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.
Arts & Crafts
Quilting Group
All quilters, including beginners, are invited to join this group each month.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Monday, Apr. 14th
10-11:45am
Craft Projects:
Folded Fabric Egg Making
Come & enjoy craft therapy and socializing! These eggs are fun to make with endless possibilities for decorating them Small squares of patterned fabrics are folded and then pinned to Styrofoam eggs. Add embellishments of your choice to create one-of-a-kind Easter eggs. Limited to 10 people. Please bring your fee with you the day of the event. The cost will go into the Senior Center budget to cover the cost of crafts.​
Tuesday, Apr. 15th
12-2pm
Thursday, Mar. 20th
10am-12pm
Beaded Plant Stakes
Come & enjoy craft therapy and socializing! We’ll add some bling to those everyday plant stakes. They will be a beautiful addition to any plant. Bring your creation home or leave it at the Senior Center to donate. Limited to 10 people. Please bring your fee with you the day of the event. The cost will go into the Senior Center budget to cover the cost of crafts.​​​​
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Springtime Flowers Class: Springtime brings nature’s palette of bright and cheerful colors to inspire your artworks. We will create mixed media still life using colored pencils, watercolors and collage items. Looking at bouquets of flowers, branches from flowering trees and other signs of spring our artist – instructor will guide you to make a mixed media still life to brighten your days as spring unfolds all around. Your palette will reflect all the colors that are popping up! All materials will be supplied. Registration is required, limited to 10 people.
Thursday, Apr. 17th
10am-12pm
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Books & Reading
Book Club
Join us for a discussion of the book “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman follows a grumpy, but ultimately endearing, widower who finds his life turned upside down when a boisterous young family moves in next door, leading to an unlikely friendship and a heartwarming exploration of love, loss, and the human spirit.
Tuesday, Apr. 1st
1-3pm
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, Apr. 7th
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,
Marc. 24th, Apr. 14th,
& Apr. 28th
11:45am-12:30pm
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,
Mar. 26th & Apr. 30th
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!​​​​
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Thursdays 12:30pm
Cribbage: Learn & Play
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
Games of Choice & Card Games
Drop in to join a variety of card games including: Hand & Foot, 500, and Kings Corner. This month we will highlight Up & Down the River on Wednesday, Apr. 9 from 10-11am with Mayor Tim! Not sure how to play? This it the perfect time to check it out. Up & Down the River is a card game where players bid on how many tricks they can win, and then try to take exactly that many. The game's name comes from the fact that the number of cards in each player's hand increases and decreases by one in each deal.
Mondays & Wednesdays
10am
Class of '65
Meet other “65ers” to connect and reminisce!
Thursday, Apr. 3rd
10am
Mahjong:
Learn & Play
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! Check out movie offerings on their website or by calling 952.442.5885. On Tuesdays, you also receive FREE popcorn! (Each Emagine Rewards member gets a free 85oz. popcorn.)
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Tuesday, Mar. 25th
Tuesdays in April
Cost: $5
Alzheimer's: 10 Warning Signs
Alzheimer's and other dementia cause memory, thinking, and behavior problems that interfere with daily living. Join us to learn how to recognize common dementia warning signs; how to approach someone about memory concerns, the importance of early detection and benefits of a diagnosis, possible tests and assessments for the diagnostic process and Alzheimer's Association resources.
Thursday, Mar. 20th
1-2pm
Brain Health
Brain Health will be presented by Jennifer Ische OTR/L, Rehab Supervisor from Ridgeview, and will review changes in brain function due to normal aging processes and factors that place your brain health at risk. The presentation will also educate on strategies to prevent cognitive decline and even improve cognitive function.
Tuesday, Apr. 22nd
12:30-1:30pm
Bell Museum Trip
Tour Minnesota’s official natural history museum and planetarium. Take amazing journeys from the far reaches of the cosmos to deep inside the human brain. Explore the origins of the universe, the diversity of life on earth, and take a walk through the state of Minnesota, featuring world famous wildlife dioramas. Engage all of your senses in the Touch & see Lab with 10,000-year-old fossils, living plants and animals, and more. The day will start with lunch at Keys Cafe & Bakery, which is not included in the price. Bussing will be provided for this event, leaving the Waconia Senior Center at 10:30am. Please arrive a little early to board the bus. The bus will bring you back to the Senior Center, around 4:30pm. Registration is required. Reserve your spot, since space is limited!
Thursday, Apr. 10th
10:30am-4pm
$20
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, Mar. 18th & Apr. 15th
8am-4pm
Cost: $60
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 Bakery on Main in Waconia at 10am for a delicious breakfast or cup of coffee. We’ll do the planning and then breakfast is on you!
Friday, Mar 28th
10am
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 Molly’s (formerly St. Boni Bistro) at 11am for a delicious brunch or cup of coffee. We’ll do the planning and then breakfast is on you!
Friday, Apr. 25th
11am
Music Trivia
How well can you “name that tune?” Listen to snippets of a variety of genres throughout the decades and be the first to name the artist or song title. 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!
Monday, Mar. 27th
12:30-1:30pm
Nutrition Presentation
Kidney Health: Join Andrew Akhaphong, Mackenthun’s Registered Dietitian, for our monthly nutrition topic. National Kidney month is celebrated in March. It's a time to learn about the kidneys, which filter blood and are important for overall health. Let Andrew give you tips on a how to support kidney health by eating more plant-based foods, limiting salt, and reducing your intake of certain proteins.
Tuesday, Mar. 18th
10:30-11am
(Oak Room)
Tuesday, Apr. 15th
10:30-11am
Oral Health: Join Andrew Akhaphong, Mackenthun’s Registered Dietitian, for our monthly nutrition topic. This month we will look at the close link between oral health and nutrition. Diet and nutrition affect the health of the tissues in the mouth and the health of the mouth affects nutrients consumed. Find out what tips Andrew has to share!
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, Apr. 1st
12:30-3pm
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
St. Patrick's Day Potluck
Together let’s celebrate the “Luck of the Irish” at the St. Patty’s Day “Hot Potato Bar” Potluck!! Bring a potato topping to share or a dessert!! Food sign-up is available at the Senior Center. Wear “GREEN” and you can put your name in the “Pot of Gold” to be a “lucky” winner for a prize drawing!!!
Monday, Mar. 17th
11:30-12:30pm
The Neuroscience of Hope
​While our interest is growing, the gap remains wide between our understanding of the brain and the biology of hope. This presentation will cover how optimism as a muscle is proving to be a positive intervention to cultivate hope. Presented by CareBuilders at Home.
Tuesday, Apr. 8th
12:30-1:30pm
TV Trivia
Join us for our monthly trivia event. Each month we will pick a different theme. This month’s theme...TV Trivia. How much TV do you watch in a day? Is there a show (or more than one) that you can recite episodes by heart? Test your TV knowledge with a variety of TV trivia throughout the ages. Compete against your friends to get the correct answer in the fastest time. The highest score at the end of the round will win a gift card. All you need to bring is your phone and your knowledge!
Thursday, Apr. 24th
12:30-1:30pm