Bemidji Programs Offer Puzzle Fun and Early Release Care

The City of Bemidji Recreation Department announced on Nov. 14 two upcoming family oriented programs to be held at the Bemidji Carnegie Library. The offerings aim to provide structured activities for children and families, while addressing a common need for supervised options on school release days and family friendly evening events.

Puzzle Palooza was scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with check in at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21 and is set to run again on Friday, Dec. 5. Teams of two to four people raced to complete a 500 piece puzzle in two hours, with prizes awarded to the fastest teams. Registration cost was $30 per team and pre registration was required. The event format encouraged teamwork and light competition, and positioned the library as a place for community gathering in the evenings.

The department also scheduled Imagination Camp for early release day Friday, Dec. 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The camp offers children opportunities to engage in art, building and invention activities during the afternoon, providing a supervised space for creative play while school is out. The fee for the camp was $30 per participant and pre registration was required.

For local families, these programs serve several practical roles. Evening events at the library create affordable, low barrier options for intergenerational activity and community connection. Early release day programming helps working caregivers by providing structured care and enrichment for children during a typical gap in the school day. Costs are modest relative to private childcare rates, though even modest fees can be a barrier for some households, underscoring the importance of public investment and accessible options in recreation programming.

The announcements underscore the Recreation Department and library collaboration in delivering local programming that supports childhood development and community cohesion. Residents interested in participating were instructed to pre register, and to contact the Bemidji Recreation Department by phone or visit the department website for registration and additional information. As winter schedules and school calendars bring more mid day and evening needs for families, these kinds of community based programs can play a meaningful role in filling gaps and building social supports across Beltrami County.