Classes

Hands on make and take wreath class. We will use a variety of fresh seasonal greens to make a lush textural wreath to odorn your door for the holidays. Berries and other natural elements can be layered on to create a rich tapestry. Ribbon available to add on if desired. Short demonstration and guided work time. Due to the perishable nature of the product used in the workshops, no refunds will be made for cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled workshop date. You may choose to reschedule to a future workshop or receive a gift card in the same value to be used in store or for a future workshop.

Wait did that rock just move? No, it’s a mussel! Over 50 species of mussels call Minnesota’s waters home, but most of these species are threatened or even endangered. Join Park Naturalist Elizabeth as she explores these little-known creatures that have a big impact on water quality. They are simply marvelous. Stop by the lower level any time between 2:00 and 3:30 to learn about mussels.

(Note: The program was originally scheduled for Saturday, December 2 but was moved to Thursday, November 30).

This event is part of We Are Water MN, a traveling exhibit and community engagement initiative that explores the science, history, story, culture, and relationships of water in Minnesota, and, in this case, the lower St. Croix River Valley. The exhibit will be on view at Stillwater Public Library from October 12 through December 3, 2023. We Are Water MN is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; the Minnesota Historical Society; and the University of Minnesota Extension. We Are Water MN is funded in part with money from the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund and by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In intro to pole you will experience a new way to use your body to gain strength! Learn the fundamentals of pole fitness as we work through walks, transitions, spins, climbs, and beginner pole tricks.
This intro COURSE is designed for someone who has never experienced pole fitness and wants to learn the art of pole in a fun and welcoming environment.

- All participants within this class must be 14 years or older.**Ages 14-17 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver before your 1st class.**

AERIAL SILKS *6 week INTRO course:

Dreaming of life in the circus? This 6 week series is designed for beginners. In this series, students will be introduced to aerial fitness and provided with a foundation of key movements. Throughout our time together, students will begin to master beginner moves and unique poses that will work together. Students will learn tricks, poses, spins, climbs, while also building muscle, endurance, and flexibility.

This class is designed for anyone 14+ years of age.

**Ages 14-17 Must have parent or guardian sign a waiver prior to your 1st class.

Another fun weekend in downtown Stillwater as part of the month-long Hometown for the Holidays!

Friday, December 8
6:30-8:30 p.m. - Enjoy holiday lights, sights & the sounds of Victorian Carolers strolling down Mainstreet Stillwater.

Saturday, December 9 - Gingerbread House Building Contest
The community is invited to pull out their rolling pins, grab a frosting bag and build gingerbread houses for submission in our Gingerbread Building Contest!
10:00 a.m. - Noon - View and Vote on creative home made gingerbread houses at Water Street Inn

Saturday, December 9
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Enjoy holiday lights, sights & the sounds of Victorian Carolers strolling down Mainstreet Stillwater.
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Horse-drawn Wagonette Carriage - FREE to ride!

Additional Events happening around town on this weekend:
Downtown Stillwater Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, December 9th, 10 -11 a.m. at Lowell Park Pavilion
FREE - (no pre-registration required)

Winter is COLD but our Winter Wonderland workshop is HOT!

Stef is going to show you some slinky, sexy moves that will spice up any ordinary Holiday! Don't worry, you'll slither around the chair and get comfortable on how to move for your special someone!

Come for the Fun, Stay for the Spice!

Learn a fun Pole Dance routine and take an amazing Winter wonderland photo with our photo backdrop! Dress in your best holiday attire.

This holiday we will have a fun Pole Dance class designed for Beginners, all levels are welcome, No experience is needed.

NO REFUNDS * If you can't attend please let us know, although all sales are final.

We will spend the day exploring engaging activities, educating ourselves on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and its watershed, and reconnecting with nature through outdoor adventures.

Explore some of the programs Rivers Are Alive has to offer with hands-on activities. After lunch, we’ll throw on some snow shoes and experience RAA like your students! We’ll not only spotlight our Let’s Go Snowshoeing Program, but also our Let’s Go Birding program.

A catered lunch, coffee/tea and snacks will be provided.

Suggested items to bring:

Water bottle/coffee mug
Jacket/hat/mittens or appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather
Winter Boots
Your favorite teacher friend!

5 CEUs available

Cancelation Information:

For the safety of participants and staff, this program may be canceled due to inclement weather such as snowstorms and icy conditions. Participants will be notified via email and event pages will be updated if the program is canceled.

Explore the other half of the day, when the darkness envelopes our world. We will begin inside with a brief overview of winter night life at Belwin and then head out to witness the beauty of the dark. We will end our evening with light refreshments around a fire.

Come dressed in layers for any weather, wear comfortable hiking footwear for the season, bring water. Flashlight or headlight with a red light option is optional.

Presented in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education

RSVP is required. To RSVP, go to belwin.org/events. Registration opens September 6th.

Come and help us celebrate the seasonal changes in the natural world. Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, each brings us to a new season, a new place in our annual trip around the sun. We will gather together indoors to share easy, yogic centering exercises and a brief conversation about our theme. We will then move out to the woods and prairies for walking meditations and experiences in the natural world. We will end our time together with light refreshments around the fire.

Led by Lynette Anderson. Wear comfortable layers and be prepared for any weather.  Open to women over the age of 16.

Registration is required. To register, go to belwin.org/events.

In intro to pole you will experience a new way to use your body to gain strength! Learn the fundamentals of pole fitness as we work through walks, transitions, spins, climbs, and beginner pole tricks.
This intro COURSE is designed for someone who has never experienced pole fitness and wants to learn the art of pole in a fun and welcoming environment.

- All participants within this class must be 14 years or older.

**Ages 14-17 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver before your 1st class.**

INTRO TO AERIAL

This INTRO TO AERIAL mini-workshop features a 45 minute introduction for a new student. You will receive a studio tour, learn about the different classes we offer and get to try out the apparatuses by learning some introduction moves on each of them.

Cancellation policy We do not offer refunds - No Exceptions.
Our Instructors count on you attending, if you have registered.

Take a winter walk in the magical hours of twilight when day is ending and night is just beginning. Begin inside for a short introduction and then head out on the trail to witness the wonder of this special time. End around a campfire with hot beverages.

Led by Jim Rue and Lynette Anderson. Come dressed in layers for any weather, wear comfortable hiking footwear for the season, bring water. Flashlight or headlight with a red light option is optional.

Registration is required. To register, go to belwin.org/events.

The St. Croix Valley Foundation, Propel Nonprofits, and Carpenter Nature Center are partnering to host a three-part series on building effective Boards.

Session #1 |Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Governance | November 8, 9:00am – Noon

Hosted at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Minnesota Campus – 12805 St. Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033

After attending the first workshop in this series, board members will participate in board meetings and other engagements with more confidence. Attendees will learn typical board responsibilities, explore the nuances of board authority and relationships, and discover ways to join a board. Participants will receive Propel’s Nonprofit Board Governance workbook, which includes the Fiduciary Duties of Directors of Charitable Organizations.

Session #2 |Board Engagement Strategies | January 17, Noon – 1:30pm

Hosted via ZOOM

The second session in a three-part series, this virtual training hosted via zoom will explore four practices for healthy board governance: 1) being purposeful in recruiting and on-boarding, 2) sharing board norms and accountability, 3) designing board structures, and 4) identifying board development. Propel will also provide tips to increase board engagement, including an overview of facilitation strategies you can use during your board meetings.

Session #3 |Engaging the Board in Fundraising | March 6, 9:00 – 11:00am

Hosted at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Minnesota Campus – 12805 St. Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033

This session (the third and final session of this series) will provide nonprofit staff and board members with an understanding of the societal and human dynamics of money and raising money for a nonprofit organization. The session will explore why the board’s role in fundraising often leads to uncertainty and fear – and the corresponding strategies to overcome that hesitancy and maximize success!

For more information and to register, email [email protected].

Minnesota has National Park sites across the state – do you know how to connect? How are you bringing the National Parks to your classroom?

Join the education teams from Wild Rivers Conservancy, Mississippi Park Connection, and Voyageurs Conservancy to learn more about how you can connect your students to these unique and wild places in our state!

This interactive workshop will introduce you to the varied landscapes of the National Park Service stewards in our state, and give you a chance to give feedback about the programs that will impact your students most. We’ll review our standards-aligned programs and field trips, and network with other like-minded teachers. Finish out the day with a snowshoe hike led by NPS Park Rangers along the wild and scenic St. Croix River.

Suggested items to bring:

Water bottle/coffee mug
Jacket/hat/mittens or appropriate outdoor clothing for the weather
Winter Boots
Your favorite teacher friend!

4 CEUs available

Cancelation Information:

For the safety of participants and staff, this program may be canceled due to inclement weather such as snowstorms and icy conditions. Participants will be notified via email and event pages will be updated if the program is canceled.

The St. Croix Riverway is a National Treasure. This is an opportunity for us to explore an environment and find ways this green/blue space can support our physical, mental, and emotional health. Join us for a 90-minute reflective experience guiding you to a deeper connection to the St. Croix River Valley and your own wellness. The River Valley is not only a metaphor but a great teacher and source of wisdom in discovering connection, stewardship, and respecting our environment and human needs. Each session brings a new intention during a different season to broaden our appreciation of the St. Croix River Valley.

Schedule:

20-minute Introduction/Education
45-minute Walk/Sit Exploration
25-minute Debrief and Closure

This event is brought to you in partnership with Becky Brunette and Wild Rivers Conservancy.

Join us for all events in this three-part series!

October 8th: River Reflections: Curiosity
January 21st: River Reflections: Movement
April 28th: River Reflections: Growth

The St. Croix Valley Foundation, Propel Nonprofits, and Carpenter Nature Center are partnering to host a three-part series on building effective Boards.

Session #1 |Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Governance | November 8, 9:00am - Noon

Hosted at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Minnesota Campus - 12805 St. Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033

After attending the first workshop in this series, board members will participate in board meetings and other engagements with more confidence. Attendees will learn typical board responsibilities, explore the nuances of board authority and relationships, and discover ways to join a board. Participants will receive Propel’s Nonprofit Board Governance workbook, which includes the Fiduciary Duties of Directors of Charitable Organizations.

Session #2 |Board Engagement Strategies | January 17, Noon - 1:30pm

Hosted via ZOOM

The second session in a three-part series, this virtual training hosted via zoom will explore four practices for healthy board governance: 1) being purposeful in recruiting and on-boarding, 2) sharing board norms and accountability, 3) designing board structures, and 4) identifying board development. Propel will also provide tips to increase board engagement, including an overview of facilitation strategies you can use during your board meetings.

Session #3 |Engaging the Board in Fundraising | March 6, 9:00 - 11:00am

Hosted at the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Minnesota Campus - 12805 St. Croix Trail South, Hastings, MN 55033

This session (the third and final session of this series) will provide nonprofit staff and board members with an understanding of the societal and human dynamics of money and raising money for a nonprofit organization. The session will explore why the board’s role in fundraising often leads to uncertainty and fear – and the corresponding strategies to overcome that hesitancy and maximize success!

For more information and to register, email [email protected].

The St. Croix Riverway is a National Treasure. This is an opportunity for us to explore an environment and find ways this green/blue space can support our physical, mental, and emotional health. Join us for a 90-minute reflective experience guiding you to a deeper connection to the St. Croix River Valley and your own wellness. The River Valley is not only a metaphor but a great teacher and source of wisdom in discovering connection, stewardship, and respecting our environment and human needs. Each session brings a new intention during a different season to broaden our appreciation of the St. Croix River Valley.

Schedule:

20-minute Introduction/Education
45-minute Walk/Sit Exploration
25-minute Debrief and Closure

This event is brought to you in partnership with Becky Brunette and Wild Rivers Conservancy.

Join us for all events in this three-part series!

October 8th: River Reflections: Curiosity
January 21st: River Reflections: Movement
April 28th: River Reflections: Growth

We will be supplying water and snacks for all. Cost is very minimal because we want to make it possible for all to participate, although all are welcome to join us without payment if it's a financial hardship to you.

The first 50 participants (along with fighters/survivors) arriving will receive a wrist band honoring the cause.

The event profits will be donated to a local charity, which provides assistance to those battling breast cancer.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are participating and are currently battling cancer or are a cancer survivor, your registration is FREE at no cost.

This event is for anyone to attend. $10 for anyone participating, FREE for survivors and Fighters. *First 50 will receive a Pink Breast Cancer wrist band.

* Proudly sponsored by the Pole Barn Studio. Please meet at the Pole Barn steps at 9am. Thank you for participating!

We will have a 1 mile option as well for those interested, The route will have a stopping point at .5 mile marked for you to turn around. As ALWAYS, ALL PROFITS GO TO CHARITY!!!! This years local charity is the Firefly Sisterhood!