
FACILITY HOURS: Monday-Thursday – 10:00am-3:00pm
Activities & Programs
The Waconia Area Senior Center offers activities, classes, and programs for a wide variety of ages, groups, and interests. Registration only required for highlighted events. Please click on the links next to the events to register.

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Arts & Crafts
Quilting Group
All quilters, including beginners, are invited to join this group each month.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Monday, Feb. 10th
10am

Craft Projects:
Diamond Painting
Come & enjoy creating a diamond painting. Diamond painting is a new art hobby popularized in the US and Europe in 2015. It involves applying hundreds of multi-colored rhinestones on a canvas. Each detail on the canvas is numbered, and you simply have to stick the corresponding piece of rhinestone to the detail.
Limited to 10 people.
Tuesday, Jan. 28th
12-2pm
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Tuesday, Feb. 11th
12-2pm
Valentine's & Origami
In this exciting workshop you will make eye catching ornaments for windows, doors, trees, or wherever you need something cheerful. Artist – instructor Kathleen Sheridan is a seasoned origami artist who will lead you step by step into creating meaningful things from beautiful papers.
*This art activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota State Art Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Registration required; limited to 10 people.​​​​
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Press Flower Art: Come & enjoy creating press flower art, which is the art of creating pictures using dried and flattened flowers and leaves. The process of pressing flowers removes moisture and light, which helps to preserve the flower's natural color. Limited to 10 people. Please bring your fee with you the day of the event.
Thursday, Feb. 20th
10am-12pm
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Books & Reading
Book Club
Join us for a discussion of the book “Hillbilly Elegy - A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” by J.D. Vance. The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.'s grandparents were "dirt poor and in love," and moved north from Kentucky's Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually one of their grandchildren would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that J.D.'s grandparents, aunt, uncle, and, most of all, his mother struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, never fully escaping the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. With piercing honesty, Vance shows how he himself still carries around the demons of his chaotic family history.
Tuesday, Feb. 4th
1-3pm

Poetry Reading
Explore poetry themed around New Years and limericks, while tying in some art. A bubbly beverage will be provided for you while you listen.
Thursday, Jan. 16th
11:30am
Explore poetry themed around LOVE and Valentine's. A bubbly beverage will be provided for you while you listen!
Thursday, Feb. 27th
11:30am
Fitness & Health
Classes are provided by Safari Island Community Center. Members of Safari Island can attend class for free. Non-members pay a $5 fee. Not registered as a member of Safari Island? Most insurances provide a FREE membership. Please contact Kristi Sherlock at 952.442.3105 or ksherlock@waconia.org to see if you qualify!
Senior Strength Exercise Classs
This is a total body workout with a focus on strengthening the core and limbs while amplifying the body’s movement through stretch, improving overall balance, posture, muscle tone and mobility. By learning how to move the body in a healthy way, one can reduce pain, improve body awareness, avoid injury and reinforce proper movement principles.
Monday, Feb. 3rd
11am-12pm
Walking Group
Let’s get moving! Join us at Safari Island Community Center to walk the track and chat with friends. Reap the benefits of walking...strengthen your heart, ease joint pain, boost immune function, and improve your mood!
Thursdays
9-9:30am
SilverSneakers Chair Yoga
Move your body through a series of seated and standing yoga poses. Chair support helps you safely perform a variety of postures designed to increase flexibility and improve balance and range of motion. Restorative breathing exercises and final relaxation promote stress reduction and mental clarity.
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Mondays, Jan. 27th,
Feb. 10th, & Feb. 24th
12-12:45pm
Fun & Games

BINGO
Join us for Classic and Yahoo BINGO.
Wednesdays 12:30pm
Birthday Parties
Celebrate all birthdays during the month with an ice cream social!
Wednesdays,
Jan. 29th & Feb. 26th

Board Games
Come and enjoy your favorite board games with your friends! Channel your competitive spirit and enjoy the element of chance.
Thursdays 10am
Bridge
Bridge is a four-player partnership trick-taking game with thirteen tricks per deal. The dominant variations of the game are rubber bridge, more common in social play; and duplicate bridge, which enables comparative scoring in tournament play. Each player is dealt thirteen cards from a standard 52-card deck. Open to beginners and experienced players!
Thursdays 12:30pm
Games of Choice & Card Games
Drop in to join a variety of card games including: Hand & Foot, 500, and Kings Corner. We will highlight 500 on Wednesdays, Jan. 15 & Feb. 12th! Not sure how to play or looking for a group of players? This it the perfect time to check it out. 500 is a partnership trick-taking game where players bid to set trump and the number of tricks the team can capture. The team winning the bid and making their bid earns points based on both the level and suit of the bid.
Mondays & Wednesdays
10am
Class of '65
Meet other “65ers” to connect and reminisce!
Thursday, Feb. 6th
10am
Cribbage
A card game, usually for two players, in which each player tries to form various counting combinations of cards. Each player receives six cards, and the score is kept by moving pegs on a narrow rectangular board. Beginners and experts are invited to play.
Tuesdays
10am
Mahjong
Beginners and experts are welcome! Mahjong is a tile-matching game where players race to create a winning hand before their opponents. The game is played with a set of 144 tiles that depict Chinese characters, symbols, dots, bamboo, winds, dragons, flowers, and seasons. The goal is to form four sets and one pair, also known as a meld and an eye, respectively. Mahjong sets provided by the Senior Center.
Mondays 12:45pm


Mexican Train Dominoes
Mexican Train is a game played with dominoes. The object of the game is for a player to play all the tiles from his or her hand onto one or more chains, or trains, emanating from a central hub or "station". The game's most popular name comes from a special optional train that belongs to all players. Dominoes provided by the Senior Center.
Tuesdays
10am
Presentations & Special Events
$5 Movie
Enjoy a movie at Emagine theater in Waconia with your friends! The time and movie title will be announced during the week of February 10th. On Tuesdays, you also receive FREE popcorn! (Each Emagine Rewards member gets a free 85oz. popcorn.)
Tuesday, Feb. 25th
Time TBD
Cost: $5

Building a Culture of Kindness
Kindness is an introspection into self-awareness. We will discuss how one has to be kind to “self” first to enable sharing kindness. This kindness course offers a kaleidoscope of opportunities for the learner to feel uplifted and better prepared to pay it forward. Presented by CareBuilders at Home.
Wednesday, Feb. 26th
10:30-11:30am
Foot Clinic
Call 651.829.3944 to schedule your appointment at Safari Island.
Healthy feet enable you to maintain mobility and independence. Regular foot care is important for increased comfort and improved overall well-being. Registered nurses provide the following services: assessment of feet and skin, trim toenails, manage fungal nails, reduce corns/callus, and diabetic foot care.
Tuesdays, Jan. 21st & Feb. 18th
8am-4pm
Cost: $60
Friends & Co. Presentation
Friends & Co, formerly Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, offers a wide array of services throughout Minnesota! Join Georgia Afton to learn more about what services they have to offer, various volunteer opportunities, and a little history about the organization.
Wednesday, Jan. 22nd
11:45am-12:15pm

Healthy Living For Your Brain & Body
For centuries, we’ve known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science can provide insights into how to make lifestyle choices that may help you keep your brain and body healthy as you age. Join us in learning about research in diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity, and social engagement. Use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.
Monday, Jan. 27th
1-2pm
History of Cookbooks
Have you ever looked at a recipe and wondered how it came to be? How have cookbooks changed since they were first published? This program explores the history of cookbooks and the evolutions of their recipes. Do you know what a gill is or what they mean when a recipe calls for sweet milk? You’ll find out as the program breaks down recipes from the Buckeye, the oldest cookbook in the Midwest. Make sure to bring your favorite recipe to share! We will take all submissions and put together our own Senior Center recipe book.
Tuesday, Jan. 14th.
12:30-1:30pm

Minnesota Trivia
Do you think you know a lot about Minnesota and it’s history? Here’s your chance to prove it! Join us for our monthly trivia event. Each month we will pick a different theme. Compete against your friends to get the correct answer in the fastest time. All you need to bring is your phone and your knowledge!
Thursday, Jan. 30th
12:30-1:30pm
Monthly Breakfast
Outing
Start your weekend off on the right foot! Every month we will plan a breakfast outing to a different local restaurant. This month join a group of senior center friends at Pangea in Waconia at 8am for a delicious breakfast or cup of coffee. We’ll do the planning and then breakfast is on you!
Friday, Jan. 31st
8am

Start your weekend off on the right foot! Every month we will plan a breakfast outing to a different local restaurant. This month join a group of senior center friends at Egg-Cetera in Waconia at 8am for a delicious breakfast or cup of coffee. We’ll do the planning and then breakfast is on you!
Friday, Feb. 28th
8am

Nutrition Presentation
Thyroid Awareness: Join Andrew Akhaphong, Mackenthun’s Registered Dietitian, for our monthly nutrition topic. January is Thyroid Awareness Month. One in ten people suffer from a thyroid disorder. Nutrition is closely linked to thyroid function, and dietary changes can help prevent thyroid disorders. Come and learn some tips for eating well to support your thyroid!
Tuesday, Jan. 21st
10:30-11am
Tuesday, Feb. 18th
10:30-11am
Heart Health: Join Andrew Akhaphong, Mackenthun’s Registered Dietitian, for our monthly nutrition topic. February is American Heart Month. Diet is an important risk factor in coronary heart disease. Let Andrew give you tips on a heart-healthy diet, including low-saturated fats, high in fiber, and much more!
Personal Technology Support
Volunteers from Senior Community Services’ Technology Education, Connection & Help (TECH) Services team can help you:
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Troubleshoot device settings or errors
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Find and use helpful device features
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Manage online security and safety
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Download and manage applications
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Virtually connect via Zoom or Facetime
There is no cost, but you must sign up for an appointment. Bring your device with you. (If this is your first time using this service, please complete the registration form with Senior Community Services: https://bit.ly/3VZAY76)
Tuesday, Feb. 4th
12-3pm
SideKick Theater:
On the Road Again
On the Road Again is a memorable concert filled with your favorite country music from decades past. Get ready for some fantastic fiddling and even more lush harmonies. Featuring music of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
Bussing will be provided for this event, leaving the Waconia Senior Center at 10:45am. Please arrive a little early to board the bus. Lunch will be served at 11:30am and the show runs from 1-3pm, including an intermission. Prices include the dinner, show, and gratuity. The bus will bring you back to the Senior Center after the show, around 3:45pm.
Registration is required. Reserve your spot, since space is limited!
Tuesday, March 18th
10:45am-3:45pm
Trivia of LOVE
Do you feel like you know a lot of trivia about love? Here’s your chance to prove it during the month of love! Join us for our monthly trivia event. Each month we will pick a different theme. Compete against your friends to get the correct answer in the fastest time. All you need to bring is your phone and your knowledge!
Thursday, Feb. 27th
12:30-1:30pm