Digital Backpack for Southeast Polk

Stay Informed About Local Opportunities

The Southeast Polk Digital Backpack is our “green” approach to distributing information about student-focused community activities, events and opportunities. Check back often as new events are added weekly!

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January 18, 2026

The University of Iowa Alumni and Friends’ 48-Hour Flash Writing Contest

  • Location: Virtual

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For:

  • Cost: Free

  • Organizer: University of Iowa Center for Advancement

  • Contact: Tegan Donahue

  • Phone: (319) 467-3393

Details:

The University of Iowa is hosting its annual Alumni and Friends Flash Writing Contest—a timed, online short story competition. We’ll provide you with a writing prompt that includes a genre, character, and a specific object to incorporate into your story. You’ll have 48 hours and up to 1,000 words.

January 18, 2026

Rams Volleyball Winter Camp for Grades 2 & 3

  • Location: SEP Junior High

  • Time: 5:00 pm

  • Event For: Parents of 2nd & 3rd Grade Students

  • Cost: $20

  • Organizer: SEP Volleyball

  • Contact: Jim Sixta

Details:

This winter Volleyball Camp is for SEP 2nd & 3rd Grade students. The camp meets on Sundays, January 18 & 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm at SEP Junior High. The cost is $20. Register on RamMall.

January 22, 2026

Early Childhood Music Exploration

  • Location:

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Preschool-Kindergarten

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Hoyt Sherman Place

Details:

Kids discover the joy of music through singing, movement, games, and instruments. Each class builds rhythm, coordination, and creativity in a fun, playful way.

January 30, 2026

Family Movie Night

  • Location: Delaware Elementary School Gym

  • Time: Doors open at 6 pm; movie at 6:30 pm

  • Event For: ALL SEP elementary school families invited to join!

  • Cost: $15 per family, $10 if purchased early.

  • Organizer: Delaware Elementary School PTA

  • Contact: Kate Fairfax

  • Phone: (563) 650-2559

Details:

Delaware Elementary School PTA is hosting a family movie night! We will be showing "The Bad Guys" at 6:30 pm on January 30th in the Delaware Elementary gym. Tickets are $15 per family at the door and $10 if you purchase ahead of time (by Jan. 29th). Concessions available. *Cash only at the event.

January 31, 2026

Pleasant Hill Public Library January Event Calendar

  • Location: 5151 Maple Drive

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For:

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Pleasant Hill Public Library

  • Contact: Alex Coggeshell

  • Phone: (515) 309-9470

Details:

Check out all the free events at the Library this month! We've added lots of new events for all ages to our event line-up.

February 2, 2026

Healthy Living: Building Self Confidence and Body Image

  • Location: NewLife Church, 6036 NE 12th Street, Pleasant Hill, IA

  • Time: 6:00 pm

  • Event For: Students and adults

  • Cost: FREE

  • Organizer: NewLife Church

  • Contact: Gloria Sears

  • Phone: (515) 745-0822

Details:

Healthy Living Building Self-Confidence & Healthy Body Image Join us for an uplifting evening with Dr. Heidi Warner (as heard on Life 107.1) as we explore how to help kids and teens see themselves with confidence and truth.

February 6, 2026

Spring Youth Softball Registration

  • Location: Sam Wise Softball Complex Altoona

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Girls age 5-15

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Greater Altoona Girls Softball Association

  • Contact: Alex Weigel

  • Phone: (515) 314-6921

Details:

Registration is open for 2026 Spring League Youth Softball. Games are played Monday-Wednesday at Sam Wise Softball Complex in Altoona starting April 20-June 18. Open to all skill levels Beginner - Experienced. Registration closes February 6th. Visit www.GAGSA.org to sign up.

February 7, 2026

Swirling Skies: A Starry Night Workshop

  • Location:

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For:

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Hoyt Sherman Place

Details:

In this imaginative painting class, we’ll explore how to create a swirling, star-filled sky inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night. You’ll learn how to build a wispy, expressive background full of movement and color, then add details that bring your night sky to life. For the landscape below, y

February 7, 2026

Paint Event

  • Location: Southeast Polk High School - Room N175

  • Time: 3 pm

  • Event For: elementary - adults

  • Cost: $15

  • Organizer: SEP FCCLA

  • Contact: Aimee Marasco

  • Phone: (515) 967-6631

Details:

FCCLA invites you to come paint with us! Enjoy drinks & snacks and create an 11x14 canvas painting of a colorful heart! From 3-4:30 pm, join us at Southeast Polk High School -- enter through West Commons Doors and FCCLA members will escort you to room N175! $15 donation to FCCLA, cash please.

February 8, 2026

Iowa State Soccer 2026 Winter Youth Clinics

  • Location: Bergstrom Indoor Facility - 1900 S 4th St Ames, IA 50011

  • Time: 4:15 pm

  • Event For: Pre-K through 8th Grade

  • Cost: $160

  • Organizer: Iowa State Soccer Camps

  • Contact: Seth Junion

  • Phone: (515) 357-1750

Details:

Still looking for a fun, active, and skill-building way to train this winter? ❄️⚽ The Cyclone Soccer Program's Winter Youth Clinics are back at the Bergstrom Indoor Facility on Sundays from February 8th - March 8th!

February 13, 2026

Heartland Youth Choir – Try It Out!

  • Location: Windsor Heights Lutheran Church/Resurrection Lutheran Church in Ankeny

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: PreK-12th grades

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Heartland Youth Choir

  • Contact: Kelli Stoermer

  • Phone: (515) 221-3922

Details:

Heartland Youth Choir is holding Try it Out rehearsals to start our second semester of singing for kids grades PK4-12! Come to a rehearsal that fits your singer’s grade level and see if HYC is for you!

March 1, 2026

Intro to Punch Needle Rug Making

  • Location:

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For:

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Hoyt Sherman Place

Details:

Learn the basics of punch needle rug hooking by creating your very own smiley face mug rug that is 4” in size. You will learn stitch size, how to space your rows, how to punch straight lines and curves, and how to clean up the front side of your rug and hemming techniques.

March 7, 2026

Paint Event

  • Location: Southeast Polk HS - room N175

  • Time: 3 pm

  • Event For: elementary-adult

  • Cost: $15

  • Organizer: Southeast Polk FCCLA

  • Contact: Aimee Marasco

  • Phone: (515) 967-6631

Details:

Join SEP's FCCLA for painting event for the whole family! Enjoy drinks/snacks and paint and 11x14 canvas colorful night scene. 3-4:30 PM at Southeast Polk HS -- enter West Commons Doors and FCCLA members will help you to N175! $15 donation to FCCLA funds our State Competition, cash please.

March 31, 2026

Iowa Juniors NEXT (AAU) Volleyball Program

  • Location: Iowa Juniors Gym - 6290 NE Industry Drive, Des Moines

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: 3rd through 12th grade students

  • Cost: $500 for the season.

  • Organizer: Iowa Juniors Volleyball

  • Contact: Joe Morton

  • Phone: (515) 778-3969

Details:

The NEXT Program is designed for athletes looking to play club volleyball during the winter season while focusing on fundamental skill development. NEXT helps athletes prepare for future placement on Regional teams and positions them to become the “NEXT” key player on their middle school or HS Teams

July 9, 2026

Drivewise Driver education

  • Location: Southeast Polk Junior High/Senior High

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: anyone who is 14 and has their learners permit

  • Cost: multiple options

  • Organizer: Drivewise

  • Contact: Sierra Hansen

  • Phone: (641) 529-2005

Details:

We provide drivers education for all students at Southeast Polk and surrounding school districts