CONQUERING ALL - The two June sessions of the Community Ed activity "Little Movers" have royalty as the theme. Joining the children on June 3 were Sleigh and Cutter King Brent Brass and Miss Owatonna Teen Linden Aarsvold. Pioneer photos by Deb Bently
Little Movers win the day
Community ed event allows creative play
Community ed event allows creative play
Thu, 06/11/2026 - 9:30am
After navigating a complex trail, a smiling preschooler dressed as Ariel from Disney’s Little Mermaid stood defiantly in place, soft weapon prepared for battle. Her goal was to get to the castle, and the king–complete with sash and crown–was in her way.
This was a scene at “Little Movers: Adventure Series,” a twice-a-month community education activity designed for preschoolers ages 3 to 6.
Event planner Ashley Robbins, who also coordinates the community ed gymnastics program, said her conception for the event focuses around giving children a reason to climb, balance, hop and run while also using their imaginations and simply enjoying themselves.
The 30-minute sessions meet in the upstairs gymnastics space at the Waseca Intermediate School, where various large-size cushions, obstacles, and a low-height balance beam are positioned to create an obstacle course above the springy floor. Young participants are guided and assisted by teenage participants in the gymnastics program.
The two sessions in June center around young royalty; the topic for July will be superheroes; for August it will be the circus. Children attending are encouraged to dress in costumes, hopefully put together using items they already have at home. Families who want to register their children for Little Movers can do so using the Waseca community education website.
The young prince and princesses present at the June 3 session found themselves crawling through a tunnel, navigating a maze, walking across a rampart, using stepping stones to cross a moat, and then battling the king to gain access to the castle.
Sleigh and Cutter king Brent Brass found himself disarmed and defeated over and over again as the young prince and princesses worked their way through the course and came to him. Fortunately, a cushion nearly 3 feet thick was nearby for his inevitable falls.
Miss Owatonna’s Teen Linden Aarsvold also took part in the event, also complete with sash and crown, and spent time visiting with the children and their helpers.