Each engaging, educational Abrakadoodle art workshop, camp, or party highlights a different artist - from Old Masters to Pop icons - and introduces children to different materials and art-making techniques.

Lessons never repeat, and each child leaves each one with a new piece of framed art. Classes are held at locations throughout the metro area, and for different age groups. Get contact information for your closest franchisee from the corporate website.

Birthday parties: Abrakadoodle books parties at its Maple Grove studio and kiddywampus in Edina, for children ages three through 12...and can also bring the party to the site of your choice. Select an art activity; materials and a teacher are provided. Face painting and party favors are available for an additional fee.

Summer camps: Full-day and half-day art camps are offered throughout the metro area for ages three through 12, in partnership with Crayola. Children are grouped by age and introduced to a wide variety of materials and techniques, including digital photography, mosaics, collage, and paint.

Each engaging, educational Abrakadoodle art workshop, camp, or party highlights a different artist - from Old Masters to Pop icons - and introduces children to different materials and art-making techniques.

Lessons never repeat, and each child leaves each one with a new piece of framed art. Classes are held at locations throughout the metro area, and for different age groups. Get contact information for your closest franchisee from the corporate website.

Birthday parties: Abrakadoodle books parties at its Maple Grove studio and kiddywampus in Edina, for children ages three through 12...and can also bring the party to the site of your choice. Select an art activity; materials and a teacher are provided. Face painting and party favors are available for an additional fee.

Summer camps: Full-day and half-day art camps are offered throughout the metro area for ages three through 12, in partnership with Crayola. Children are grouped by age and introduced to a wide variety of materials and techniques, including digital photography, mosaics, collage, and paint.

Each engaging, educational Abrakadoodle art workshop, camp, or party highlights a different artist - from Old Masters to Pop icons - and introduces children to different materials and art-making techniques.

Lessons never repeat, and each child leaves each one with a new piece of framed art. Classes are held at locations throughout the metro area, and for different age groups. Get contact information for your closest franchisee from the corporate website.

Birthday parties: Abrakadoodle books parties at its Maple Grove studio and kiddywampus in Edina, for children ages three through 12...and can also bring the party to the site of your choice. Select an art activity; materials and a teacher are provided. Face painting and party favors are available for an additional fee.

Summer camps: Full-day and half-day art camps are offered throughout the metro area for ages three through 12, in partnership with Crayola. Children are grouped by age and introduced to a wide variety of materials and techniques, including digital photography, mosaics, collage, and paint.

Academy of Russian Ballet, the first school of Russian dance in Minnesota, was founded by Kirill Bak and Svetlana Gavrilova, graduates of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the World.

The school offers instruction for ages three and up, using the Vaganova method, focusing on technique, dancer safety, artistry, and athleticism. Performance opportunities for students include fall and spring shows, a spring recital, and an annual Nutcracker production.

Camps: Summer offerings include one- and two-week programs in June and July for ages four and up. Ballet intensives include character, conditioning, aerial, and partner elements; for younger children, there is an arts and crafts component.

This conservative Jewish synagogue is based in a 75,000-sq.-ft. facility which hosts religious, holiday, and community programs, and youth and educational offerings.

Programs include Gan Shelanu, a childcare and preschool program for children ages 6 weeks to kindergarten, summer camps, and youth classes and groups.

The non-profit Alliance Francaise is the dedicated to promoting the use and appreciation of the French language and French culture in the Twin Cities.

In addition to language classes for all levels, the center offers language and art summer camps for ages two and up, and a free monthly film series called Cine-Kids on the last Sunday of each month.

The Alliance Media Center features a large collection of French books, instructional tapes, films, and more that can be borrowed by members; family memberships start at $70/year. The Espace Jeunesse focuses on materials just for kids.

The American Swedish Institute is housed within the historic Turnblad Mansion, a castle originally built as the home of Swan Turnblad, the newspaper publisher and self-made millionaire who founded the organization in 1929 to celebrate Swedish heritage and culture.

The museum and cultural center hosts cultural exhibits, performances, educational programming, storytimes, and special events throughout the year. Midsommar in June and Julgransplundring in January are just two of its popular holiday events for families.

Since no expense was spared in constructing the castle, the building itself is also worth a visit. Visitors will find a Kaffestuga cafe, gift shop, and bookstore on-site.

The institute offers several scholarships programs for members and their children, and also houses a library with materials on Sweden, its influence in the United States, genealogy, and immigration. Note: The library is closed to researchers temporarily, through March 1, 2008.

Classes: Saturday morning Swedish classes for ages four and up are offered for all levels, and are open to non-members. Cost: $70/session for members, $80/session for non-members.

Summer Camp: Hands-on activities exploring Swedish culture, cooking, games, and music are offered for ages six to 14.

Membership: Household memberships start at $50/year, and include free admission, guest passes, a subscription to ASI's newsletter, invitations to special events, and discounts on programming and in the gift shop.

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Founded in 1977, Applause Community Theatre produces two to three shows per year, and offers summer camps - one for ages 6-12, and one for teens - that explore one work for a couple of weeks and conclude with a series of performances. The website lists upcoming audition opportunities for kids ages six and up.

Auditions, camps, and performances take place in south metro locations such as Eagan and Burnsville. Some performances take place in the Thomas Mraz Center for Performing Arts at Burnsville High School (600 East Highway 13), which is located about 1.5 miles east of Highway 35W.

Located adjacent to the Armatage School, this park has a wide range of features to appeal to all ages: there's a large, colorful playground with swings, slides, and climbing structures for toddlers to gradeschoolers; restrooms and drinking fountain near the playground; football, baseball, soccer, hockey, and tennis areas; a picnic area; a seasonal wading pool; and a Skate Park for skateboarders, which is a big draw for teens.

The Recreation Center hosts classes and community events throughout the year, in addition to a summer schedule of camps and workshops. Call the park for current offerings, or get general information from the Park Board. There is also a full kitchen on-site, and meeting rooms can be rented for parties.

Speaking of parties, the park is also the site of Garden Party, an 18-foot high bronze sculpture that serves as the gateway to the Armatage neighborhood!

Adults and kids - even babies! - can explore and make art in innovative programs for all levels of experience. Create with drawing and painting materials, metal, fabric, clay, and more. ArtiCulture's new site also features retail space, with a store selling art supplies and the work of local artists.

Classes: ArtiCulture offers a wide array of classes for all ages, including the unique parent/child Art Sprouts program for tots as young as 12 months, themed family workshops throughout the year, and special school release day offerings that even cover that hard-to-fill remainder of the week after the last day of school in June!

Summer Camps: Themed half-day and full-day offerings for kids ages four and up, some of which incorporate drama, movement, or foreign culture and history. Camps priced about $100/half-day; $225/full-day.
Extended-day care is available for an additional fee.

Parties: Customized offerings for birthdays, scout and youth group meetings, and other events. Call for more information.

Membership: $40/Household. Benefits include a 15% discount on class and camp fees.

Donations: As a non-profit, ArtiCulture welcomes donations of time, skills, money, and materials. Check out the wish list to see if you can help.

ArtScraps - the reuse store and gallery run by ArtStart - turns one man's garbage into another man's treasure. ArtScraps works with businesses to keep remnants, overstock materials, and factory rejects out of landfills, then it sells the salvaged materials to schools, parents, and daycare centers.

The helpful, creative staff offers ideas for using the inexpensive goodies, which might, at any given time, include adhesive backed colored paper, plastic bottles, and feathers. The selection changes often. The store offers themed art-making workshops on Saturdays for kids and families throughout the year. Many of the materials are also used also by ArtStart's summer campers.

Parties: Birthdays at ArtScraps (best for ages five and up; maximum of 10 guests) cost $120 for a two-hour party which includes scrap materials for invitations, an artist-led themed art project, and treat bags from the store's wares for each guest. Parties are held at a long table on one side of the store and can be scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays; book three weeks in advance. A fridge is available for cake and treats. Sample themes include bookmaking, outer space, treasure boxes, and masks.

Camps: ArtStart offers themed, reasonably-priced summer and school release day camps that spotlight the art and culture of individual countries and regions. Visit the website for details.

Ascension offers full-day kindergarten (9:10am-3:50pm) in a Christian environment, with small class sizes, monthly field trips, and values-focused programming. Extended day care is available from 7am and to 6pm.

The church's preschool program is for diaper-free kids ages three and up, and meets Tuesdays and Thursdays. A pre-K option for four year olds meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Both are morning programs (9am-11:30am) featuring an optional extension to 1pm or 3:30pm, and access to full extended day care.

Ascension's Kids' Campus Christian Day Camp is a full-day (7am-5:30pm) summer-long educational offering for kids ages four to 11 with weekly themes and field trips.

B'nai Emet Synagogue, affliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, offers early childhood and preschool education (ages 16 months and up), Sunday School classes, youth service opportunities, and summer camps, as well as family-friendly events throughout the year.

Give a dull day a jolt with a visit to the electrifying Bakken Museum & Library, located in an intriguing Tudor mansion just like the ones in spooky old Vincent Price films. Home to thousands of rare books and scientific instruments relating to the role of electricity and magnetism in life and medicine, The Bakken was founded by Earl E. Bakken, inventor of the first transistorized cardiac pacemaker.

The Bakken is an independent, nonprofit educational institution and hosts many hands-on learning events and exhibitions throughout the year, including weekly Family Science Saturdays and multi-session Saturday classes for budding inventors.

Its small museum store carries a bright and shiny array of unique toys and games. Mini-scientists are sure gravitate toward the wide selection of home experiment kits.

Parties: Available during Family Science Saturdays for $100, which includes use of kitchen space and a 2.5-hour room rental (10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm). Call 612.926.3878, ext. 200, well in advance to book.

Summer Camps: Offered weekly from late-June through August for ages seven through 14, with the largest selection of programming for kids entering grades four to six. Co-ed and girls-only options are sometimes offered as well. Expect to pay about $150/week (half-day) to $275/week (full-day); scholarships are available for those who qualify.

The Bell Museum's exhibits encourage exploration, and convey the wonder and excitement of nature, science, research, and conservation. No flashy bells-and-whistles in the halls of this 130-year-old institution, just beautifully executed displays that harken back to a simpler era. With plans underway to move to a new and larger site on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota in 2009, time is running out for families to enjoy this more intimate incarnation of the museum.

Its renowned diorama halls span two floors, with all of Minnesota's habitats, animal life, and seasons represented - from the big woods to the Great Lakes to the prairies, and even a mushy carpet "bog" kids can squish across. Each scene is so detailed, there is always something new to discover, and the information provided with the displays is presented in a fun, easily-digested format. The West Gallery showcases temporary exhibits of artwork, but the dioramas themselves, painstakingly created from the 1920s to 1940s, are also works of art.

Kids gravitate to the Touch and See Room, the first of its kind in the country, to get up close and personal with the natural world by touching turtles, peeking inside animal skulls, and handling pelts and other objects.

The Bell Auditorium, the on-site cinema screening non-fiction works, sometimes runs films suitable for children, such as documentaries exploring wildlife or environmental issues.

Nature Play is the museum's series of themed family workshops, held the second Saturday of each month from 1pm-3pm for ages four and up. It's offered free with museum admission. Nature Tots, the museum's program for toddlers and preschoolers, is also free with admission, but advance registation is required. That program takes place the first Thursday of each month, from 9:30am-11am.

Family membership is $45/year and includes free admission as well as discounts on events, camps, and parties.

Parties: Starting at $125 for two hours and up to 12 guests, parties the Bell Museum include a tour and gallery games led by a knowledgeable, enthusiastic guide, usually a U of M science or education student. The museum will supply cake, treat bags and pizza for an additional charge; a fridge and freezer are available if you bring your own. The deluxe party option, available only on Sundays for $200 for up to 12 guests, includes an extra hour during which kids make nature print t-shirts. Book at least two weeks in advance.

Tours: Available for families, scouts and youth groups. Call 612.626.9660 for reservations.

Summer Camps: Check the website for a complete list of offerings.

The Blaisdell Y offers free childcare (see website for schedule), swimming lessons for kids as young as six months old, gymnasium activities including indoor sports and fitness classes for kids and adults, and youth development programs such as Summer Uproar, which provides spirited activities, growth opportunities, and field trips for kids ages 11 to 13.

Book a gym or pool party by calling membership director Matt Tompkins at 612.827.5401.

The Bloomington Art Center celebrates art in everyday life and offers summer camps and art instruction for adults and children.

The Nine Mile Creek Theater for youth presents an ensemble production each spring and instruction throughout the year. The Gallery Theater Company presents several productions a year in the center's Black Box Theater, with participation opportunities for all ages.

U of M Golf Coach Brad James offers summer golf skills camps for kids ages eight and up of all levels of experience and ability.

Programs include weeklong full-day camps, overnight residential offerings, and a special intensive program for advanced high school players. Camps are offered at the University of Minnesota campus; for overnight programs, campers stay in U of M student housing.

A private, co-ed Episcopal college-preparatory day school enrolling students in preschool through grade 12. About 18% of Breck students receive financial aid.

Summer programs include sports, culture, and adventure camps and academic classes for preschoolers through eighth graders.

Lost Creek Ranch's Camp Confidence offers weeklong overnight and day camp programs for horse crazy kids. Each child gets his or her "own" horse for the week, for safety and horse care classes, riding and arena lessons, and games. Groups are kept small, with a student/staff ratio of 3 to 1, and no more than 10 kids per session.

Traditional camp activities are also offered. Each session ends with a horse show and parade for family and friends.

Let your children's imaginations run wild this summer during Camp Invention, a weeklong day camp offered in select communities across the country.

Kids in first through sixth grades participate in fun, hands-on activities that enhance their understanding of the arts, sciences, history, and math, while building teamwork and problem-solving skills. The program was created by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation in partnership with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Carpenter straddles the St. Croix River - with property in both Minnesota and Wisconsin - and includes over ten miles of hiking trails through tall pines, oak savanna, restored prairies, wooded ravines, and an apple orchard. There are also picnic tables and a non-swimming beach along the river - and, in season, pick-your-own organic raspberries!

An Interpretive Center offers hands-on exhibits and displays of live animals, and there's plenty of wildlife to observe on the grounds, as well as in the air, since the St. Croix River valley is a popular flyway for migrating birds.

The educational offerings include summer and school year programs for families, students, and preschoolers - all very reasonably priced. Advance registration is usually required.

Birthday parties: Two-hour parties in a private room, for ages five and up, include one hour with a naturalist for a hike, craft, and live animal presentation. Choose a seasonal theme ranging from apples to amphibians. The cost is unbeatable: $60 for up to 12 participants; $50/members.

Summer camps: A variety of affordable programs are offered for K-5 students, from single half-day sessions to weeklong full-day programs. The camp for 3rd to 5th graders even includes a camping overnight. Older kids can sign up for a two-day canoe adventure.

Membership: $50-$99/family, includes store and program discounts, and invitations to members-only events.

Eagan's Cascade Bay water park includes a main pool with zero-depth entry and a splash area for younger kids, as well as additional areas with deep water, slides, and a long "lazy river." The attached Captain's Course offers nine holes of miniature golf. Concessions are sold at the Captain's Galley.

Classes & Camps: Swimming lessons - including parent/child classes for infants - Red Cross training, and short-term water-themed morning camps are offered during the summer, before the pool opens to the public.

Season Passes: Individual, family, and evenings-only passes are available; Eagan residents pay discounted rates.

For nearly 40 years, Twin Citians have been trekking out to Chanhassen - no longer such a chore, now that the metro area extends out that far! - to enjoy high-quality musical theater productions.

Currently, three stages host Broadway favorites and other classic fare, with the most family-friendly productions usually scheduled during the summer. While some shows are suitable for children as young as five, parents should be aware that this is not a children's theater. (For example, if you're used to high school productions of Grease, you might have found some elements of the original Broadway version Chanhassen recently presented objectionable.) The theatre is very sensitive to this, and invites concerned parents to request detailed information about content before ordering tickets. Babies should be left at home.

The dinner part of the experience includes bread, salad, entree, and coffee, tea, or milk. Appetizers, desserts, and drinks are available for an additional charge. Menus for children and vegetarians are available upon request.

Purchase tickets in advance, and be aware that most guests dress up a bit here; jeans, sneakers, or shorts will stand out. Youth discounts are sometimes offered, and show-only tickets, when available, are sold 10 days prior select performances.

Classes: Performance Training classes, a new offering for ages 13 and up, are geared toward kids who are serious about a career in the performing arts. The classes meet for two hours once a week, and hone existing skills and audition techniques, with eight-week sessions that include dance, voice, and acting. The classes are taught by professional actors from Chanhassen, as well as guest artists.

Summer Camps: Weeklong half-day First Act Theater Camps for ages eight to 18 are also taught by Chanhassen's stable of professionals, but here the focus is more on fun, giving kids an exciting glimpse behind the scenes at a working theater. The emphasis is on building confidence while introducing kids to theater fundamentals, including acting, movement, voice, costuming, scenery, and auditioning. Camp fees run about $225/week for morning or afternoon sessions; no extended care is available.

Circus Juventas, a non-profit performing arts circus school, offers a wide array of classes in each of the five genres of contemporary circus arts: balance, aerial, juggling, circus theatre, and acrobatics.

The non-competitive classes stress teamwork and confidence-building, and are held in CJ's unique 21,000-square-foot fabric-sheathed Big Top arena.

Toddler classes meet during the day; ages six and up attend weekdays after 4pm and Saturdays. Themed workshops and weeklong summer camps are also offered. Mentorship and family involvement are an integral part of the program, and parents are expected to volunteer while their children are enrolled.

Each August, dozens of CJ's advanced students present an original Cirque du Soleil-style spectacle including elite acts such as the bungee trapeze and flying trapeze. Tickets run about $15 per person.

The City of Edina Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of youth activities throughout the year, including special events for families, summer playground programs, sports camps, tennis lessons, and adaptive programming.

Students at Classsic TaeKwonDo Studios range in age from five to 74! The majority are adults, but all get a challenging workout, with the potential benefit of self-defense. Many children attend class with siblings and/or parents. Classic TaeKwonDo Studios emphasizes family involvement; children are not separated from adults, and women are not separated from men. Discipline and respect are stressed in training, though the atmosphere is non-militaristic.

All program fees include three months of unlimited participation, offering scheduling flexibility. Uniforms and semi-private lessons are also included.

Afterschool care: Children can be picked up at their schools and spend the afternoon in a safe and secure environment where they work on homework, have a wholesome (and usually organic) snack, enjoy games and activities, then spend an hour on TaeKwonDo before pick up.

Summer Camps: Weekly offerings for kids ages six to 12.

The College of St. Catherine offers high school girls (currently enrolled in 9th-11th grade) the chance to explore business and technology career skills while "building" an online shopping mall during St. Kate's Business & Technology Careers Camp, a week-long residential summer camp. College professors and students provide instruction and mentoring, and scheduled activities give kids a taste of campus life. Financial aid is available.

The campus also hosts performances and events open to the public throughout the year.

It's thoroughly enjoyable to make a day out of a visit to Como Zoo in the summer. With the McNeely Conservatory, historic Cafesjian's Carousel, and the new Como Town seasonal amusement park located right in the same area of lovely Como Park, it's a no-brainer. But a winter visit is special too - even though many of the animals remain indoors - especially if combined with one of the zoo's many parent/child classes.

The zoo is compact, though a leisurely circuit can still take several hours. Primates, large cats, birds, and African hoofed animals can be viewed inside buildings and out - but the polar bears are away while their new environment is under construction! The new Leonard Wilkening Children's Gallery (open April 19, 2008) helps kids learn about nature and the circle of life through five stations of interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and imaginative play.

Como is more than 100 years old, founded in 1897 with just three deer in a fenced pasture! Its age shows in some of the exhibits, which harken back to the days when cement cells were the norm, but it's a mistake to dismiss Como as the poorer sister of the