of Minneapolis. The highest bridge in St. Paul is the Smith Avenue High Bridge, an inverted arch bridge with a deck height of 160 feet. You will hear stories about who built the bridges, how some have been re-envisioned and the impact each bridge has in the community they service. [Note: weather permitting, there will be a couple of stops to get off the bus for a closer view.] 9:15 a.m. St Michael Elementary - 101 Central Ave W, St Michael 55376 - Pick up in the parking lot on the front of the building 10:00 a.m. Meet your tour guide and discover the unique and interesting facts about the bridges in the Twin Cities on a riding tour 1:15 p.m. Arrive at Jax Cafe, serving Minnesotans since 1933, a landmark that was established by Stanley Kozlak. He left Poland as a teenager and established a restaurant business that would support three generations after him. Lunch service. Menu: Choose your option when you register for the class 1) Baked Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Vegetable or 2) Swedish Meatballs with Potatoes and Vegetable Chocolate Mousse, Coffee, Tea or Milk included 2:45 p.m. Leave Jax Café 3:30 p.m. Estimated return time to St. Michael Deadline for registration and payment is MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026. NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE. While we strive to maintain the current schedule, times and locations are subject to change without advance notification.

Learn to make customizable California rolls, from seasoned sushi rice and spicy mayo to creative fillings like crab salad, vegetarian options, or seafood—roll, wrap, and enjoy your own sushi creations. Ingredient / Supplies / Equipment Needs in case participants wish to shop ahead of time: Sushi rice, nori/seaweed sheets, toasted sesame oil, (Japanese) rice vinegar. A bamboo sushi-rolling mat can be helpful, but not necessary. Additional ingredients will be listed in the information packet that will be received 3—5 days before the class. The week of class, you will receive an email with an ingredient and supply list, prep packet, and Zoom video conferencing link . A few days after the class you will receive an additional email with the instructors copyrighted recipes used during the class that are only shared with registered participants. 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. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, EACH household must register SEPARATELY even if participating together. As an added bonus, the instructor has created a private group and a public group on Facebook for participants of her cooking classes. Everyone will receive an invite to the groups although joining is optional.

Sip, savor, and explore on this fun day trip to Crow River Winery featuring lunch, a guided vineyard and winery tour, wine tasting, and a sweet stop at Carlson’s Orchard Bakery. A perfect day out for wine lovers. No refunds after August 10, 2026. Full Class Description: 10:00 a.m. Leave Eastview Education Center, 9375 Fenning Ave. No., Monticello. Load in parking lot. Please park on the far end of the parking lot near School Blvd. 11:15 a.m. Arrive at the Crow River Winery and Bistro. It is a farm winery near Hutchinson, MN. Embracing their Minnesota roots, for over fifteen years they have nurtured their Cold Climate vines and grapes.Spanning across 36 acres of vineyards, they prioritize eco-friendly farming practices to care for these unique local vines. Nature stands as their closest ally, and they invest their effort, resources, and passion to transform their grapes into exquisite wines, all of which are processed and made at this winery. Taste the magic in every glass. 11:30 a.m. Have lunch in the dining space. Menu: Cranberry Turkey Club - Turkey, Provolone Cheese, and Fresh Arugula on a Toasted Ciabatta Bun, topped with House-Made Cranberry Wine Aioli crafted with Crow River Winery Cranberry Wine. 12:30 p.m. Take a guided tasting and tour with a Crow River Winery staff. They will provide and educational tour followed by a wine tasting. After the tour and tasting, purchase your favorite wine. 2:00 p.m. Depart from the Crow River Winery. 2:15 p.m. Arrive at the Carlson’s Orchard Bakery in Winsted.Purchase apples and delicious baked goods. 3:15 p.m. Leave Carlson’s Orchard. 4:30 p.m. Estimated return time to Monticello. DEADLINE: MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026. No refunds after this date.

Do you have unanswered questions and always wanted to know more about your family history, but don’t know where or how to begin? Paula Stuart-Warren, Certified Genealogist, will show us easy steps to get started (or restarted). It’s more than just a list of names or dates—it’s about discovering stories, traditions, and roots that have shaped your life and your family’s journey. You will be able to share your knowledge with current and future generations. You will receive a handout with tips, and information on books and websites. We invite you to come with your own questions. Paula loves her profession and loves to get others excited about their family history. She works full time in genealogical and historical research, lecturing, consulting, and writing. She has been a Board-certified genealogist since 1988, passing the every-five-year renewal assessments by the national Board for Certification of Genealogists. She is a firm believer in continuing education in genealogy and strives to keep up to date by participating in national and local conferences, webinars, reading the publications of many genealogical and historical organizations and individuals both off and online. She teaches about family history year-round and teaches in-depth for online week-long genealogy institutes. Registration Information: Crow River Senior Center at 763-497-8900 Community Education at St. Michael-Albertville, register online at: stma.arux.app or by calling 763-497-6550 This class is a collaboration between the Senior Center and stma Community Education. You may register through either organization.

DAY 1 - Monday, June 15 7:30 a.m. Leave Eastview Education Center, 9375 Fenning Ave. NE., Monticello. Load in front parking lot. Park on the far end of the lot near School Blvd. Make a comfort stop in Menomonie and have lunch (included) in Wisconsin Dells. Continue to Lake Geneva, WI. The area was a popular summer retreat for the barons of wealth in lumber, cattle, oil, steel, cement, manufacturing, and durable goods.They built mansions and large homes on the lake from the 1850s, through the heyday of the Roaring 20s.Check into Harbor Shores Resort, featuring park view rooms for a two-night stay. The hotel is located downtown near shopping and dining. Take time for dinner (on your own) at one of the nearby restaurants. Tonight, enjoy an entertaining show in Lake Geneva. DAY 2 - Tuesday, June 16 Board the Lake Geneva U.S. Mail Boat Tour. This narrated cruise features the beautiful mansions on the Lake. There are only a handful of places left in the country where mail is still delivered by boat and none with a more exciting and scenic tour. Mail is still delivered to about 60 homes around Lake Geneva daily, from mid-June to mid-September. The Walworth departs with a load of passengers, and a unique mail person. They must jump off the bow of the boat while it is still moving and on to the pier. Deliver the mail, grab any outgoing parcels and leap back on to the stern of the boat before it passes by. After the cruise, walk across the street for lunch (included) at one of Lake Geneva’s most popular restaurants. Meet a docent who will escort the group to the Black Point Estate and Gardens, overlooking Geneva Lake. It was the summer home for Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp, and four generations of his descendants.While taking in stunning views from the grand veranda you will get a taste of what it was like to summer in this historic place. Step into the original American dream and learn how this German immigrant built one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture. See one of the most intact collections of Victorian furnishings in the Midwest. It is a historic site owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. This evening dining is on your own in downtown Lake Geneva. DAY 3 - Wednesday, June 17 Travel to North Freedom, WI to visit the Mid-Continental Railway Museum. Spend time in the Train Coach Sheds that are filled with restored wooden passenger cars, freight cars and displays from the turn of the century. See examples of nationally renowned wood car restorations such as the Badger # 2 “Fish Car” the exquisite Art Nouveau-motif of the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western # 63, the 1903-built Copper Range coach # 60. In the outdoor display yard, you can inspect steam locomotives up-close. There are nearly 40 train cars and locomotives on prominent. Board the passenger train for a memorable ride in restored coaches built in 1915. An authentically attired conductor will call "all aboard!" before the train leaves from the historic depot, built in 1894. Have lunch (included) and return to Monticello by early evening. Deadline for this trip is April 13th. Must be paid in full by this date. NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE. You may bring coolers with beverages and snacks on the bus. There will be plenty of storage under the bus for luggage. While we strive to maintain the current schedule, times and locations are subject to change without advance notification.

Lake Minnetonka Cruise & Lunch At Maynards - August 19 - $130 10:00 a.m. St Michael Elementary - 101 Central Ave W, St Michael 55376 - Pick up in the parking lot on the front of the building. (If low registration in St. Michael/Albertville, pick up will be at 9:45am at Monticello Eastview Education Center, 9375 Fenning Ave NE) 10:55 a.m. Arrive a Maynards Restaurant on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. 11:00 a.m. Restaurant opens and can only accommodate a group if they are able to be seated when the doors open. Menu: Half Sandwich, Cup of Soup, Beverage. 12:30 p.m. After lunch, the motor coach will transfer the group to the Port of Excelsior for a Lake Minnetonka Cruise. Board the Lady of the Lake, a historic sternwheeler. The main cabin is enclosed. It is equipped with table seating for 50 passengers. The second level is covered and requires climbing a flight of stairs (about 10 steps). It is the most popular seating area for cruising the lake with the open-air experience. The space can be enclosed with durable plastic window coverings if the weather requires it. The top deck is up an additional flight of stairs and is uncovered. 1:00 p.m. The Lady of the Lake Boat will depart. Hear a special Lady of the Lake live narration about Lake Minnetonka from the Captain and crew. They will talk about the Big Island and you will see the waterfront mansions, restaurants, marinas and gardens. In the mid-1800’s Lake Minnetonka enjoyed worldwide fame for its elegance and scenery. Large steamships on the lake accommodated thousands of passengers. There were huge waterfront hotels and constant scheduled rail service that catered to the elite families from the south that came here to avoid the heat. Relax and view a variety of recreational watercraft on the lake. 3:00 p.m. Return time to the dock. Reboard the motor coach and transfer to downtown Excelsior to shop. (Motor coach can make some shuttle runs along Water Street.) Enjoy the quaint shops along Water Street in downtown Excelsior. It is about three blocks from the dock to the Excelsior Mill shops. Walk to a variety of stores such as: Caspers - with whimsical home accessories, The Country Look in Antiques - featuring the charm of Colonial New England. Excelsior Mill is a renovated lumberyard that was built at the turn of the century. It recreates the flavor of the past with a bench lined central “garden” court and half dozen shops filled with distinctive gifts and accessories. 3:45 p.m. Estimated departure time from Excelsior. 4:45 p.m. Estimated return time to St. Michael (if low registration in St. Michael/Albertville, return time will be 5:00 at Monticello Eastview Education Center) Deadline is Monday July 13th. NO refunds after this date. While we strive to maintain the current schedule, times and locations are subject to change without advance notification.

Bring the taste of Greece into your own kitchen and create an authentic Greek Chicken Gyro meal including Gyro, homemade pita bread, traditional tzatziki, Greek Lemon Potatoes, & flavorful dressings. The week of class, you will receive an email with an ingredient and supply list, prep packet, and Zoom video conferencing link . A few days after the class you will receive an additional email with the instructors copyrighted recipes used during the class that are only shared with registered participants. 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. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, EACH household must register SEPARATELY even if participating together. As an added bonus, the instructor has created a private group and a public group on Facebook for participants of her cooking classes. Everyone will receive an invite to the groups although joining is optional.

Step back in time on this fun day trip featuring a classic Swedish meatball lunch, a guided tour of the fascinating Runestone Museum, gift shop browsing, and a sweet stop at Up North Ice Cream Company. History, food, and treats in one great day. No refunds after September 8, 2026. Full Class Description: 8:45 a.m. Leave Eastview Elementary, 9375 Fenning Ave. No., Monticello.mLoad in parking lot. 9:30 a.m. Make a comfort stop at the Middle Spunk Lake Rest Area near Avon, MN. 11:00 a.m. Arrive for lunch at Travelers Inn Restaurant, Alexandria’s Oldest Eating Establishment since 1924.Menu: Swedish Meatballs, Lightly Spiced and served in a Creamy Gravy Sauce, Served with Baby Red Skinned Mashed, Vegetable, Dinner Roll, Beverage 12:30 p.m. Leave Travelers Inn Restaurant.Just three blocks down the street is the Runestone Museum. 12:45 p.m. Take a guided tour of The Runestone Museum Foundation. It has been inspiring curiosity about local history and heritage for more than 50 years. The World Famous and controversial Kensington Rune Stone was the Runestone Museum’s only artifact when it opened its’ doors in 1958. Since then, the museum has grown to include additional artifacts found in Minnesota that relate to Middle-Age Nordic explorers. The 40 piece collection includes the Climax fire steel. In the First Peoples exhibit, an original 1920s Tinkle Cone Dress is on display; only four such dresses exist in North America. Visitors can also explore Minnesota’s natural history. There is also a Minnesota Wildlife Exhibit, complete with animal sounds and habitat information. 1:45 p.m. After the tour, spend a few minutes in the gift shop. 2:00 p.m. Transfer to the Up North Ice Cream Company in Alexandria. 2:30 p.m. Leave Alexandria, MN. 3:30 p.m. Make a comfort stop at the Big Spunk Lake Rest Area new Avon, MN. 4:15 p.m. Estimated return time to Monticello. DEADLINE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 - No refunds after this date!

Sound Healing is an ancient therapy that uses various instruments in certain frequencies to help balance and heal our being. You can experience deep relaxation, mental clarity, and pain relief! Please bring: yoga mat, blanket, and anything else that will help you be comfortable such as eye mask, pillow. Wear comfortable clothing.

10:00 a.m. St Michael Elementary - 101 Central Ave W, St Michael 55376 - Pick up will be in the front parking lot of St. Michael Elementary School. (If low registration in St. Michael/Albertville, the pick up will be at 9:45am in Monticello Eastview Education Center parking lot, 9375 Fenning Avenue North) 11:00 a.m. Arrive in Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota. It's a former lumbering center located on the St. Croix River. This distinctive community has a wealth of 19th century Greek Revival, Queen Anne and Italianate architecture.It offers an excellent blend of history, scenery, shopping and culture. Unload at the docks of the St. Croix Boat & Packet Company to board the scheduled cruise. Note: The boat staff is available to help guests who need assistance. Group Leader will need to advise the boat staff if someone needs help. They do have wheelchairs in the office to transport passengers. [Depending on water levels, there could be considerable walking from the bus parking area to the boat landing. Gangplanks could be steep, but there are railings.] 11:30 a.m. Depart for a cruise on the St. Croix River aboard one of the modern vessels from the St. Croix Boat & Packet Company fleet.It is climate controlled and fully accessible. Table seating is available on the first floor. Relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the St. Croix River. [This cruise is not narrated. Guests can bring cards, bingo or other games to play while cruising.] 11:45 a.m. A deli luncheon is served buffet style as you cruise the St. Croix River.Menu: The Deli Luncheon has a variety of meats and cheeses, salads, and dessert bars. Coffee and water are included in the price. One drink ticket will be given out for a soft drink. Alcohol beverages are available for purchase. 1:30 p.m. The boat will return to the Stillwater Docks.Transfer passengers to Pedestrian Plaza in downtown Stillwater to shop. There are unique boutiques, specialty gift stores, art galleries, candy stores and more that reflect the variety of the community 2:45 p.m. Bus will return to Pedestrian Plaza to pick up passengers. 4:00 p.m. Estimated return time to St Michael (If low registration in St. Michael/Albertville, return trip will be to the Monticello Eastview Education Center at approximately 4:15pm) Registration Deadline: Monday, June 8th, No refunds after this date. While we strive to maintain the current schedule, times and locations are subject to change without advance notification.

Learn basic watercolor techniques while creating a vibrant poppy painting on 11x15 paper. Step-by-step instruction, all supplies included, and no prior experience required!

Learn the essentials of estate planning, including wills, trusts, probate, and health care directives, to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are respected during life and after death. Who would handle your finances if you were suddenly incapacitated? Who would make your health care decisions for you? After your death, will your assets pass to your loved ones as quickly and efficiently as possible? Planning now can help prevent difficulties and family conflicts later and ensure that your wishes are respected now and in the future. Come and learn what estate planning is, and why it is important for you and your loved ones both during life and after death. The presentation will focus on a discussion of probate, estate taxes, and tools such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives, and how use of these tools can be used to get your legal affairs in order.

After a welcome introduction by the staff at Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM), this is a self guided experience. The purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven acre riverside campus. It is through this surprising diversity that MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be. Through education and exhibitions that explore the ongoing and historic human relationship with water. This is Great Art Inspired by Water. 7:00 a.m. St Michael Elementary - 101 Central Ave W, St Michael 55376 Pick up in the parking lot on the front of the building. 9:00 a.m. Estimated arrival time into Lake City to use the washrooms at Stahlie Park Rest Area. 9:15 a.m. Leave Rest Area. 10:15 a.m. Arrive in Winona at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) 11:45 a.m. Leave MMAM. 12:00 p.m. Arrive at Signatures Restaurant at The Bridges Golf Club for a luncheon Menu: Chicken Dumpling Soup, Build your own Salad - Mixed Greens, Tomato, Radish, Carrots, Red Onions, Cucumber, Croutons and Dressing 1:30 p.m. Leave Signatures Restaurant. 1:45 p.m. Arrive at the Watkins Administration Building on Liberty Street Visit the Museum and purchase Watkins Pepper, Vanilla, Petro Carbo Salve and other items [Note: Because the building is on the National Historic Registry, there is a flight of stairs to get into the building] 2:45 p.m. Leave Winona. 3:45 p.m. Stop in Lake City at Stahlie Park Rest Area to use the facilities. 4:00 p.m. Leave Lake City. 6:00 p.m. Estimated return time to St. Michael’s. Deadline for registration and payment is MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026 NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE. While we strive to maintain the current schedule, times and locations are subject to change without advance notification.