Join us for an informative and friendly presentation with Eunice K. Neubauer, founder of Choice Connections. Eunice specializes in helping older adults and their families navigate the many senior living options available in and around West St. Paul. She’ll share valuable insights to make the search easier, less stressful, and tailored to your needs. Whether you’re planning ahead or exploring options now, this session offers clarity, guidance, and peace of mind. Presenter: Eunice K. Neubauer, CSA,Choice Connections

Join one, two, three, or all four of these classes in our civic history series! March 30: The Road to Independence – The Making of our Declaration of Independence. English heritage, the Enlightenment influences, application and putting them into practice. How representatives of thirteen disparate colonies came together to make a declaration and fight for independence. March 31: Articles of Confederation - The Years In-Between. Late 1780’s, our first national government was a spectacular failure and almost led to the dissolution of our new country almost before it began. Congress commanded little respect , with little to no support from State governments anxious to maintain their power. Why was this so, what prompted the states to agree to change, and how did that occur? April 1: Inventing a Nation – Summer of 1887. What really happened during those 100 hot days in the summer of 1887 in Philadelphia? What was discussed and compromised to create a nation based on the “rule of law.” Then discover how it overcame significant obstacles in order to become the first Democratic Republic in over 2000 years. April 2: The Federalist Papers - Selling the Constitution. Much is known and discussed about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, but why are The Federalist Papers so often neglected or treated as an afterthought? After all, it was these papers and their three authors who sold the new government to the American people, and explained how the new national government was to work. Come learn about the debate over the Constitution’s ratification and how The Federalist Papers defined how our new government was designed to work. About the instructor: Frank Sachs is a retired twin cities educator with a BS in American History and a MS in Guidance and Counseling. He has taught in both public and private schools for 40 plus years. The last 37 of those years were at The Blake School in Minneapolis where he was a senior administrator and taught in the Social Studies department. During the majority of those years Frank taught primarily AP US Government and Politics, US Constitutional Law and American History while serving as the Director of College Counseling.

The greatest jewelers of all time are most closely associated with the Romanovs, the richest emperors of all time. Providing adornments for the tsarist court set fashions for the rest of the European royal families. The end of the Romanov empire might have terminated the ability to continue producing the delicate works, but not the mystique. See examples of their artistry and hear descriptions of the court life in which such art was possible. Presenter: Carol Veldman Rudie

Join Naturalist Eloise Deitz each month for a fun, hands-on Nature Sense series at Thompson Park. Explore fall colors, create nature art, and uncover winter wildlife secrets. Eloise’s engaging style and deep knowledge make each session a delightful way to connect with the outdoors. March - Up, Up, and Away - Woodcocks They can show up in March if end of winter conditions are favorably mild. Learn about this shy, humble, evasive and intriguing bird! Then be on the lookout for it! April - "Favorite Rocks" Rock Hounds If you are a proud rock hound and have a favorite rock with a story surrounding it, bring it to today's program! There will be many many rocks on display and you will certainly leave this program knowing more about our rocky planet! May - Birds on the Fly After a brief discussion about the birds we’re most likely to spot (including their mating behaviors, nesting habits, and egg-laying patterns), we’ll head out on a guided birding hike through the TPAC woodlands, open grassy areas, and along the scenic Thompson Park Lake trail. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them; dress appropriately for the weather. Observe, listen, and enjoy the beauty of birds in their natural habitat. June - Summer Sentiments Bring with you and share a favorite summer reading, poem, song, story, picture or photo that manifests what "summer" is for you. Following this share fest, we will take a summer hike on TPAC trails. July - A Summer Garden Tour Back by popular demand! Spend a delightful morning exploring several nearby neighborhood gardens, each uniquely designed and bursting with color at their July peak. Meet at Thompson Park at 9:15 am to check in and organize carpools before heading out together to each garden location. Along the way, enjoy conversation and the beauty of summer in full bloom. Return to TPAC around noon. Space is limited, reserve your spot early. August - The Taste of Summer Summer is bursting with flavor in our gardens and in the wild! Join us for a hands-on, sensory adventure as we explore what’s ripe, ready, and delicious this season. Together we’ll identify, gather, and sample the fresh bounty that makes summer so memorable. Come curious and ready to savor the season.

This richly illustrated presentation examines the historic and contemporary baseball parks of the Twin Cities. We’ll begin with the early baseball grounds and simple wooden ballparks of the late 19th century, visit Nicollet Park and Lexington Park in the early 20th century, see Midway and Met Stadiums at mid-century, and finish our virtual tour with a look at two modern wonders: Target Field and CHS Field. Presenter: Kristin Anderson

Amusing, annoying, long eared, and prolific; bunnies hop into our lives in the form of jackrabbits, cottontails, and snowshoes. They are the fast-food dinner for many larger mammals and essential to a healthy lynx population in the north woods. Why are they so uniquely built? What triggers the changing colors in some? What’s a hare vs. a rabbit? And who really ate your spring bulbs? Presenter: Melonie Shipman, The Traveling Naturalist

Discover what’s really crawling through your lawn, trees, and garden! Engage in the fascinating (and sometimes alarming) world of insects in our landscapes. Whether you're concerned about emerald ash borers, jumping worms, or curious about garden ecology, this talk is perfect for homeowners and nature lovers alike. Learn how to spot—and manage—these tiny but impactful creatures! Instructor: Paul Wood, Master Gardener

Bob Payton, local iNaturalist ambassador and nature enthusiast, will lead an interactive session on using iNaturalist to identify the endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee around Thompson Park. Discover how iNaturalist can help you observe and distinguish a wide variety of life—including plants, animals, fungi, lichen, dragonflies and other tiny wildlife. Bob will explain how your observational contributions can support citizen science and promote healthy ecosystems, starting right in your own backyard. Presenter: Bob Payton, iNaturalist ambassador