Every May, there’s a moment when you realize the school year is nearly over and you start doing the math — the meetings, the events, the small moments that added up to something meaningful. This year, that math feels pretty good.
One Last Taco Tuesday (Sort Of)
We wrapped up the STUDs year with a combined Jr. and Sr. STUDs meeting, and we did it right — tacos, laughter, and a rousing game of Stand Up, Sit Down that had everyone on their feet. Or in their seats. Repeatedly. It was exactly the kind of low-key, high-fun ending the year deserved.
Saying Goodbye to Two of the Best
This year’s graduation brings with it a bittersweet moment for STUDs. Sr. STUDs President Will Castle and Secretary Grace Swanson are crossing that stage, and we could not be prouder of them.
Will and Grace have been the kind of student leaders who make this program what it is — showing up, setting an example, and bringing genuine enthusiasm to everything they did. They were a joy to work with, and we have no doubt they are going to make their mark on whatever comes next.
We’ll miss you both. Go do great things.
Looking Ahead
Before the year wrapped up, we had the chance to visit the 5th grade classroom — and we left feeling pretty excited about next year. There are some great kids coming up, and we’re hoping to see a lot of them in STUDs when they arrive as 6th graders in the fall.
The story isn’t over. It’s just turning a page.
Have a wonderful summer, Lake of the Woods.
What a Weekend.
April 9th and 10th were big days for LWPC, and we are still smiling about it.
Spring Open House: Plant Something Good
Our table at the Lake of the Woods School Spring Open House was buzzing. Kids stopped by to make plant markers out of popsicle sticks, markers, and stickers — and then planted a sunflower to take home. It was simple, hands-on, and exactly the kind of thing that makes an open house table worth having. Watching little ones carefully press a seed into soil and carry their pot away like it was the most precious thing in the room? That never gets old.
A huge thank you to Sr. STUDs members Grace Swanson and Will Castle, and Jr. STUDs member Carson Paoli, who were wonderful with the younger kids and made the whole thing run smoothly. And congratulations to Kate Albrecht, winner of the Watering Can Plant generously donated by Pieper’s Garden Center!
Lock-In: The Remix
The next night, about 41 kids showed up for Lock-In: The Remix — our first lock-in event in several years. Was it a packed house? No. Was it a fantastic night anyway? Absolutely.
Walking tacos fueled the crowd. Gaga ball, basketball, and sumo wrestling kept them moving. A vinyl record painting craft gave kids something to take home. And the raffle? A hit. We are so grateful to the local businesses who donated prizes and made that part of the night possible.
We also have to give a special shoutout to our very own Sandy Peterson, whose birthday was cause for celebration. A surprise photo booth was set up in her honor, and kids had a blast snapping pictures with the birthday girl. Happy birthday, Sandy — you deserve every bit of it.
Small crowds have a way of surprising you. Forty-one kids means forty-one young people who chose to spend a Friday night doing something positive — and that is worth celebrating.
A sincere thank you to our chaperones, who gave their time and energy to help make the night safe and fun. We could not do this without you.
Here’s to more weekends like this one.
We’re Still Here. A Lot Has Happened.
If you last visited this website sometime around 2014, welcome back. We’ve missed you.
A lot has changed since then — in the world, in Lake of the Woods County, and here at LWPC. We thought it was time to dust off this corner of the internet, pick up where we left off, and keep you in the loop on what we’ve been up to.
But first — a moment.
The students who were active in our STUDs program back in 2014 are in their mid-to-late twenties now. Some of them have careers. Some of them have kids of their own. We think about that sometimes. We hope their time in STUDs meant something — that some small part of what they learned, or experienced, or chose during those years still lives with them. If you’re one of those former STUDs members reading this: we hope life is treating you well. You were part of something good.
So, what has LWPC been up to for the past twelve years?
The short answer: a lot. The coalition has kept going — through grant cycles, through a pandemic, through staff changes and community shifts — because the work still matters. Substance use prevention in a small, rural community doesn’t get easier over time, but the people who show up for it don’t quit either.
STUDs is still going strong, serving students in grades 6 through 12. National Night Out, which draws 500 or more community members each summer in Baudette, has become one of our favorite annual events. We’ve added programs like Narcan training and distribution, Safe Prescription Drug Disposal, and Responsible Beverage Server Training — reflecting the ways the prevention landscape has evolved.
Most recently, LWPC has been implementing a framework called Communities That Care (CTC) through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. It’s an evidence-based approach that uses local data to drive prevention decisions — and earlier this month, we completed our first CTC Prevention Needs Assessment Survey with students in grades 6 through 12. 191 students participated. The results are in, and we’re reviewing them now. We’ll share what we learn right here.
This is us, in 2026.
Same mission. Same community. A lot more gray hair.
We’re glad you’re here, and we plan to keep this space updated with news, resources, and the occasional reflection on why this work matters. Stick around.
— Doris Knutson, Prevention Coordinator, Lake of the Woods Prevention Coalition lwpcstory.org | facebook.com/LOtWPC