WBLAS Community Services & Recreation

Important Legislated Update: There has been an important update to the MN Statute regarding 55+ Accident Prevention courses. During the 2024 legislative session a change was made to the Accident Prevention Course Rule. Effective July 2024, the new rule states that the course must be a total of at least 4 hours. This means a first-time participant can take a 4-hour program as their initial training – the 8-hour will no longer be a requirement. If you're 55 or older, get a discount on your personal auto insurance and improve your driving skills. The course, developed by the National Safety Council, teaches basic crash prevention techniques and has a proven record of reducing traffic violations and incidents. It's taught by experienced, professional traffic safety instructors, including officers of the Minnesota State Patrol. The class consists of lecture, films and discussions. There is no behind-the-wheel driving and there are no tests. According to Minnesota state law, people age 55 and older who complete a state-approved defensive driving course are eligible to receive a 10%, three-year discount on auto insurance. After you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion to give to your insurance company. Instructor: Minnesota Safety Council. Their Mission: To strengthen individuals, families and organizations by helping prevent injuries and support safer, healthier lives. The Minnesota Safety Council is a member-based, private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries - a leading cause of death, disability and economic loss. We offer traffic programs for the workplace and the larger community, including defensive driving classes for mature drivers and interactive online programs for teens. Since 1928, our sole focus has been to make Minnesota a safer and healthier place to live. The Minnesota Safety Council is a chapter of the National Safety Council.

Important Legislated Update: There has been an important update to the MN Statute regarding 55+ Accident Prevention courses. During the 2024 legislative session a change was made to the Accident Prevention Course Rule. Effective July 1, the new rule states that the course must be a total of at least 4 hours. This means a first-time participant can take a 4-hour program as their initial training – the 8-hour will no longer be a requirement. If you're 55 or older, get a discount on your personal auto insurance and improve your driving skills. The course, developed by the National Safety Council, teaches basic crash prevention techniques and has a proven record of reducing traffic violations and incidents. It's taught by experienced, professional traffic safety instructors, including officers of the Minnesota State Patrol. The class consists of lecture, films and discussions. There is no behind-the-wheel driving and there are no tests. According to Minnesota state law, people age 55 and older who complete a state-approved defensive driving course are eligible to receive a 10%, three-year discount on auto insurance. After you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion to give to your insurance company. Instructor: Minnesota Safety Council. Their Mission: To strengthen individuals, families and organizations by helping prevent injuries and support safer, healthier lives. The Minnesota Safety Council is a member-based, private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries - a leading cause of death, disability and economic loss. We offer traffic programs for the workplace and the larger community, including defensive driving classes for mature drivers and interactive online programs for teens. Since 1928, our sole focus has been to make Minnesota a safer and healthier place to live. The Minnesota Safety Council is a chapter of the National Safety Council.

A modified form of yoga, using exercise principles of traditional yoga to increase participant's health and fitness by replacing a floor mat with a chair. Find mobility in a gentle, supportive way that is very beneficial. Chair Yoga will improve your flexibility, concentration, and strength, while boosting your mood, reducing stress and decreasing joint pain. Drops ins welcome!

Join us in exploring the Como Park Conservatory! We will take a tour through the many gardens of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory as you explore the Jewel of Como and learn about their rich history. Go behind-the-scenes and uncover how the garden staff keep the conservatory looking lush and green all year long and produce the many flower shows. This tour is a unique opportunity to “peek behind the curtains” of the Conservatory and get your daily dose of green! After the conservatory tour, there will be time to explore Como's grounds, including a 10% discount at Como's Garden Safari Gifts. Then we will be having lunch, on your own, in downtown St. Paul at Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria. Please bring money for lunch or to purchase something for lunch or items from the Italian Grocery store or the pasticceria. This day trip is not wheelchair accessible. Please contact Sammy Wallace ahead of time if you plan on attending with a walker at 651-407-2024 or sammy.wallace@isd832.net. Schedule: 8:35am Meet at the Mahtomedi District Education Center 8:45am Bus Departs 11:00am - 12:00pm Walking Free Time 12:15pm: Leave Como Conservatory for Lunch 12:30pm Arrive at Cossetta's for Lunch 12:30-1:30pm Lunch/Explore Market & Shop 1:45 Depart from Cossetta's 2:15pm Bus Returns No Refunds After Friday, July 25.

Join us for a memorable adventure on the Mississippi River with a luxury coach bus ride to Winona. The day starts with a relaxing lunch at Kelly’s Lake House Bar & Grill, offering stunning views of Lake Pepin and a delicious menu featuring a Petite Sirloin Luncheon Special. After lunch, we will board the Winona Tour Boat for an exploration of the river’s rich history and diverse wildlife, guided by knowledgeable USCG Licensed captains. Enjoy panoramic views from the comfort of an enclosed, climate-controlled cabin, complete with restrooms on board. This exciting trip promises relaxation, education, and breathtaking natural beauty, making it an experience not to be missed! Menu: Petite Sirloin Luncheon Special with Potato, Vegetable, Roll, Small Dessert, Coffee, Tea or Soda. Schedule 9:15 am Bus Departs Normandy Park Education Center (Senior Center) 2484 East County Rd F, WBL 11:00 am Lunch 12:15 pm Winona Tour Boat 3:00 pm Conclusion of the Cruise 3:15 pm Leave Winona 5:30 pm Returns to Normandy Park Education Center Fee includes Coach Bus ride, boat cruise and lunch. No refunds after Monday, July 14. You may want to bring a snack for the bus ride home.

Meals on Wheels is a community service that delivers nutritious meals to your home with the help of volunteers. This services is available to all persons regardless of age or ability. It is a wonderful way for individuals to stay connected to their communities, remain healthy, and live independently, for as long as possible as well as those with a short term need for meals after a hospitalization/surgery. Meals are provided at a reduced rate due to generous donations from participants, foundations, and the wider community, and also through support of the White Bear Lake Area School District, Senior Services Consortium of Ramsey County, Metro Meals on Wheels, local Lions Clubs and others. Many older adults, our neighbors, continue to face challenges and need your help more than ever. The cost of food has gone up dramatically in recent years, and many seniors on fixed incomes simply don’t have enough money to cover the cost of groceries and other expenses. Every day, more people turn to Meals on Wheels for help, and our resources are stretched. Your donation will help ensure that we won’t need to turn anyone away. All donations will be used locally for the White Bear Lake Meals on Wheels program. Every donation no matter the size help. Did you know that a donation of: $15 feeds one person for two days of meals $35 feeds one person for one week of meals $70 feeds one person for two weeks of meals $140 feeds one person for a month To make a donation: Call the Senior Center at 651-653-3121 Stop by the Senior Center Mail a check to 2484 East County Rd F, White Bear Lake MN 55110 Or here online.

Learn why pre planning your death is important, how it avoids unnecessary stress and confusion of what to do with your body and saves money during a traumatic time. How to choose providers and important details to think about and things to consider in helping to navigate the inevitable.

November 6 - 20, 2025 | 15 Days Colors of Morocco Get to know the vibrant culture and colorful backdrops that are distinctively Morocco. Explore Fes, one of the holiest cities in the world, on a walking tour in the medina, where donkeys and mules laden with goods still walk the ancient market. Make your way to your desert camp in a Jeep 4x4 and spend a full day exploring the Sahara Desert. Travel the rugged “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou. In Marrakech, get a true taste of Moroccan hospitality during an interactive cooking class at a women’s cooperative. Experience Morocco's deep history, unique atmosphere, and welcoming people on an unforgettable journey. Highlights: Rabat, Fes, Sahara Desert Luxury Tented Camp, Camel Ride, Khamlia Music Village, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, High Atlas Mountains, Marrakech, Choice on Tour: Moroccan Crafts Shopping Tour or Local Marrakech Hammam Experience, Cooking Class, Casablanca, Hassan II Mosque Essential Experiences Visit a nomad family and learn about their ancient traditions. Experience the desert by 4x4 and during your two-night camp stay. Stroll through the cobbled alleyways of ancient markets and medinas. Visit the Trip Website Do Not Register on this Page. It is for Advertising Travel Options.

April 3-16, 2025 | 15 Days Discover Croatia, Slovenia & the Adriatic Coast Dive into beauty and history as you explore the medieval cities, tranquil lakes, stunning coastlines and quaint villages of Croatia and Slovenia. Explore Ljubljana, Slovenia’s romantic capital city. Discover the richness of Opatija, the “Riviera of Croatia” and an Istrian gem. Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park by foot and by boat, a place where waterfalls cascade down sheer cliffs connecting sixteen pristine lakes. Step back into Roman times in Split’s Diocletian’s Palace. Enjoy visits to local restaurants, wineries and artisanal food producers. Take in the white stone buildings and massive city walls of the ancient harbor town of Dubrovnik. Explore fascinating Zagreb by foot and funicular. Delight in the old-world charm found in this sunny Adriatic paradise. Highlights: Ljubljana, Castle Dinner, Lake Bled, Opatija, Istrian Peninsula, Farm-to-Table Dinner, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Split, Countryside Lunch with Folklore Entertainment, Diocletian's Palace, Dubrovnik, Choice on Tour: Cable Car or Dubrovnik City Walls, Zagreb Essential Experiences Visit Dubrovnik’s Franciscan Monastery where Europe’s oldest pharmacy lies. Stroll through Split and see the famous Diocletian’s Palace. Explore romantic Ljubljana, exploring the riverfront dotted with cafes and bridges. Hometown Pick Up: Collette will provide a hometown pick up for the group from one common location to the airport and back. Official Trip Website for Details & Reservation: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1252621

Join us for a FREE TRAVEL SHOW presented by Collette Travel. Collette is the most experienced Tour Operator in North America with over 106 years as a family owned and operated business. Maybe you’ve seen the Collette name on the Wheel of Fortune? Hear more about 2 incredible bucket-list trips to Croatia and Morocco. Experience these places with a guide by your side – Collette makes it easy. Your flights, transfers, hotels, sightseeing has all been arranged – your only job is to have the time of your life! Stop by the center to pick up trip brochures with more information! Register for Travel Show Discover Croatia, Slovenia & the Adriatic Coast April 3-16, 2025 | 15 Days Dive into beauty and history as you explore the medieval cities, tranquil lakes, stunning coastlines and quaint villages of Croatia and Slovenia. Explore Ljubljana, Slovenia’s romantic capital city. Discover the richness of Opatija, the “Riviera of Croatia” and an Istrian gem. Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park by foot and by boat, a place where waterfalls cascade down sheer cliffs connecting sixteen pristine lakes. Step back into Roman times in Split’s Diocletian’s Palace. Enjoy visits to local restaurants, wineries and artisanal food producers. Take in the white stone buildings and massive city walls of the ancient harbor town of Dubrovnik. Explore fascinating Zagreb by foot and funicular. Delight in the old-world charm found in this sunny Adriatic paradise. Highlights: Ljubljana, Castle Dinner, Lake Bled, Opatija, Istrian Peninsula, Farm-to-Table Dinner, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Split, Countryside Lunch with Folklore Entertainment, Diocletian's Palace, Dubrovnik, Choice on Tour: Cable Car or Dubrovnik City Walls, Zagreb Essential Experiences Visit Dubrovnik’s Franciscan Monastery where Europe’s oldest pharmacy lies. Stroll through Split and see the famous Diocletian’s Palace. Explore romantic Ljubljana, exploring the riverfront dotted with cafes and bridges. Hometown Pick Up: Collette will provide a hometown pick up for the group from one common location to the airport and back. Official Trip Website for Details & Reservation: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1252621

February 4-22, 2026 | 19 Days Kingdoms of Southeast Asia Delve into an ancient and mysterious world of rural landscapes, bustling cities, and fascinating history in Southeast Asia. From Hoan Kiem Lake and the Hoa Lo prison, to a street food adventure through Hanoi, Vietnam’s balance of peace, modernism and prosperity engage your thoughts and senses. On a charming junk boat, bask in the serenity of Ha Long Bay. Find inspiration at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple, the world’s largest religious structure. A local Laotian family welcomes you into their home for dinner. Explore the hundreds of Buddhas found in the Pak Ou caves. This is an incomparable mosaic of culture and history that unfolds within a blink of the eye. Highlights: Hanoi, Walking Food Tour, Discussion with Vietnam War Veteran, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Reunification Palace, Mekong Delta, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Luang Prabang, Choice on Tour: Night Market Visit or Evening at Leisure, Wat Xieng Thong, Pak Ou Buddha Cave, Monk Alms Offering, Bangkok Essential Experiences Explore Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter on an exciting walking tour. See the Cu Chi Tunnels, a maze of underground passageways used by the Viet Cong. Visit with a Vietnam war veteran and learn about the war from his perspective. NOTE - this is a Level 3 Trip: You’re an on-the-go traveler. You don’t want to miss a thing, so walking and standing for longer periods of time (2-3 hours) isn’t a big deal. A moderately paced 2.5 hour walking tour, covering several miles, hills, and uneven surfaces, is no problem. Walking 4 miles over the course of a day is very doable, as is climbing into and out of various modes of transportation (tuk-tuk, cable car, zodiac, etc.). You can climb three flights of stairs easily and handle altitudes between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. Expect some longer days balanced with free time to recharge or set out on your own adventure. This level is not a fit for travelers who require mobility assistance devices. Hometown Pick Up: Collette will provide a hometown pick up for the group from one common location to the airport and back. Official Trip Website for Details & Reservations