2025 Spring & Summer Programming/Classes & Camps!
Sundays
Class: Theater and Improv for Social Skills
Time: 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: DSAMn Conference Room 668 Transfer Rd. St Paul
Age: 14+
Class Description:
For people with Down syndrome ages 14 and up. This class is a great way to dip your toe into performing arts and see if it’s for you! In this class, students will learn performing and acting techniques. Using theater games and imaginative story-creation, students will gain skills that benefit them inside and outside the classroom. Acting includes exploring emotions and playing pretend in a safe space. Possible benefits of this class are boosted confidence, skills in collaboration, and creative expression. The class will conclude with an informal showing of stories created by the students. All experience levels welcome! The location for the class will alternate between the DSAMN conference room and office. Email lizz@dsamn.org with any questions
Cost: $100.00 per session (8 weeks)
Session 3: June 8th, 15th & 29, July 13 & 20th, August 3, 10, & 17
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/TheaterImprovSocialSkills25
Tuesdays
Class: Cooking Class
Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Location: Richfield High School Culinary Arts Lab/Commercial Kitchen 7001 Harriet Ave, Richfield
Class Description: For people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities 9th grade through adult. Join friends each week to prepare and eat a snack or meal. No prior kitchen experience is required! Class includes take home recipes to recreate in your own kitchen. Cost includes food/materials.
Cost: $75.00 per session (7 weeks)
Session 2: June 24th, July 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29th, August 5th
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/cookingclass2025
Wednesdays
Class: Self-Defense
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: DSAMn Conference Room, St. Paul
Age: 14+
Class Description:
This class is for people with Down syndrome ages 14 and up. Students will learn about setting verbal and physical boundaries (and safety awareness) in this class. This class will provide a good workout focusing on body alignment, posture, and breathing while moving. All techniques learned in this class are not meant to be used in daily life - these are techniques only used in an emergency. Instructors will differentiate what movements can be used inside the classroom and which outside.
Bill is a Kukkiwon-certified Taekwondo Master and copetes internationally at Poomsae, the choreographed forms of Taekwondo. He has also has assisted classes for people with Down sydnrome at Element gym, and is Safesport certified.
Skills touched on in this class include: Balance and flexibility, core and leg strength, cardio, and focus of power.
Cost: $120 per session (8 weeks)
Session 1 Dates: July 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th, August 6th, 13th, 20th, & 27th
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/selfdefense25
Thursdays
Class: Improv and Physical Comedy
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Online
Age: 14+
Class Description: For ages 14 and up. In this high energy class, students will learn theatrical techniques in comedy and physical theater. Using theatrical techniques including mime, clowning exercises, and Improv games, students will explore the parts of them that are uniquely hilarious. This class is for students with Down syndrome, there is no experience or specific ability required.
Cost: $50 per session (8 weeks)
Session 3: June 5th, 12th, 26th, July 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st, August 7th
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/comedyonline2025
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Class: Toneworks
Time: 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: 5624 Lincoln Dr Suite 280, Minneapolis
Age: 14+
Class Description: For people with Down syndrome ages 14 and up! Give your loved one a chance to show off their skills with Sensational Singers! Hosted by Toneworks and DSAMN, our adaptive choir meets weekly to practice singing skills, perform favorite songs and make peer connections. Your sensational singer will work with a music therapist for 8 weeks and perform at a low-key Recital.
Cost: $120 per session (8 weeks)
Session: June 5th, 12th, 26th, July 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st, August 7th
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/toneworks25
Saturdays
Class: Crockpot Meal Prep
Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Richfield High School
Age: 9th Grade - Adult
Class Description: Participants will prep and leave with 3 meals as well as recipes, ideas for sides. The focus of the class is simple, healthy, crock pot meals that can be refrigerated or frozen for use at a later date, as well as, replicated at home. The meals they will prep are 2 servings and designed to be prepared in a crock pot. Crock pots are available for purchase for and an additional $20. Each of the three meal prep sessions will include one chicken dish, one pork or beef dish, and one soup or chili dish. Substitutions will be made to accommodate dietary restrictions. There will be a Gluten-Free Kitchen Prep Station.
Cost: $40.00 per session
Session 1: May 3rd
Session 2: May 10th
Session 3: May 17th
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/crockpot25
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Class: Advanced Acting
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: The Hive Collaborative 677 Hamline Ave N, St. Paul
Age: 14+
NOW ACCEPTING NEW TROUPE MEMBERS FOR 2025-26 SEASON!
Class Description: This Summer DSAMn Advanced Acting troupe will be working on playwriting techniques through language, movement, and other modes of theater creation. We will also start staging an original play written by one of the DSAMN actors.
This class will culminate in a final performance of original work by the students the weekend of May 29-31st 2026.
DSAMn’s Saturday morning acting troupe is a dedicated group of performers with Down syndrome, many of whom have been working together since 2021. Past performances have included original plays written by the students as well as adaptations of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This class is led by theater practitioners and performers Lizz Windnagel and Shelby Richardson.
Skills we work on in this class: collaboration, community building, social skills, focus, context-switching, sequencing, movement, acting, emotional awareness, and more!
We ask that students have taken a theater class with DSAMn in the past or has other theater experience. Please email lizz@dsamn.org with any questions.
Cost: $125.00 per session
Session 3: June 21st & 28th, July 12th, 19th, & 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/advancedacting25
Virtual Drop In Weekly Programming
Feel free to join when you can during these ongoing virtual drop in programming.
Musical Theater Club - Mondays at 4:00pm
Creative Writing Club - Mondays at 5:00pm
Adult Social Hour - Wednesdays at 4:00pm
Shakespeare for teens & adults - Wednesdays at 5:00pm
In this drop-in club, students who are fans of Shakespeare or curious about the topic will learn more about one of the greatest writers of all time! We will watch excerpts from films and practice speaking and interpreting Shakespearean text. Content warning: possible mature themes that are present in Shakespeare. We will work to modify these when possible to keep the content accessible!
Summer Camps for Middle School Age
Camp: Puppetry
Date: August 18th - 22nd (Monday - Friday)
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Heart of the Beast, Minneapolis
Age: Middle School
Class Description: For people with Down syndrome going into 6-9th grade. DSAMN’s Puppetry camp will take place at Heart of the Beast’s historic Avalon theater on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Students will be surrounded and inspired by puppets made by Heart of the Beast Artists since the 1970s.
This camp is half puppet-building and half writing/performance. Students will make masks, hand-puppets, and other types of puppets to tell original stories.
Cost: $125
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/puppetrycampmiddle
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Camp: Physical Comedy & Storytelling
Date: August 25th - 29th (Monday - Friday)
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location: DSAMn Conference Room, St. Paul
Age: Middle School
Class Description: For people with Down syndrome going into 6-9th grade. At this camp we will use theater games, miming, and improv games to hone student’s skills of confidence and creativity. This class is geared toward physical storytelling and friendly to students with limited verbal communication skills. This camp is accessible to all levels of experience! Location is the DSAMN conference room, down the hall from the DSAMN office in St. Paul.
Cost: $125
Register here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/campcomedystory
Register Early & invite friends!
DSAMn classes need a minimum enrollment to run. Registration closes 7 days prior to the start of the session. We may need to cancel low-enrollment classes. If you register for a class that is cancelled you will notified and fully refunded within 5 business days of cancellation.
All classes are for people with Down syndrome in 9th grade through adult unless otherwise noted.
Additional programming may be added as available.
Please email lizz@dsamn.org with any questions about programs
Program Scholarships and Financial Support
Cost should not be a barrier to participation in any DSAMn program. All our programs are offered on a sliding fee scale based on Federal Poverty Level Guidelines. Families living at or below 200% if FPL are eligible for the sliding scale.
If fees are an issue for any family even if you do not meet the guidelines above, please email dsamn@dsamn.org - we can help.
Health Policy
At this time masking is optional at all of DSAMn's programs and events. We ask that if you are sick with any symptoms to please stay home or attend virtually if available. If you have recently recovered from an illness please wear a mask to protect others in our vulnerable population. Masking requirements subject to change based on local requirements.
