Chisago Lakes Community Education

Attendees will learn the 4 Steps to Better Budgeting, 3 Steps to Making Savings a Priority, Leveraging Life Insurance as a Financial Tool, and how to be tax-wise as they save for retirement. Targeted for ages 20-45

Are you anxious in your personal relationships? How many times a day do you check your phone to see if they have contacted you? Do you wish the other person would text more often? Worried they don't feel the same way you do? You might have an anxious attachment style. Anxious, Avoidant, and Secure/Healthy are the three primary ways that most people connect and relate. This class will explore contemporary attachment theory as it can be applied to personal friendships, professional connections, or love relationships applying Mindfulness to the topic. Numerous studies connect mindfulness as necessary to create healthy attachments. Bruce Neese, BA MA Mindfulness Coach will facilitate this group. Come explore why you attach the way you do and how to reshape your attachment style.

This workshop helps attendees discover five keys to unlocking a retirement where they could have confidence in their ability to live out their dreams.

Drink too Much? Struggling with codependent relationship? Gamble too much? Are you in recovery or wanting to recover? Struggle to maintain peace of mind? Mindful Recovery knows that alcohol, gambling, or another bad relationship isn't the problem, and alcohol, gambling, or another bad relationship isn't the solution. Mindfulness allows you to address the root problem of why we make bad choices. Bad response to stress in our lives causes abuse of our body, mind, and self worth. It can lead to addiction. The heart of Mindfulness is managing and reducing stress in our lives. Mindful Recovery brings peace and the ability to maintain a healthy, happy life. It is not a 12 step program, it is not against 12 step programs. Through addressing what causes your stress and unhealthy choices Mindful Recovery can empower you to live free of them. Bruce Neese, BA MA Mindfulness Coach, and a person in recovery will facilitate this group. I know one thing for sure. Pouring alcohol on the stress and struggles of my life did not solve anything!! Neither will gambling, shopping or unhealthy codependent relationships solve problems. Come join this class to discuss how Mindfulness can change your life!!

Attendees will learn four smart retirement planning moves, tactical changes they can make that set up their retirement foundation. Then they will learn how to help future-proof their tax bracket and pick up an answer to that nagging question about Social Security. Targeted for ages 20-45

Social Security is a vital income source for many retirees. But it can be a confusing topic, and making the most of it can have a lot to do with timing it right. This workshop can help attendees get answers to their questions and learn what Social Security can mean for them.

Learning a language is a lifelong journey and now you are on your way! Keep up the momentum in Beginner Spanish Part Two. Participants will continue with practical conversational components and builder phrases in Spanish enabling them to carry on small conversations related to giving and asking for directions and restaurant conversation. Vocabulary and grammar components will include weather, seasons, dates with months, days of the week, family vocabulary along with the verbs ser and tener conjugations. Culture discussions will include the importance of food, family, and friendships in Spanish speaking countries. Applicable to new students and previous Beginner Part 1 Spanish conversation participants. Ability to access zoom and basic working computer knowledge essential. * This is a Live Virtual Class, you will be able to interact with the instructor. An email with login information will be sent prior to class. Be sure you have a current email on file with us.

Anyone can grow a garden ~ right? As many are faced with making our grocery dollars stretch, the natural alternative is to grow your own. For some this is all brand new – for others – second nature. This class is great for either a beginner or an expert. Diane will cover the basics from soils and amendments, site selection and preparation, to seed choices and watering tips and techniques for your soil type. Bring your questions and Dianne will help you get started to a healthy growing season.

Learn how to put down some roots and use native plants in your landscaping, flower gardens, and everywhere else. We will help identify some of our favorite no-fail natives for a wide variety of soils, shade levels, and overall hardiness. These are the rough, tumble, aggressive, and easy to find native plants. Also learn some easy ways to integrate native plants into your current landscaping, or start a whole new project. Participants will receive a free native plant book and there will be several gift certificates from local nurseries given away as door prizes.

“Having an estate plan is among the most important things you can do for your loved ones. If there is one thing we can recommend, it is that it is never too early to start planning." Forbes Magazine Ease the complexity of estate planning with this informative class led by Lauren Pevehouse of Young & Pevehouse Law PLLC. We’ll walk you through essential tools like Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Healthcare Directives, helping you make sense of the probate process and ensure your loved ones are protected. This workshop includes a take-home Will template and the opportunity for free notary services at the conclusion of the course. Empower yourself with knowledge and prepare for the future with confidence.

Rain barrels harvest rainwater from roofs and other structures that can then be used to water gardens, lawns, and potted plants. Installing a rain barrel is an excellent way to reduce run-off and pollution as well as save MONEY! As much as 40% of residential water is used for irrigation in the summer. Participants will learn the ins and outs of rain barrels, site selection, and other tips to use rain barrels most efficiently. We will also talk about the pros and cons of many of the commercially available rain barrels and how to make your own. Residents within the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District may be eligible for free rain barrels….join us to learn more. Participants will receive a free native plant book and there will be several gift certificates from local nurseries given away as door prizes.

Are you losing ground? Is your shoreline eroding, unsightly or seem to be a goose magnet? Did the excessive rains last year take a toll? Is the ice pushing up a new ridge every year? Learn how to improve water quality, reduce erosion and beautify your property using native plants, simple installation techniques and smart planning for easier long-term maintenance. Participants will receive a free native plant book and there will be several gift certificates from local nurseries given away as door prizes.

Are you struggling to establish plants and vegetation on a hill or slope? Are you fighting with erosion and washouts every time we get a big rain event? There are lots of varieties of native plants that will put down roots quickly and will hold their ground…and your ground. When it comes to native plants, it is all about the roots! Participants will receive a free native plant book and there will be several gift certificates from local nurseries given away as door prizes.

NEW-UPDATED PHOTO ORGANIZATION - PRINT & DIGITAL Imagine! All your photos organized and a system in place that allows you to access any photo in literally seconds! This class will address the unique needs of Millennials, GenX and Baby Boomers as every generation's photo situation is different. This includes; slides, negatives, VHS, film movies, prints, old memorabilia & more. We will talk about AI (Artificial Intelligence), scanners, cloud storage, digitizing & restoration of older photos. You no longer have to imagine; make this your reality!

When you go to bed do you feel like you barely survived another day? Or, Do you feel like you thrived and enjoyed your day? Is a “feel good movie” the only place you find peace. Over scheduled moms, dads, singles, young or old can find ways to slow down and avoid burnout and exhaustion. Find the purpose and meaning in your life that you want, not what a busy culture forces on you. This series of classes will explore practices and ideas for everyday life found in the recent book, “Seeking Slow, Reclaim Moments of Calm In Your LIfe” by Melanie Barnes. The book is an incredibly practical guide for our rushed modern world. It offers practical ideas for our everyday lives and how to use mindfulness to find calm. The price for this class includes a copy of the book for each participant to read and discuss at meetings. Topics will primarily come from the book, but not be limited to the book. Bruce Neese, BA MA Mindfulness Coach will facilitate this group. You might not be able to change the world, but you can change how you respond to it. You can remove stress, declutter your life and mind, find peace and contentment. Come join us, slow down, be mindful, enrich your life.

Do you have a ditch, shoreline, or wetland on your property you want to spruce up beyond cattails and swamp grass? Do you have an area of yard where the grass just won’t grow because it is wet most of the time? There are lots of varieties of natives and non-native perennials that can be used to add color, texture, and eye-appeal that don’t mind having wet toes. Let’s figure out how to add an aesthetic splash into that soggy site. Participants will receive a native plant book, and several door prizes will be given away from local plant specialists.

Let’s get things greened up and growing! Lawn care can be expensive and puzzling. Learn some simple tips and techniques that can help you get the best performance out of your yard while saving some cash and preventing pollution. We will cover a wide variety of topics and answer your questions about watering, fertilizing, weed identification and so much more to make your lawn the best it can be. Residents within the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District may be eligible for free soil testing….join us to learn more. Participants will receive a free native plant book and there will be several gift certificates from local nurseries given away as door prizes.

Let’s explore and join our delightful "Blooms in Color" flower pot painting class! This creative workshop is designed for individuals of all skill levels, from beginners eager to explore their artistic side to seasoned painters looking for a new and vibrant project. Materials include a terracotta flower pot, acrylic paints, brushes, and aprons. Just bring your enthusiasm and be prepared to have a blooming good time!