Classes, Groups, and Activities

Classes, Groups, and Activities at The Center are a mix of consistent options and multi-week offerings. We offer our members options for creativity, emotional support, important discussions, active aging, better balance, wellness, and so much more.

Groups and Activities

Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Caregiver’s Group: Build a support system with people who understand. This Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group meets on the second Friday of every month from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. This group meets in the third-floor conference room and is led by trained facilitators. Contact Kent O’Grady at kent.ogrady (at) gmail (dot) com if you have questions or need further help. 

Memory Café: A Gathering for Caregivers and Those with Memory Issues: Memory Café is an opportunity for caregivers and their loved ones with memory issues to come together for a learning/entertainment session. This group meets in our Great Room on the second Tuesday of every month at 10:30 am. During the second half of this session, caregivers break off into their own group, and those with memory issues get to connect and have their own support group. This gathering is led by Kent, Teresia, Angelique, and other community members. If you have any questions about either group, contact Becky or Trina in the admin office.

Memory Kits: Now available at The Center! The Lakes Area Memory Awareness Advocates (LAMAA) is excited to introduce Memory Makers Kits. These kits are designed to help caregivers and families connect through reminiscence, conversation, and storytelling. Each of the 10 themed kits — such as baking, child raising, gardening, fishing, hunting, and needlecraft — contains items meant to spark memories and encourage engagement.

These kits are in the lobby area and must be checked out at the front desk. LAMMA has also been kind enough to donate several dementia/Alzheimer’s-related books for caregivers to check out from our lending library. Big thanks to LAMAA for their support!

Book Club! The Center’s Book Club meets on the second Thursday at 10 am every month in our Board Room. To see what book our group is currently reading, check the most recent newsletter or email Becky (at) thebrainerdcenter (dot) com.

Lending Library: One of the many perks of being a member of this wonderful non-profit is our Lending Library that consists of DVDs, puzzles, and books. Our Lending Library is located in our lobby area, and members are invited to borrow these items, enjoy them, and return them when they are done.

Men’s Growing Old Together Group (GOT): GOT meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month in our Craft Room. This group meets to discuss topics of interest while sharing life experiences over a cup of coffee.

Quilters Group: Our Quilters gather on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm in the third-floor conference room to make warm quilts for people with major illnesses or injuries. To date, our quilters have gifted over 7,300 quilts! Can’t sew? No problem! There are always things to work on, and the quilters would love to see you.

Card Recyclers: This fun group meets on Mondays and Friday to upcycle and create beautiful greeting cards for all occasions. Th creating happens from 8:00 am to noon and new makers are always welcome. These beautiful, handcrafted cards are available in our Gift Shop for only .75 and a pop-up card is only $1.00 (and that includes an envelope!)

Doll Makers: The mission of the Doll Makers project is to bring smiles to little faces. These soft-body dolls are given to law enforcement and other agencies to
comfort kids during difficult situations. Thanks to Ruth Valerius, we now have premade doll kits that volunteers can take home, complete, and bring back to The Center for distribution. Adorable dolls and colorful kitty patterns will be available in the Card Room in the Doll Maker’s closet. A sign-up sheet is at the front desk for anyone interested. Volunteers will choose the meeting day and time. Thank you for helping keep this meaningful project going.

Toymakers: Help Make Toys for Kids in Need! No experience needed—our friendly woodworking group will teach you everything from start to finish. From cutting and sanding to painting, varnishing, and packaging, all supplies and tools are provided in The Center’s fully equipped shop. Join us Tuesdays, 8 a.m.–10p.m., on the fourth floor.

Knitters and Crocheters: The Knitting/Crocheting group meets on Wednesday morning at 10:00 in our Board Room. Bring your yarn projects to work on and spend some time socializing and learning from each other.

Wood Carvers: Our woodcarving group meets from 8:00 – 11:00 am on Thursdays on the fourth floor. If you have an interest in working with carving tools, feel free to drop in and sit with our artists.

Veteran’s Coffee: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, our veterans meet in the Great Room for coffee and camaraderie.

Classes

AARP Smart Drivers: The Center hosts two 4-hour Refresher Classes each month on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-AARP members. Instructor is Russ Holland. If you have questions, you may reach him at 218-838-2774 and call our front desk to sign up. NOTE: Dates and times are subject to change.

For 2025

November 13th from 11 am -3 pm
November 20th NO CLASS
December 11th from Noon-4 pm
December 30th NO CLASS

Art Classes: Acrylic & Oil Painting, and Rosemaling/Norwegian Folk Painting.  Call The Center at 218-829-9345 for information or to reach the instructor. You will find that you are artistic; you just needed a great instructor! Our acrylic and oil painters meet every Wednesday in the third-floor conference room from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Bring a project to paint or request help from one of the many talented artists in this group.

Great Decisions Discussion Group meets once a month from March through November. GDDG meets the 3rd Monday at 4 pm in the Great Room of The Center. This group can be educational entertainment as they discuss current events based on a nine-topic book published by the non-partisan Foreign Policy Association. The 2026 topics are: America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy, Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy, U.S.-China Relations, Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation, Ukraine and the Future of European Security, Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order (SUBJECT TO CHANGE), U.S. Engagement of Africa, The Future of Human Rights and International Law. Contact The Center at 218-829-9345 for information or check the monthly newsletter.  You may also contact Jon Strand @218-454-1025 or email jonstrand@brainerd.net for more information.

Watercolor Class with Daria: Join artist Daria Blanton for a weekly Watercolor/Drawing Class. This class is open to the public and is held in our Craft Room on Thursdays from 10:00-12:00pm. The cost per class is $10 paid to the instructor.