The Hammer Complex turf and track will be accessible to all students from grades 7 to 12 for all sports. Students are required to bring their own equipment, and locker rooms will be available on a limited basis. Preregistration is mandatory for waiver purposes. Feel free to register at any time! You can attend for one day or join for the entire summer. Open field will be moved to the grass football field on June 3, 10 & 17 if turf is occupied.

Our online Driver’s Education program prepares students for the Minnesota Class D Knowledge Exam while helping them build the skills needed for safe, responsible driving. Age Requirement: Students must be at least 14½ years old by the start of class. Class Structure: This online option includes 30 hours of online classroom instruction through A+ Driving School and six hours of Behind-the-Wheel training with Albert Lea Community Education driving instructors. Course Availability: The Summer 2026 online course is available May 4 through September 30, 2026. Registration closes August 17, 2026. Registration Fees & Deadlines: The Early Bird Registration fee is $385 through August 3, 2026. After that, the standard registration fee is $405 through August 17, 2026. Additional Fee Required: A separate $20 A+ Driving School online platform fee is required when creating an account. This fee must be paid by credit card and is not included in the Community Ed registration fee. Course Timeline: Students must complete the course within the date range listed at registration. They may work on the material for up to three hours per day and can finish in as few as 10 days. Students who do not finish within the allotted time must re-register and pay for the course again. Completion / Permit Test: At the end of the final online lesson, students must go to myblueslip.com, select Albert Lea Community Education, and follow the prompts to notify our office that the classroom portion is complete. Community Education will then submit the student’s information to the state and send additional next-step information by email. Students must be age 15 before taking the Minnesota Class D Knowledge Exam. Additional Information: Full course and contract details, policies, and requirements will be provided during the online enrollment process. Please also check your confirmation email for instructions on how to create your account and log in to the online classroom. For more information on Driver’s Education, including details for homeschool students, behind-the-wheel instructor training, and how to schedule a knowledge exam or road test appointment, please visit our Driver’s Education section on the district website. There, you can also print paper contracts, access the online Driver’s Education manual, download the student driving log, and find practice tests. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Community Education office at 507-379-5318.

This course helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop creative, viable business ideas using structured and practical techniques. Participants will explore how innovation happens and learn tools to systematically generate and refine ideas, including the SCAMPER model (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse). Through guided exercises and collaborative activities, learners will transform everyday observations into entrepreneurial opportunities. The course emphasizes both creativity and feasibility, ensuring ideas are not only original but also realistic. By the end, participants will have multiple business concepts and a clear process they can use to continue generating innovative ideas in any industry.

Spend a relaxing afternoon on the water during a narrated sightseeing cruise on beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Sit back and enjoy the scenic shoreline, refreshing lake views, and time with friends while learning more about the area along the way. Lunch includes your choice of an almond chicken salad, turkey breast, or baked ham sandwich. Each meal is served with a garden salad and ranch dressing, fresh fruit, potato chips, and a selection from the Paradise cookie tray. Come enjoy good food, beautiful scenery, and an easygoing afternoon on the lake! Your trip fee includes motorcoach transportation, lunch, and admission to the sightseeing cruise. Register no later than September 3. No refunds on trips. If a waitlist is indicated, you can either contact our office to inquire about tickets or proceed with enrollment. We will contact you if tickets become available.

Have some fun this summer learning to build your own model rocket! Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, there is a rocket class for you! These classes are for 2nd grade and older. Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert classes, the class price includes one reusable rocket and one engine. Expert class must supply their own challenging kit and engines. Contact Ken Fiscus (ken.fiscus@alschools.org) with questions about your chosen rocket kit. LAUNCH DAY: Thursday, August 6th at Southwest Middle School Athletic Field Two session times are available: 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.A parent must attend launch day. Individual Class Descriptions Basic Model RocketryThis is an introduction to the exciting hobby of model rocketry. We will discuss model construction, safety and build a Wizard rocket to launch on launch day. Class fee includes one reusable rocket and one engine. Intermediate Model RocketryBuild on the skills you learned in Basic Model Rocketry. Construct an Alpha rocket and launch it. Class fee includes one reusable rocket and one engine. Advanced Model RocketryTake what you learn in Intermediate Model Rocketry and add to it. Each student will build a challenging Olympus rocket to launch. Class fee includes one reusable rocket and one engine. Expert Model RocketryBoost your rocketry skills further in this expert level class. Each student must supply their own challenging kit and engines. Contact Ken Fiscus (ken.fiscus@alschools.org) with questions about your chosen rocket kit.

Need a night out? Drop off your kids ages 6-12 years off for an evening of fun at the rock gym while you enjoy some well-deserved time to yourself! Each Parent’s Night Out is packed with exciting, instructor-led activities that vary by event—so no two nights are the same. Kids may spend the evening rock climbing, getting creative with arts and crafts, playing gym games, building with Legos, or learning a simple, kid-friendly recipe. Weather permitting, they may also head outside for kayaking, archery, or outdoor games—adding an extra dose of adventure to their night! What to Bring: Tennis shoes Water bottle Snack We’ll keep your kids active, creative, and entertained—you just enjoy your night out! Limited spots available! Deadline to register is the Wednesday before the start date.

How to Purchase and Use Punch Passes You can purchase punch passes online or at the Community Education office. Follow these steps to get started: Purchasing Your Pass: Punch passes are available for credit card purchase online or in-person with a credit card, check or cash at the Community Education office. To purchase online, simply add the pass to your cart under the purchaser's name and proceed through the checkout process. Once your purchase is confirmed, we’ll prepare your pass for pick-up within two office business days. Pick-Up Options: During your purchase, please indicate whether you’d like to pick up your punch pass at the Community Education office (Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM) or from staff at the Rock Gym during open hours (Tuesday, Friday & Saturday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM). Using Your Punch Pass: Punch passes are valid for both the Rock Gym and Boathouse. They can be used by the purchaser and other members of their group. To attend the Rock Gym or Boathouse, you must register online ahead of time and select the punch pass option as your payment method for each person in your party. Any balance remaining can be paid during registration. Punch passes expire one year from the purchase date.

The Rock Gym is open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Preregistration is required! The rock gym welcomes climbers of all ages and experience levels! Enjoy our beginner to expert graded routes, our bouldering wall, Kilterboard, rope climbing and more. Our experienced staff are available to belay and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Come explore and make your indoor rock climbing adventure unforgettable!Click here to learn more about Community Access Days: Free Rock Gym and Boathouse access. Important Notes: If you are unable to register, it means we are either full or closed due to weather, low enrollments, or unforeseen circumstances. No cash or checks are accepted at the Rock Gym. Payment must be made online with a credit card. The cost is $10 per climber. Parents/Guardians must complete registration for their minors (18 years and younger). All children must be accompanied by an adult. If you are not participating in rock climbing but are simply there to supervise your child or spectate, there is no need to sign up. Punch Passes Now Available: You can now purchase punch passes online by clicking HERE or at the Community Education office. If you've purchased a punch pass, please select this option from the dropdown menu. Remember to bring your punch pass to the Rock Gym for check-in, where our staff will punch your card. Planning a Birthday Party?While the Rock Gym is not available for private birthday parties, you can still host your celebration during regular open gym hours! Simply have each parent register their child online through our normal sign-up process. A table with chairs may be available for use with prior notification to the Community Education Office during business hours. If you’d like to cover the cost of the children attending, please contact our office prior to any sign ups at 507-379-5318—we’d be happy to assist you with the details. The Rock Gym is located at Brookside Education Center, South Gym, 211 W Richway Drive, Albert Lea, MN 56007. For any questions, please contact our office at 507-379-5318.

Looking for ways to make money online? Turn your ideas or homemade products into income by starting an online business. You will learn how to: Find a gap in a niche market and fill it Build your own website, and market your business effectively (including SEO) so Potential customers will find you; Take care of business forms and taxes; Create multiple sources of income (including Affiliate commissions). You’ll also get info about the 25 most popular online businesses to start. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a Chamber of Commerce Past President, current author/editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class.

CLASS OPTIONS INTRODUCTION TO ARCHERY BASICS (BEGINNER)Get ready to channel your inner Robin Hood with this beginner's guide to Archery! Staff at the Full Draw Archery Club will teach you the right way to grip the bow, take aim and let those arrows fly. No need to worry about owning equipment because we've got you covered. By the end of the course, you'll have a good grasp on the sport of archery, how to shoot and, who knows, maybe this is just the beginning of your archery journey! INTERMEDIATE ARCHERYThis intermediate archery course will teach you how to shoot and score various league and competition shots. To be eligible to participate, you must have completed the beginner course or have at least two years of archery shooting experience. TRADITIONAL ARCHERYAttendees will learn the art of shooting Traditional Archery. You will learn to properly fit, draw, aim and shoot a traditional long bow. IMPORTANT NOTES The letters "LH" behind the course number indicates you are signing up for a left handed bow. The letters "RH" behind the course number indicates you are signing up for a right handed bow. Below are the current class options and dates available. If you cannot find the desired level, please revisit for upcoming dates or contact our office for further details at 507-379-5318.

These baking classes are perfect for kids who enjoy being creative in the kitchen. Participants will watch, help, and create as they learn new baking skills in a relaxed and engaging environment. Whether they sign up for one session or all three, they will have fun making tasty treats and enjoying their delicious results along the way. June 17: Cake Creations It’s time to decorate! In this fun and creative class, kids will decorate a cake using frosting, sprinkles, and their imagination. July 15: Cookie Fun Kids will enjoy a fun cookie-themed class where they can get creative in the kitchen while learning simple baking skills. August 5: Mini Donuts Participants will watch and help with a demonstration on making fun mini donuts, then enjoy taste-testing the finished creation. Allergy Information:Cake creations, cookie fun, and mini donuts contain common allergens, including gluten, soy, eggs, nuts, and dairy.