Aikido Minnesota offers mixed-age classes, with payment on a monthly basis. The gentle quality of Aikido techniques appeals to men, women, and children; the movements are soft and smooth, but can be devastatingly effective when applied with force.

The study of Aikido offers spiritual development and exercise, in an environment that fosters discipline, respect, and proper etiquette. Parents may join in the Sunday afternoon classes for nine to 15 year olds for free if their children are enrolled.

Ellen Ferrari, proprietor of Art with Ellen, offers preschoolers a chance to get their hands messy in a variety of media. Her ongoing classes - presented in 10-week sessions (with a six-week summer session) - are fast-paced, fun, and educational, teaching kids about art materials and concepts. Kids as young as one can join the fun accompanied by parents or caregivers; kids entering kindergarten and up are dropped off to work independently.

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.

Children's librarian and mom Sara Waters' Babytime Fun classes for babies up to age two and their parents encourage early literacy skills and interaction. Sara - who often hosts storytimes at St. Paul's Red Balloon Bookshop - is also an accomplished violinist and uses music, as well as books, rhymes, puppets, and songs in her programs. Both free and fee storytimes take place throughout the metro; check the website for current offerings.

Sara can also bring her Booktime Parties to your metro area location to provide educational entertainment for children ages one to eight.

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 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.

Parents can nurture their babies while caring for themselves with a yoga bonding class at Blooma that lets baby in on the yoga action through loving touch, sight, and sound. Parents build trust and security - and learn ways to help babies eat and sleep better.

The classes also offer a way for new moms to connect, and are in addition to Blooma's offerings for parents-to-be, parents with crawlers, toddlers and preschoolers, children up to age eight, and families.

A free Friday drop-in playgroup for parents and kids up to age five offers an additional way to relax and connect, and occasional workshops explore issues facing parents and parents-to-be.

Parents can nurture their babies while caring for themselves with a yoga bonding class at Blooma that lets baby in on the yoga action through loving touch, sight, and sound. Parents build trust and security - and learn ways to help babies eat and sleep better.

The classes also offer a way for new moms to connect, and are in addition to Blooma's offerings for parents-to-be, parents with crawlers, toddlers and preschoolers, children up to age eight, and families.

A free Friday drop-in playgroup for parents and kids up to age five offers an additional way to relax and connect, and occasional workshops explore issues facing parents and parents-to-be.

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.

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.

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.

Cinema Ballroom offers instruction in partner dance for youth and adults, through private lessons, group lessons, and weekly dance parties where moves can be practiced. Classes are ongoing; students can sign up at any time, and with or without a partner.

Baby Ballroom (www.babyballroom.com; 651.468.9763) offers a unique way for parents to learn ballroom, Latin, and swing dance: partnered with their infants, toddlers, or older kids! Classes also include parachute circle time, puppets, and sing-alongs. More than one child (or more than one adult) may attend together. A kids-only class is offered for ages three to six.

City of Lakes Waldorf School provides preschool through eighth-grade instruction steeped in Waldorf philosophy. Founded in 1988, the school serves approximately 200 students in a historic four-story building near downtown Minneapolis.

A weekly two-hour Parent/Child program is also offered for toddlers from 18 months to three years old.

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.

Color Me Mine - an internationally franchised chain of glaze-it-yourself studios - provides all the materials needed to paint and decorate ceramic gifts and housewares.

Color Me Mine charges a materials-usage fee for the day, in addition to the cost of the pieces selected for painting. The quantity and variety of materials it provides are impressive, including dozens of lead-free and food-safe underglazes and special effects paints, such as glitter glaze, and speckled and puffy paints. There are hundreds of bisque pieces to choose from, and timid painters can transfer a computerized design onto a piece for guidance. Stamps, sponges, technique charts, and an experienced staff help, too.

Customers are welcome to drop in anytime during store hours, though reservations are suggested for groups of five or more. Ceramic pieces are usually available for pick-up within 10 days.

Classes: Themed one-day family and kids workshops are offered throughout the year, many focusing on seasonal projects. Advance registration is required. Check the website for current offerings.

Parties: Best suited for ages five and up, with several options available. On-site parties typically include a staff host, time in a special party room, a decorated chair for the birthday child to use, invitations, a keepsake plate all the guests can sign, one piece per guest from a selection of items to decorate, and decorating supplies. Parents can bring cake and treats, or have Color Me Mine provide them for an additional fee. Teens and adults can also just rent the party room ($20/hour) and pay a per painter fee for studio time and ceramic pieces. Painting parties-to-go are available, too.

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 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.

Minnesota's ECFE program is an outstanding resource for parents of newborns to kindergarteners. Weekly classes typically begin with parent-child activities, followed by a circle time with songs and stories.

After that, parents usually head off to a separate room for coffee and discussion, while children stay behind with able childcare providers for more activities and snacktime, and in the process, build school-readiness skills.

The classes are designed to build healthy families, and offer parents a supportive, moderated forum to share experiences, tips, and concerns; a chance to connect with parents in similar circumstances, a particularly valuable benefit for families new to the area; and - nothing to sneeze at - a break from parenting, even if it's just for an hour or so.

The range of offerings is staggering: there are "non-separating" classes for newborns that cover infant massage; classes for toddlers with separation issues; and classes just for dads, teen parents, adoptive parents, and same-sex parents. Other offerings are designed for parents of children with special needs, or hospitalized children. Some classes are open to all kids under five, some serve only a narrow age range. The bottom line is that "You mean I'm not the only one?" is a common and empowering refrain in the program, which is offered throughout the state. Visit the >main directory for links to individual district programming.

Minnesota's ECFE program is an outstanding resource for parents of newborns to kindergarteners. Weekly classes typically begin with parent-child activities, followed by a circle time with songs and stories.

After that, parents usually head off to a separate room for coffee and discussion, while children stay behind with able childcare providers for more activities and snacktime, and in the process, build school-readiness skills.

The classes are designed to build healthy families, and offer parents a supportive, moderated forum to share experiences, tips, and concerns; a chance to connect with parents in similar circumstances, a particularly valuable benefit for families new to the area; and - nothing to sneeze at - a break from parenting, even if it's just for an hour or so.

The range of offerings is staggering: there are "non-separating" classes for newborns that cover infant massage; classes for toddlers with separation issues; and classes just for dads, teen parents, adoptive parents, and same-sex parents. Other offerings are designed for parents of children with special needs, or hospitalized children. Some classes are open to all kids under five, some serve only a narrow age range. The bottom line is that "You mean I'm not the only one?" is a common and empowering refrain in the program, which is offered throughout the state. Visit the >main directory for links to individual district programming.

Enthusiastic, encouraging, well-qualified teachers and a spectacular array of offerings - including family classes, and comprehensive afterschool and summer programming - make instruction here a terrific choice for children as well as parents.

Kids can explore pottery, sculpture, drawing, painting, jewelry-making, multimedia, photography, fabric arts, knitting, and more during children's classes; teens ages 15 and older are welcome in adult classes. Some offerings combine visual with performing arts. Parent/child classes are offered for newborns and up as part of the center's Art for All Ages program, and family workshops are offered year-round, many with holiday themes. Homeschoolers can arrange custom classes; call 612.915.6600 to schedule.

The long waiting list for the unique Art Academy, for kids ages seven and up who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual arts, attests to its quality.

Parents can book time in the Peggy Kelly Media Studios to shoot portraits, transfer videos to DVD, and create electronic scrapbooks. If they don't know how, they can sign up for a class to learn. Handcrafted gifts, wearable art, and art supplies are sold in the Clark Gift Shop, and baked goods and coffee are available in a cafe area.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

The highly-regarded Foss Swim School provides instruction for ages six months and up at several suburban locations.

Sessions usually run 10 to 14 weeks, with mini-camps (eight lessons in two weeks) offered in late spring and throughout the summer. The pools are heated to 90 degrees to keep shivers at bay. Private lessons, non-competitive swim meets, and sibling discounts are also offered. Parents are encouraged to watch their children's progress from poolside.

Parties: Packages include splashy fun, games, and races led by trained instructors and a lifeguard, time in a party room for gift-opening and treats, and all set-up and clean-up. Themed materials for invitations, decorations, thank yous, goodie bags, and cake or cupcakes are available. Parents can, but don't have to, be in the pool during the two-hour parties.

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 o