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.

Nestled among a stand of oak trees in Augsburg Park, the Augsburg Park Library, part of the Hennepin County Library system, is a sizeable branch with a large children's section, a diverse selection of offerings for teens, and a world language collection with materials for all ages in Spanish, Somali, and Vietnamese. The library also provides storytimes, homework help, and other family-friendly programming 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.

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.

Catalina's Preschool Spanish offers a music-based curriculum for kids ages 18 months to six years, and their parents. Parents learn along with the children so they can practice together during the week. Take-home materials are provided.

The program features two 18-week semesters per year. The schedule is compatible with Minneapolis Public School holidays/major breaks; summer classes are not offered.

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 Minnesota Zoo (which was built after a committee deemed Como couldn't be expanded). Free admission is just one of the simple pleasures it has to offer.

Sparky the Sea Lion - or rather, her latest incarnation - has been performing in the amphitheater for 50 years now, with two shows daily (Tue-Sun) in the summer. She's still popular - be sure to nab a spot on the benches early for weekend shows! - but the zoo's Halloween ZooBoo fundraiser each October is an even bigger draw.

In winter months, the coffee, salads, and sandwiches at Zobota Cafe are the only options for on-site food. Concession stands serving popcorn, ice cream, pizza, and other treats open for the summer ... but be warned that bees seem to be some of the best customers at the main stand, especially late in the season!

Rent single or double strollers ($4/day; $6.50/day) year-round at the refurbished Visitor Center. That's also where you'll find the gift shop and restrooms; additional restrooms open at Seal Island in the summer months.

Birthday parties: Basic package includes 90 minutes in a private classroom, with 45 minutes of interactive programming tied to a chosen theme; $150/15 guests, including adults. Add pizza, drinks, and cake for $50 more. Themes include primates, cats, reptiles, and plants. Gift bags are available for $5/child. Due to safety concerns, no balloons, pinatas, or pets are allowed! For do-it-yourself parties, obtain a city rental permit (651.632.5111) for the picnic space near Seal Island.

Classes: Extensive offerings include parent/child programs for ages three to five, family classes for ages four and up, camps during school release days, and special homeschooler programming for ages five to fifteen. Classes typically feature visits from live animals and/or tours. Art and gardening classes for adults, and teacher workshops are also offered.

Summer camps: Como offers themed weeklong programs for ages four and up. Full-day and half-day options are available; before or after care offered for an additional fee.

Membership: $75/family, includes gift shop and class discounts, invitations to member-only events, reciprocity privileges at over 120 zoos nationwide, a quarterly newsletter, and four ZooBoo tickets.

Volunteering: Como offers a special summer volunteer program for teens ages 13 to 17. Beyond that, volunteers must be 16 years old, unless accompanied by an adult.

The Mississippi River flows right through the 610-acre Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, dividing it into west and east sides.

A 12-foot pedestrian walkway spans the river, offering great views and opportunities for watching wildlife, including the bald eagles that fish in the waters there. People, however, are not permitted to fish off the walkway! Use the fishing deck on the west side of the dam.

A group of islands below the dam create narrow channels for hikers to explore on two miles of trails that wend through floodplain forest and fields, though this area is prone to flooding in spring. Bike trails connect to Elm Creek Park Reserve and Anoka County routes. From May to October, inflatable gates create a pool for recreational boating.

The West Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center (on the west side of the river) allows families to learn about the river environment through educational hands-on displays and also houses live fish and turtles. The center has restrooms, and hosts programming and special events throughout the year. A 1.5-mile trail for snowshoeing in winter begins nearby.

Crime Scene Camps offers crime scene investigation programming and classes for homeschool groups, birthday parties, and - through libraries and parks - the general public.

During the programs, kids work with real CSI equipment and get hands-on experience dealing with the scientific and collection issues involved in investigating a crime scene.

Crime Scene Camps comes to the metro area location of your choice. Call to discuss specific needs.

This large Saint Paul Public Library branch is located on the campus of Metropolitan State University, but the collection is squarely aimed at families: materials for children and teens comprise approximately 70 percent of the collection.

The library's quiet and comfortable Zone Homework Center features computers, reference books, office supplies, and mentors, so kids can work on homework alone or seek help.

The library hosts storytimes and other family-friendly programming throughout the year, and patrons enjoy reciprocity privileges at libraries throughout the seven-county metro area.

The Teens Know Best Committee meets monthly. Kids ages 12 to 18 can join to share their opinions and ideas; committee members often review books before they hit stores. Call 651.793.1699 for more information.

The bees in the apiary aren't the only ones busy at Dodge Nature Center. This may well be the hardest working facility around!

There's the barn and its farm animals, including sheep, goats, cows, and a horse; the windmill, which pumps water; the maple trees, which produce sap in season; the museum, which informs, and houses a reptile/amphibian lab; raptors make the rounds to off-site programming; an amphitheater behind the main office serves as an outdoor classroom; and the schoolhouse, the only building left from the area's original farm days, provides more classrooms. Dodge has three campuses, for a total of 320 acres, and hiking trails wind through woodland, prairie, and pond. Its most unique feature, though, is sited on a portion of the main campus.

At Dodge Nature Preschool, the classroom includes 110 acres of outdoor wonders. Children interact regularly with the farm animals, and explore the trails. By bringing the outdoor world in, and taking the class out, the preschool provides a stimulating environment for learning and growth, and tremendous appreciation for the natural world. 1715 Charlton Avenue; 651.455.4555; $285-$485/month, lunch and registration additional. Preschool summer camp also offered.

Two afterschool programs serve older kids: Young Explorers, for K-1; and Junior Naturalists, for grades 5-8. Kids can sign up for school break programming too. Parent/child classes for ages three to five offer daytime fun. On weekends, the center offers family programs.

Summer camps for grades 1-8 include half-day, full day, and Friday only options; grades 6-8 can go for an overnight.

Birthday parties: Two-hour parties (the first hour with a naturalist, the second for gifts and cake) are tailored for different ages and seasons, with plenty of hands-on activities. Bring your own refreshments; $90 for up to 15 guests; $50 members.

Elm Creek, part of the Three Rivers Park District, provides four seasons full of recreational opportunities.

The large park - comprising 4,900 acres straddling Maple Grove, Champlin, and Dayton - offers more than 20 miles of paved trails for hiking and biking, a chlorinated swimming pond and large creative play area, a 30-acre archery range, picnic pavilions that can be rented for private use, and a winter recreation area featuring a lighted snow-tubing hill, about 10 miles of cross-country ski trails (including some miles that are lit and/or served by snowmaking machines), and a downhill ski and snowboard area with chalet.

Classes & Camps: Nature programs are offered year-round at the park's Eastman Nature Center. Ski and snowboard lessons are offered in season at the winter recreation area, with both weekly and school release day lesson sessions.

The offerings at the recently-renovated Franklin division of the Hennepin County Library (now merged with the MPL system) are as diverse as the community it serves.

Improvements here include an expanded children's section with a welcoming pavillion and storybook room; a teen-friendly area with magazines, books, computers, and comfortable seating; upgraded technology, including a Learning Center and Tech Center; enhanced world language offerings; and the addition of self-service checkout machines. Mosaic pictographs and petroglyphs celebrate the cultural richness of the neighborhood.

The library hosts events and programs for kids and families throughout the year, including Homework Helpers, with many bilingual offerings, and programs in Somali and Spanish.

This picturesque 410-acre working farm is run by the Three Rivers Park District and offers a wide range of educational and recreational opportunities.

Farm residents include cattle, sheep - plus a sheepdog, of course! - and chickens raised for eggs and meat. In fact, visitors can buy fresh produce, honey, eggs, lamb, chicken, beef, and yarn from the on-site market.

Visitors can explore the farm on their own, seek out their perfect picnic spot, and take in the views from trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country running. Hayrides, orchard tours, sleigh rides, ice fishing, and other seasonal events and activities are offered during special public programs. A new Folk School offers classes in practical and creative activities, such as gardening, fiber arts, and cooking.

The farm's Whaletail Lake boasts a 100-foot pier for fishing and is known for its crappie and panfish. During the summer, canoes can be rented lakeside from Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Call 763.694.2001 for details.

The farm utilizes and welcomes volunteer labor, with opportunities for individuals and families throughout the year. Call 763.559.6706 for more information.

Hundreds of species of animal and plant life live within the nature center's boundaries, which include 52 acres of marsh, prairie, and forest lands. Visitors can explore the Interpretive Center's exhibits and book nook, or wend along boardwalks and trails through the habitats, where birds, frogs, and other wildlife can be spotted.

The nature center offers a wide variety of educational programming year-round, including classes, camps, family overnights, and special events such as Earth Day (April) and Wild Rice (September) festivals.

Classes: Seasonal parent/child programs include First Time classes for one-year-olds, and Sprouts, for ages two to five. Free First Sunday programs and family overnights provide other learning opportunities. Check the website for current offerings.

Camps: Full-day weeklong nature-themed programs are offered during the summer for ages six and ten, and include indoor and outdoor components. Bike camps are offered for kids entering grades six to eight, and fishing clinics are offered for kids entering grades one to six. Two-day half-day camps are offered for kids ages four and five. Snacks are provided, but full-day campers must bring their own lunches. REI provides water bottles for all participants.

Parties: The center's two-hour parties are split between naturalist-led activities and time in a private party space. Choose from a dozen or so seasonal themes; $95 for up to 15 kids. Themed sleepover parties are offered for groups of eight to 35 kids (ages eight and up) on Friday and Saturday nights, and include night hikes, campfire entertainment, activities, snacks, and continental breakfast; $30 per child, with a min. charge of $250. Adults are free; min. ratio 1:10.

Huntington Learning Center offers K-12 testing and tutoring in Reading, Study Skills, Writing, Phonics, Spelling, Math, and SAT/ACT Prep.

Huntington Learning Center offers K-12 testing and tutoring in Reading, Study Skills, Writing, Phonics, Spelling, Math, and SAT/ACT Prep.

Huntington Learning Center offers K-12 testing and tutoring in Reading, Study Skills, Writing, Phonics, Spelling, Math, and SAT/ACT Prep.

Indiga Arts offers classes for children in yoga, and French language and art, as well as parent-child yoga sessions. Some offerings include hiking and other outdoor activities.

Hiyala Indiga offers the lessons at the Body Prayers Yoga Studio in Circle Pines or at Coon Lake Beach Club House in Ham Lake.

Joyce Preschool has been serving children ages three through five for more than 40 years, the last ten of those years in both Spanish and English.

The site offers two- and three-day dual language immersion preschool programs; enter a lottery for a coveted spot. Joyce also offers language immersion summer camps for ages four to seven, and - for toddlers too young for preschool programming - parent-child classes teaching Spanish activities and songs.

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions has been helping students improve standardized test scores, including entrance exams for college and graduate school, for more than 70 years. Some centers also offer free practice tests and seminars. Check online for locations and services.

Leonardo's Basement provides programs for girls and boys who want to design and build art, science, and technology projects. The 4,800-square-foot workshop is stuffed with tools and building materials, providing formal and informal creative and learning opportunities. The organization's Studio Bricolage program offers events and classes that give adults a chance to play, too!

Classes: Offerings include afternoon programming during the school year for kids ages six and up, morning classes for children ages four and five, special school release day workshops, and Saturday classes for youth and families. Computer animation and music-making classes for teens are also available. Check the website for a current schedule.

Summer Camps: Weeklong themed half-day camps are offered mornings and afternoons during select weeks over the summer. The camps combine art, science, math, and building experiences. Check the website for a complete schedule. Fees: $140/session; add $5/session for morning or afternoon aftercare. Camps can be combined for a full-day experience.

Birthday parties: On-site parties are usually scheduled on Saturday or Sunday afternoons for kids ages six to 16. Parties generally last 90 minutes, and include building a take-home project selected by the birthday child. Themes include inventions, painting, jewelry-making, electricity, and more. Refreshments can be brought in; space is provided, but not food. Cost: $20/child, including supplies, with a minimum charge of $75; additional fees may apply for particularly complex projects. Leonardo's will also bring the party to you; call for details.

Lowry, one of three nature centers in the Three Rivers park system, features seven miles of trails through wetlands and woods, a prairie garden, live animals, interpretive exhibits, a sledding hill, and a gift shop.

It also boasts two unique features: Habitats, an outdoor educational play area complete with giant woodpecker slide, mole tunnel, and beaver lodge; and the newly-restored 1860s farmhouse from Grimm Farm, called the "Birthplace of the Dairy Belt," because it was there, back in the 1870s, that Wendelin Grimm developed the first strain of winter-hardy alfalfa in North America. (The industry is worth $10 billion today.)

Three Rivers recreational programming here includes a wide range of classes and events for families and youth.

Birthday parties: Offered for ages four and up, 15 kids maximum. The $80 fee includes one hour of naturalist-led activities and one hour for cake and socializing. One of the center's animals can join the party for a visit upon request.

Summer Camps: See Three Rivers' Adventure Week offerings.

Maplewood Nature Center boasts an interactive indoor pond and forest exhibit, a children's puppet area, and a touch-and-see corner in its refurbished Visitor Center, as well as 1.5 miles of scenic trails outdoors - including a floating boardwalk and observation decks - offering visitors plenty of chances to observe waterfowl, birds, wildflowers, and more.

The trails are mostly stroller-friendly, surfaced with limerock and flat, and the boardwalk is also stroller accessible. Programs for all ages throughout the year provide opportunities for fun and learning. Rent wooden or aluminum snowshoes in season for $3/pair.

Parties: Two-hour parties include a naturalist-led program, hike, and games, and party favors, a visit with a live animal, and an hour in a private room for treats and gift opening; $75/up to ten children. Call 651.249.2170 for more information.

Strolling through the lush, colorful, and ever-changing gardens at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (formerly Como Park Conservatory), it's clear why more than 300 couples a year choose the Como Park site for their weddings. But parents don't need to marry off their toddlers to enjoy the wondrous sights and smells - admission is free and the gardens are open to the public 365 days a year.

The Conservatory and adjacent Como Zoo are run jointly, a great benefit for visitors, who can enjoy extraordinary flora and fauna in one outing. In cold weather, the Conservatory's controlled temperature and blooms offer a break from winter; in summer, top off a visit with a stroll through nearby Como Town, a seasonal amusement park.

The Sunken Garden, arguably one of the most beautiful rooms in the state, gets gussied up for five flower shows each year, though be aware it might be closed between shows. The North Garden is the Conservatory's medicine chest and pantry, featuring plants with everyday uses - and great learning opportunities. Under the center dome, palm trees and orchids thrive; other galleries feature ferns and Bonsai.

Outdoors, two seasonal gardens delight: the Enchanted Garden attracts butterflies and their admirers, extending out to Frog Pond and its waterfall; and the Japanese Garden, symbolizing Saint Paul's sister-city relationship with Nagasaki, features traditional elements such as a zig-zag bridge, rocks, and water.

Conservatory restrooms are open year-round, as are the ones in the Visitor Center, where strollers can be rented for indoor and outdoor use.

Classes and Camps: Many of Como's summer camps and parent/child classes (for ages four and up), homeschooler programs (ages five to 15), and family offerings, explore the gardens artistically, scientifically, or both. Avoid having to scroll through all the classes on lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) in the extensive listings by searching for "conservatory" or "flowers" on those pages.

Parties: Most kids' birthdays here focus on zoo animals, but themes that incorporate the Conservatory's displays can be selected. The basic package includes 90 minutes in a private classroom in the Visitor Center, with 45 minutes of interactive programming; $150/15 guests, including adults. Add pizza, drinks, and cake for $50 more. Due to safety concerns, no balloons, pinatas, or pets are allowed!

Despite the pain inflicted by ongoing budget cuts, the city's Park Board offerings are a key component of the generally high quality of life in Minneapolis.

The Park Board administers over 150 picnic areas, beaches, and parks, including some four dozen neighborhood Recreation Centers which offer free and low-cost enrichment programming, sports leagues, community events, and Rec Plus year-round childcare for ages five to 12. Phat Summer keeps kids ages 12 to 18 busy with specialized and evening offerings when school's out. Daily live entertainment is offered throughout the summer at several locations, including Minnehaha Park and Lake Harriet.

It also grooms skating rinks in the winter, and maintains the Parade Ice Garden, pastoral Nicollet Island, the Stone Arch Bridge, and other historical sites, and - in partnership with the Walker Art Center - the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, with its signature Spoonbridge and Cherry. Permits to reserve picnic pavillions for private parties at select sites start at $35/half-day.

The Park Board website is easy to navigate and full of useful information. The Park Finder lets users specify which facilities they're looking for, and parking info breaks down the combination of free, meter, pass, and pay-station parking offered in the parks. A page of suggested itineraries offers something for every age and activity level.

The Arboretum, part of the Horticultural Science department at the U of M, features more than 1,000 acres of public gardens; miles of hiking trails winding through prairie, marsh, and woodland habitats (groomed for cross-country skiing in winter); orchids, cactus, and bromeliads nurtured in a conservatory; and a Japanese-style garden with waterfall and teahouse shelter.

The Arboretum offers Pea Pods Preschool classes for ages three to five, and family learning opportunities including year-round programs on weekend afternoons and evening programs on Thursday in summer. First to sixth graders can work in the Children's Garden, tending their own plots; call 952.443.1422 for more information.

The visitor center houses a cafe - serving soups, salads, baked goods, and snacks, and a library and gift shop.

Summer camps: Children ages five to ten (with parent, unless past first grade) can explore the gardens during half-day programs that incorporate drama, arts and crafts, cooking, and science; most camps last three days.

Tours: May to mid-October, visitors can take a narrated one-hour tram tour along the Three-Mile Drive ($2.50/person; several times daily), or free 60-90 minute walking tours (Tue-Sun, several times daily).

Membership: $35/one adult or $55/two adults. The fee includes free admission, discounts on classes...and access to free gardening advice! The Arboretum is only partially funded by the U, and depends on donations and fees to maintain its programming.

The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge encompasses hiking trails through prairie, forest, wetlands, and hills, with an expansive view of Long Meadow Lake offered from an observation platform.

The large Visitor Center, with four levels of exhibits, an auditorium, art gallery, bookstore, and classrooms, hosts many educational programs for visiting schoolchildren and families throughout the year. Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-5pm. Visit the website for a complete events calendar.

The Minnesota Zoo, with its many indoor exhibits and Monorail train, is a wild place to visit in any season.

The indoor portion of the zoo comprises the Tropics Trail, which recreates a Southeast Asian rain forest, and houses sun bears, lemurs, and an aquarium; Discovery Bay, where visitors can learn about dolphin behavior during daily shows, and explore hands-on exhibits, including a touch pool; and the Minnesota Trail - closed for renovations until July, 7, 2007 - which features a corri