Join our after-school Archery Club and dive into the exciting world of archery while making new friends! In the first session, you'll learn and practice the fundamentals of archery using compound bows. As we progress, we'll engage in fun games, shoot at 3-D targets, and explore advanced techniques like shooting from elevated positions and ground blinds. Throughout our sessions, you'll have plenty of opportunities to socialize and connect with fellow archery enthusiasts. Whether you're new to archery or aiming to improve your skills, our club offers a focused and enjoyable way to master the sport and meet new people.

Step into the arena with Build & Battle Robotics (LEGO Edition), where creativity meets competition! Working in small teams, students will use LEGO robotics kits to design and build their own battling machines—whether it’s a powerful pusher, a clever wedge, or a spinning striker. Along the way, they’ll learn the engineering behind gearing, traction, and armor as they tweak and improve their designs. The camp culminates in fast-paced, ring-style matches that bring excitement and strategy to life. Packed with action and hands-on learning, this camp is the perfect way for kids to dive into robotics while having a blast in friendly, high-energy competitions!

READY, AIM, LAUNCH! Dive into the exciting world of STEM with this hands-on engineering challenge! In Candy Corn Catapults: STEMgineering, students will become junior “siege engineers” as they design, build, and test their own desktop catapults. Using creativity, problem-solving, and the science of motion, participants will experiment with angles, force, and structure to launch candy corn toward a series of bubbling cauldron targets. Can you outsmart gravity and engineer the ultimate candy corn launcher?

Do you know a student who would enjoy dancing with the Willmar Cardette Dance Team? Mini dance camp is a great way for kids to improve their technique, learn new choreography, and gain performance experience in a fun and supportive environment! During this session, kids will have 3 evenings of practice before showcasing their skills on the final day during halftime of the varsity football game! Dancers will be given a Cardettes t-shirt to wear to the performance. T-shirt orders need to be made early, so make sure to sign up right away! T-shirt registration deadline: Friday, September 4th at 9:00 AM.

Build a computer bot to compete against other coders! Whether you're new or experienced, this is the perfect way to explore competitive coding. No previous coding experience is necessary. The Code Championship Series is four online tournaments hosted on Google Meet. If you have a modern browser, no download is required. Players must be able to navigate the internet. The Google Meet link will be emailed two days before the tournament.

SUMMER SKILLS TRAININGKeep your skills sharp and continue progressing this summer with our Competitive Cheer Summer Skills Training program! Designed for athletes of all experience levels, these sessions focus on developing the fundamental and advanced skills needed for success in competitive cheer. Athletes will work with certified coaches to improve jumps, motions, stunting technique, tumbling fundamentals, flexibility, balance, and overall cheer performance. Training sessions provide individualized instruction and skill-building opportunities to help athletes gain confidence and prepare for the upcoming season. Whether you're new to competitive cheer or looking to take your abilities to the next level, Summer Skills Training is a great way to stay active, make progress, and be ready when the season begins. Come ready to learn, challenge yourself, and have fun with teammates and friends!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IN SEASON COMPETATIVE CHEEROur cheer program is divided into divisions. Divisions 1-4 are perfect for beginner to intermediate athletes ages 4 to 18 years old. Athletes ages 6 and up with perfect attendance are eligible to tryout for a higher division at the end of each season. Classes start at $10 a week for lower levels. Athletes attend practice once a week where they learn the fundamentals of cheerleading from certified coaches. Each semester, teams learn and perform at least one full routine for parents and at competitions. These events aren’t mandatory for beginner and intermediate classes, but they are a lot of fun! State competitions are open to all levels and qualifying teams have the chance to compete at national events.

In this hands-on, engaging, STEM class, we will be learning the chemistry behind Cotton Candy by heating and spinning flavored sugar and Jolly Ranchers. We will also be playing fun carnival style games for fun prizes. Every child will go home with Cotton Candy and lots of prizes! Come and have some fun with your friends and enjoy the carnival!

Registration is not full, it must be done in person at Jefferson Learning Center. Do not add yourself to the online waiting list, you must come to the Willmar Community Education office! About Driver's Education To register for Behind The Wheel (BTW) with Willmar Community Education, students must have successfully completed 30 hours of Driver’s Education Classroom training and provide the following information: legal name, date of birth, email address (not school or family member's account), and phone number. The Certificate of Completion from the classroom course must be provided at the Community Education office along with a $300 fee in order to register and receive an e-card. An e-card is required for students to take the permit test at the Driver’s License Exam Station. Upon passing the permit test, please call 320-231-8492, ext. 6335 to notify staff. BTW registration fee is non-refundable. BTW driving lessons must be completed within six months of receiving your blue/e-card. Starting and ending location for driving lessons is at Jefferson Learning Center. Missed or cancelled driving lesson will incur a $50 fee and require rescheduling that driving lesson. Unused BTW driving lessons are non-transferable. We offer a driver training program approved by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Our instructor is a licensed school teacher with special certification in driver education from the state of Minnesota. How To Get Your Driver License (ages 15-17) Classroom Instruction: Students are eligible to register and attend the classroom portion of the training program. You must attend all 30 hours of the training to be eligible for the next step of training. The Blue/E-Card: After completing 30 hours of classroom training, you will receive a certificate of completion that you must provide when registering for Behind the Wheel (BTW) instruction. You must be registered for a BTW program in order to receive the e-card. Get Your Driving Permit: Arrange for the permit test independently at a Minnesota Drivers and Vehicle Services location. You will need the blue/e-card, appropriate ID, your social security number, corrective lenses (if needed), and payment for the permit test fee. Complete BTW Instruction: BTW consists of one instructor and one or two students in a school district vehicle. After completion of the required six hours, you will receive a white/e-card necessary for the license test. Practice: You will need to practice driving for six months. Minnesota law requires a student to have a permit for six months and maintain a driving log. The driving log must be submitted at the time of the road test. Road Test: Schedule the road test at a Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services location. Students must be 16 years old to take the road test. Bring your white/e-card, proof of insurance, fee, permit, social security number, and corrective lenses (if needed).

This course is not full! Registration is open and must be completed with A+ Driving School per the instructions below. Do not add yourself to the online waiting list. Visit MNDE.CruiseControlEducation.com to sign up Register as a new student, be sure to write down your email address and password Enter the requested information along with Coupon Code: willmar2025 Pay the $100 payment to complete your sign up Begin Online Course A+ Driving School offers an online class platform through Willmar Community Education for Minnesota students. Benefits are: Start classes anytime and take at your own pace Classes are available on-demand Free Study Guide to all students “Hands On” activities to reinforce information and get parents involved 24/7 Instructor Support Approved by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. This is a virtual class. Participants must have audio and visual technology capabilities such as a laptop, tablet, or a smartphone. No refunds are available for this course.

This course is not full! Registration is open and must be completed with A+ Driving School per the instructions below. Do not add yourself to the online waiting list. Visit MNDE.CruiseControlEducation.com to sign up Register as a new student, be sure to write down your email address and password Enter the requested information along with Coupon Code: willmar2025 Pay the $100 payment to complete your sign up Begin Online Course A+ Driving School offers an online class platform through Willmar Community Education for Minnesota students. Benefits are: Start classes anytime and take at your own pace Classes are available on-demand Free Study Guide to all students “Hands On” activities to reinforce information and get parents involved 24/7 Instructor Support Approved by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. This is a virtual class. Participants must have audio and visual technology capabilities such as a laptop, tablet, or a smartphone. No refunds are available for this course.

Celebrate the season in Spanish! In Vamos con las Tradiciones – a LIVE virtual class – students explore fall and winter vocabulary through songs, games, and festive cultural traditions. Kids practice simple conversations about greetings, colors, weather, clothing, emotions, and seasonal activities while discovering celebrations like Día de los Muertos and La Navidad. No prior Spanish experience required—just curiosity and a love of fun!

The best Halloween Party of the Year! Talk with the creatures of the enchanted trail, play games, decorate a cookie. Climb the indoor wall with your costume on! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Get ready for a sweet blend of science and fun! In Ice Cream Science, youth will explore the cool chemistry behind one of their favorite treats. Through hands-on experiments, they’ll learn how ingredients transform into ice cream, discover the role of temperature and salt in freezing, and see science in action as they stir and mix their way to delicious results. After making their own batch, participants will enjoy tasting their creations —and the best part? They’ll take home their homemade ice cream to share with family and friends.

Climbing offers a chance to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. Rock climbing is a true adventure sport. Beginners can learn about the sport, exercise, and have fun! Experienced climbers can train and refine their skills. The Prairie Woods ELC instructors are here to help every climber reach new heights! Equipment will be provided.

Young investigators step into the role of crime scene scientists to solve an exciting mystery. Through hands-on activities like fingerprinting, chromatography, evidence analysis, and observation challenges, students build logical reasoning while applying the scientific method. Each lesson adds new clues that lead to a collaborative “whodunit” finale, where teams use their skills to crack the case with confidence.

Students explore how their bodies function through movement-based activities, models, and interactive investigations. Learners discover bones, muscles, the heart, lungs, brain, and senses while practicing healthy habits and hygiene. Through engaging experiments and collaborative challenges, students build foundational life science knowledge, curiosity, and confidence while connecting learning to real-world health careers.

In this engaging LIVE virtual eight-week class, middle school students will learn essential fundamentals to build a strong base in the Spanish language. Participants will get a jump start preparing for future middle school or even traditional high-school Spanish classes. Numbers,alphabet and pronunciation, days of the week, family members, and school vocabulary are just a few of the topics covered! Students will also practice common questions and answers for carrying on small conversations and sentence structure in Spanish. Lessons are dynamic with interactive activities and visuals, along with cultural lessons. Build your student’s language foundation – enroll today! Limited spaces available. Open to new and previous middle school prep participants. (Online portal resources and practice tools included.)

Step into the great outdoors with a day full of thrilling activities at Prairie Woods. Challenge yourself on the Outdoor Climbing Wall, experience the exhilaration of swinging high on the Flying Squirrel, and enjoy a peaceful paddle through the Lake Florida Slough. Test your aim with some archery fun, explore the trails on a fat-tire bike, and if time permits, learn essential survival skills like shelter building and fire starting.Don’t forget to bring a sack lunch, snacks, and a water bottle to keep you energized throughout the day. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

Outdoor Survival Club is a fun, safe, supervised, and engaging way for kids to learn basic survival skills with peers who share their enthusiasm. Through hands-on activities requiring teamwork, students will learn basic survival skills such as; shelter building, fire starting, or water filtering, all while learning about various aspects of nature and their pertaining to survival.

Wondering what to do without school? Get outside and enjoy the Fall with us at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center! Spend the day exploring nature, practicing survival skills, discovering and learning about local wildlife, and playing fun games with friends.Bring your own lunch and snack!