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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April 27, 2025

Ames Figure Skating Club Presents: Take a Bow

  • Location: Ames ISU Arena, 1507 Gateway Hills Park Dr, Ames, IA 50014

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Everyone

  • Cost: Ages 5 and under: Free, Seniors (65+) and Students (with ID): $5, General: $10

  • Organizer: Ames Figure Skating Club

  • Contact: Kat Mader

  • Phone: (515) 520-0111

Details:

Join us for Take a Bow, a theater-style skating show celebrating 15 years of AFSC performances! Enjoy breathtaking spins, daring jumps, and nostalgic routines. April 26 @ 6 PM & April 27 @ 2 PM. Tickets: $10/adult, $5/student and seniors, kids under 5 free. Don’t miss this unforgettable event!

April 30, 2025

Host a World Link Exchange Students for 25-26 School Year!

  • Location: Host family's home

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: All school district parents and school staff

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: World Link Inc

  • Contact: Karen King-Fitzgerald

  • Phone: (515) 491-1551

Details:

Open your home to a world of adventure by hosting a foreign exchange student! It’s a chance to share your culture, create lifelong bonds, and make a lasting impact on a young person’s life. Your family will gain new perspectives, unforgettable memories, and a global connections.

May 1, 2025

Summer Jobs with Des Moines Parks and Recreation!

  • Location: City of Des Moines

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Ages 15+

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Des Moines Parks and Recreation

  • Contact: Ian Knutsen

  • Phone: (515) 205-6218

Details:

Des Moines Parks and Recreation are looking for High School students looking for summer jobs!

May 3, 2025

Girl Scout Day at Hoyt Sherman Place

  • Location: 1501 Woodland Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309

  • Time: 10:00 am

  • Event For:

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Hoyt Sherman Place

Details:

Join us for Girl Scout Day at Hoyt Sherman Place including tours, crafts, and learning.

May 4, 2025

Street Survival

  • Location: DMACC Parking Lot, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA

  • Time: 8:30

  • Event For: High School Students

  • Cost: $125.00

  • Organizer: SCCA Foundation

  • Contact: Tara Box-Walker

  • Phone: (525) 490-5833

Details:

Street Survival is a national program that teaches teens more about car control in a full day of driving their own car through exercises in a controlled environment with an in car instructor. This program is designed to give students hands on experience and the tools to become smarter, safer drivers

May 9, 2025

SEP Boys Swim Camp

  • Location: Southeast Polk High School Pool

  • Time: June 2nd - 6th 3-4:30pm

  • Event For: Male student-athletes entering 3rd - 8th grade

  • Cost: $75.00

  • Organizer: Southeast Polk High School Boys Swimming

  • Contact: Dustin Cassler

  • Phone: (515) 669-7207

Details:

Any male students interested in competitive swimming, please registerin for the SEP Boys Swim Camp June 2nd - 6th from 3-4:30pm each day at the SEP High School Pool. Participants only need a towel and goggles to participate. No competitive swimming experience required. All will receive a t-shirt. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the SEP High School coaches and team members on all 4 competitive swimming strokes.

May 12, 2025

Pleasant Hill Kids Running Club

  • Location: Hickory Glen Park in Pleasant Hill, IA

  • Time: 5:30 PM

  • Event For: Ages 4-8 years old

  • Cost: $60

  • Organizer: Pleasant Hill Kids Running Club

  • Contact: Caitlin Merritt

  • Phone: (563) 579-3581

Details:

This program is designed to get your child interested in running, fitness, and being healthy. This is non-competitive, inclusive and a great way to build your child’s confidence and meet new friends! Kids will learn the fundamentals of running, stretching, and nutrition basics in a FUN environment!

May 18, 2025

Safe@Home by Safe Sitter

  • Location: Harbach Center - 1900 NW 114th St., Clive, IA 50325

  • Time: 4:00 PM

  • Event For: Students finishing the 3rd grade through 6th grade.

  • Cost: 35

  • Organizer: Des Moines CPR

  • Contact: Jessica McCracken

  • Phone: (515) 423-0332

Details:

Safe@Home by Safe Sitter® is a 90-minute program that will teach your child how to stay safe when they are home alone for short periods of time. They will learn what to do if there is a power failure, weather emergency, or get a nose bleed.

June 1, 2025

2025 Simpson College Youth Football Camp

  • Location: Buxton Stadium, Simpson College

  • Time: 2:45pm

  • Event For: 1st-8th Grade

  • Cost: $100.00

  • Organizer: Simpson College Football

  • Contact: Jason Martinez

  • Phone: (517) 414-1995

Details:

Simpson Storm Football invites you to our annual summer Youth Football Camp. We’re excited to bring kids from the surrounding areas to our campus and expose them to the fundamentals of football. Our four-day camp encompasses football techniques, games, and competitions.

June 2, 2025

Attention Graduating Seniors! Now Hiring Assistant Sales Managers @ R3 Roofing & Exteriors!

  • Location:

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Graduating Seniors

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: R3 Roofing & Exteriors

  • Contact: Amber Vollmer

  • Phone: (515) 864-8902

Details:

Assistant Sales Manager – Des Moines, IA Make Great Money. Build a Career. Have Fun Doing It! View the job description here: www.r3roofs.com/hiring. We have a training class starting March 3rd, but will be hiring all throughout the summer as well!

June 2, 2025

Bulldog Girls Basketball Camps

  • Location: Knapp Center - Drake University

  • Time: 9:00a - 12:00p

  • Event For: Camp options for K-8 grade

  • Cost: Varies

  • Organizer: Bulldog Girls Basketball - Drake Women's Basketball

  • Contact: Cortni Rush

  • Phone: (641) 512-6778

Details:

Basketball camps hosted in the month of June for K-8th grader students. Bulldog Basketball Camps are all about learning, playing hard, and having a ton of fun while you do it!

June 6, 2025

Discovery Time Preschool

  • Location: Mitchellville Christian Church

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For:

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Discovery Time Preschool

  • Contact: Amy Haus

  • Phone: (515) 250-1450

Details:

Do you live in the boundary of Mitchellville Elementary? Discovery Time Preschool located at Mitchellville Christian Church has openings for 25/26 school year. We walk students to preschool every afternoon. We offer preschool 5 days a week. See website or email with questions.

June 15, 2025

Y Camp Summer 2025

  • Location: Des Moines Y Camp

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Ages 7-17

  • Cost: Varies by Program

  • Organizer: Des Moines Y Camp

  • Contact: Melanie Mellinger

  • Phone: (515) 432-7558

Details:

Overnight Camp, Day Camp, Family Camp and our amazing Partner Camps all work to bring the impact and value of camp to all who enter the Valley. If you’re looking for the ultimate camp experience, Summer Camp is the place to start. Find your next adventure at the Des Moines Y Camp!

June 15, 2025

Wesley Woods Summer Camp

  • Location: 10896 Nixon Street, indianola

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: ages 6+

  • Cost: depends on the camp, scholarships available

  • Organizer: Wesley Woods Camp + Retreat Center

  • Contact: Sierra Kuisle

  • Phone: (515) 961-4523

Details:

Are you ready to embark on a journey of faith, fun, and friendship? Visit us at Camp Wesley Woods, where every day is an opportunity for growth, adventure, and spiritual deepening. Discover more about our programs, meet our dedicated staff, and explore what a summer at Wesley Woods can offer you.

June 16, 2025

Drake University Summer Voice Intensive

  • Location: Drake University

  • Time: 9:00am

  • Event For: Middle and High School Students

  • Cost: $400

  • Organizer: Drake University

  • Contact: Alyssa Becker

  • Phone: (515) 473-0564

Details:

The annual Drake University Voice Intensive (DUVI) is a summertime camp designed for young singers ages 14+ to develop their voices and build confidence in performing and auditioning.

June 16, 2025

Simpson Basketball Camps

  • Location: Cowles Fieldhouse Simpson College

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: 4th-9th

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Simpson College

  • Contact: Claire Johnson

  • Phone: (712) 444-1950

Details:

Our summer camps provide expert coaching, structured drills & competitive play to improve the fundamentals, skills & confidence of our camp participants. Whether a camper is a beginner to basketball or an advanced player, our camps provide a valuable experience to everyone, promoting growth!

June 19, 2025

Hoyt Sherman Place Spring Art Classes

  • Location: 1501 Woodland Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For:

  • Cost:

  • Organizer: Hoyt Sherman Place

  • Contact: Emily Roeder

Details:

Join us for one of our many spring art classes at Hoyt Sherman Place including needle felting, music, acrylics, watercolor, drawing, and more.

June 20, 2025

Adventures in Architecture Day Camp

  • Location: Drake University

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Middle schoolers

  • Cost: $250

  • Organizer: Iowa Architectural Foundation

  • Contact: Laura Porter

  • Phone: (515) 244-1888

Details:

This weeklong day camp offers middle schoolers the opportunity to explore their interest in buildings and architecture. Open to students entering 7th and 8th grades, Adventures in Architecture Camp will include hands-on, immersive learning projects and first-hand encounters with design professionals

July 16, 2025

Junior Achievement Rising Women Workshop

  • Location: 6100 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50312

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Female participants must be between ages 14 - 21 years of age by July 1, 2025.

  • Cost: Free

  • Organizer: Junior Achievement of Central Iowa

  • Contact: Heidi Gruca

  • Phone: (515) 279-9602

Details:

Participants will engage in a variety of activities, lessons and conversations throughout the day surrounding important topics with take-aways that they can apply to their lives now; topics include leadership skills, financial literacy, career-readiness skills, goal-setting and communication.

July 18, 2025

Drake Volleyball Camps

  • Location: Knapp Center at Drake University

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Elementary, Middle, and High School Students

  • Cost: Each camp may vary

  • Organizer: Drake University Volleyball

  • Contact: Addison Barnes

  • Phone: (920) 213-3969

Details:

Drake volleyball camps are a great way to get active this summer and engage with our student-athlete's here at Drake! We put on a variety of camps you can choose from starting on 7/7/25 going through 7/18/25. Our goal is to teach young students about the game of volleyball and have fun!

July 18, 2025

Varsity Summer Camp: Around the World Through Movies

  • Location: Varsity Cinema, 1207 25th St., Des Moines, IA 50311

  • Time: 9:00am

  • Event For: elementary students, grades 2-5

  • Cost: $125

  • Organizer: Des Moines Film | Varsity Cinema

  • Phone: (515) 259-0167

Details:

Travel around the world through movies! Earn a new stamp for your passport each day as we watch a movie from a different country then explore that country’s culture through fun activities. Campers will receive free t-shirt, plus a light snack each day, including movie theater popcorn on Friday.

July 25, 2025

SummerSongs

  • Location: Windsor Heights Lutheran Church

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Completed Kindergarten through 8th grade

  • Cost: The price range varies, there are scholarships available.

  • Organizer: Heartland Youth Choir

  • Contact: Kelli Stoermer

  • Phone: (515) 221-3922

Details:

Singers who have finished grade K through 8 will enjoy five days of singing and fun that ends with a musical performance! Participants will experience choir rehearsals, musicianship, sectional rehearsals, and movement activities.

July 25, 2025

SummerSongs

  • Location: Windsor Heights Lutheran Church

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: Finished kindergarten through 8th grade

  • Cost: The price range varies, there are scholarships available.

  • Organizer: Heartland Youth Choir

  • Contact: Kelli Stoermer

  • Phone: (515) 221-3922

Details:

Singers who have finished grade K through 8 will enjoy five days of singing and fun that ends with a musical performance! Participants will experience choir rehearsals, musicianship, sectional rehearsals, and movement activities.

August 22, 2025

Camp Fire Summer Camps

  • Location: Various Des Moines locations

  • Time: All Day

  • Event For: K-12 Students

  • Cost: Tiered Pricing, Financial Assistance Available, CCA Eligible at specific sites.

  • Organizer: Camp Fire Heart of Iowa

  • Contact: Jenna Turner

  • Phone: (515) 274-1501

Details:

Spend the summer with Camp Fire! Offering day and overnight camp options for youth K-12, enjoy your summer doing fun activities including swimming, games, field trips & more! We connect youth to the outdoors, others, and themselves. Tiered pricing, financial assistance available, and CCA eligible.