Volunteer opportunities

City opportunities

The City of St. Louis Park has volunteer opportunities available to help support our city departments, which allows us to better serve the community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many volunteer programs and activities have been postponed or canceled. Visit www.stlouispark.org/volunteer for the most updated information on the status of volunteer programs and activities.

Hydrant Hero

There are roughly 1,700 fire hydrants in St. Louis Park, and although we have firefighters to remove snow around the hydrants after a snowfall, they can't always clean them all in a timely manner. This is where you can help. Volunteer to become a Hydrant Hero and keep the hydrants around your homes and businesses clear of snow in the winter and free of plant overgrowth in the summer.

Interested volunteers can adopt a hydrant at www.hydranthero.org. Choose a hydrant, click on the “Adopt me” link and fill out the registration form – you can even give your hydrant a name!

For questions, contact Assistant Chief Cary Smith at csmith@stlouispark.org or 952.924.2171.

Teen volunteer opportunities

JUNIOR NATURALIST

GRADES 7 – 12 (2021 – 2022 school year)

Junior naturalists enjoy working with kids, taking care of the nature center animals and helping with special events, public programs and behind-the-scenes projects. At this time, we are unable to accept new applications. If you would like to receive an email notice when applications are available, email Becky McConnell at bmcconnell@stlouispark.org and include your full name. We appreciate your interest in serving our community!

Teen volunteer opportunities SUMMER PLAYGROUND JUNIOR LEADER Grades 7 – 9 (2021 – 2022 school year)

Are you looking for a fun volunteer opportunity this summer? You’ll assist playground leaders with fun games, crafts and other activities through our Summer Playground Program in parks around the city. The application process will be different than in the past due to COVID-19 guidelines. Contact Lisa Abernathy at labernathy@stlouispark.org if you are interested in being a junior leader this summer.

"Be there" Initiative

The feeling of isolation and loneliness is something that many aging residents face, and is linked to several health risks, both physically and mentally. COVID-19 can make these feelings worse for residents age 65 and older.

To enhance the community’s well-being, the City of St. Louis Park launched the “Be there” initiative. As part of the initiative, neighbors and community members in St. Louis Park are encouraged to reach out to neighbors age 65 and older to offer connection and/ or assistance. Offering social connection relieves feelings of isolation and enhances community connection.

Visit www.stlouispark.org to learn more about how you can participate.

Beautify St. Louis Park

Help beautify St. Louis Park by picking up litter and debris from a local park or street! This is a great activity for individuals and groups of all ages and can be done on your own time. Use your own bags and gloves, and volunteers can leave their bags in the trash cans located at each park. If bags are too large for trash cans, contact Kiah Selmer at kselmer@stlouispark.org. Volunteers are invited to post their pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and tag the City of St. Louis Park (@stlouispark)!

Yoga for Strong Bones

ADULTS Online This class will focus on the postures in Dr. Fishman's program, Yoga for Osteoporosis, that has been proven to strengthen the bones. There will be modifications for those with Osteopenia, Osteoporosis and those who wish to prevent those conditions. DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

Tu April 6 – May 18, 10 – 11 a.m. W987S21 FEE $79 per person (senior program member) / $89 (non-member)

Fabulous Fish Dishes

ADULTS Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Learn to create delicious fish dishes using a few basic techniques. We’ll grill fresh tuna steaks, slow-baked Atlantic salmon and pan fry walleye pike. All materials included in registration price. DAY DATE+TIME Activity#

W April 7, 6 – 9 p.m. FEE $45 per person L312S21

Participants who attend Community Education classes in person will be asked to follow all guidelines. Guidelines may change as we follow Minnesota Department of Health recommendations to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 in our community. We appreciate your help in keeping our community healthy.

Swing Dance Workshop

ADULTS Aquila Elementary School, 8500 W. 31st St. One night. One dance. A lifetime of fun! Learn an "arch" and a "loop" to get onto the dance floor. Couples only please. DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

W April 7 – 21, 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. Y108S21 FEE $55 per couple

Two Left Feet Ballroom Dance

ADULTS Aquila Elementary School, 8500 W. 31st St. Learn fun moves and simple tips from a pro in the foxtrot, waltz, rumba and tango! Couples only please. DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

W April 7 – 21, 6 – 7 p.m. FEE $55 per couple Y163S21

Relax and Unwind: Yoga for Every Body

ADULTS Online Want to do yoga, but think you're too old, too out of shape or that you don't "look like a yogi?" This body-positive, gentle hatha yoga class was created for you and will help you reduce stress while improving balance and strength. DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

W April 7 – June 16, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. W146S21 FEE Sliding scale based on household income: $15, $45, $75, $105, $150

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement

ADULTS Online Everything we do in life involves sensation and movement, and the Feldenkrais Method® harnesses both to create change. You will be guided through a sequence of movements that can improve every area of the body. DAY DATEs+TIMEs Activity#

Th April 8 – May 13, 5 – 6 p.m.

W930S21A Th May 20 – June 24, 5 – 6 p.m. W930S21B FEE $65 per person (senior program member) / $69 (non-member)

Edible Gardening

ADULTS Online This growing trend provides a feast for the eyes and the palate. Discover the benefits of integrating edibles with ornamental plants, and learn how to care for and incorporate these beautiful and tasty plants into your landscape. DAY DATE+TIME Activity#

Th April 8, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. W975S21 FEE Sliding scale based on household income: $9, $15, $25

Kyudo Japanese Longbow Archery

ADULTS Central Community Center, 6300 Walker St. Influenced by the culture of Japan’s samurai warriors, Imperial Court, and Shinto and Buddhist traditions, Kyudo is practiced as a means to self-improvement. The noncompetitive nature of Japanese archery allows practitioners to gain personal insights. DAY DATES+TIME Activity#

Sa April 10 – June 5, 1 – 2 p.m. M100S21 FEE $45 per person

Genealogy Help Group

ADULTS Online Share your family history questions with others. A short presentation on a genealogy topic will be followed by group discussion on genealogy puzzles. We will brainstorm how to research to find answers. Attend just once for $9 a day or register for all three for only $15! DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

Tu April 13, May 11, June 8 6 – 7:30 p.m. FEE $9 per day / $15 for all three dates W151S21

Neue Moves: Anat Baniel Method

ADULTS Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Find out what NeuroMovement® is all about in this movement class based on the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais and Anat Baniel! Lessons are designed to improve our ability to move with an efficient use of ourselves as a whole person. DAY DATES+TIME Activity#

W April 14 – May 19, 4 – 5 p.m. FEE $75 per person L359S21

Zumba

ADULTS Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Zumba is a fun and easy-to-do workout that combines fast- and slow-paced rhythms to tone and sculpt the body using aerobic interval training. DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

Th April 15 – June 3, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. L305S20 FEE $5 per day drop in / $35 preregistered for all sessions

Fly Tying Essentials

ADULTS Online The art of fly tying allows you to replicate your favorite bugs as well as create patterns all your own to entice fish. Learn how to tie nine unique flies, and through those flies, the techniques needed to tie 95% of all trout flies! DAY DATES+TIME Activity#

M May 3 – 17, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. FEE $49 per person W125S21

305 Fitness

ADULTS Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. This nonstop cardio party features fun and easy-to-follow dance cardio moves to tone your core and glutes. This class will be held in person and online, so you can choose to attend however is best for you! DAY DATES+TIME Activity#

W May 5 – June 9, 6 – 6:45 p.m. L306S21A FEE $35 per person (senior program member) / $49 (non-member)

Self-Care 101: Prioritizing Yourself in a Busy World

ADULTS Online Today's busy world can make it challenging to focus on your well-being. Learn the benefits of self-care, managing your energy and more. Leave with tangible ideas on physical, emotional, spiritual and mental self-care. DAY DATE+TIME Activity#

W May 12, 7 – 8 p.m. W508S21 FEE $19 per person (senior program member) / $25 (non-member)

Glass Mosaic Mug Planter or Garden Stake

ADULTS Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd. Create a unique mini planter or pen cup using a coffee mug or a colorful garden stake. The glass is pre-cut and stencils are available. A material fee is payable to the instructor at class; $10 per mug or stake with time to make multiples. DAY DATEs+TIME Activity#

W May 19 – 26, 6 – 9 p.m. FEE $39 per person

Evolving Garden

ADULTS Online Change in the garden is inevitable, but some events trigger the need for creative responses. Whether environmental or personal events are driving the change, learn practices to implement that require less maintenance, yet create beautiful and functional gardens. DAY DATE+TIME Activity#

Th May 20, 6 – 7:30 p.m. W976S21 FEE Sliding scale based on household income: $9, $15, $25