Register Now for Summer Enrichment Camps and Activities
Explore a wide range of summer enrichment camps and activities by visiting any of the Summer Enrichment links below. Whether it’s a cooking class, learning about horses, arts, reading, or sports, there are a variety of options for children of different ages and interests.
| Activity | Description | Contact |
| Career Exploration Opportunities | We have a wide range of career exploration opportunities to help you find your passion and prepare for your dream job. Our career exploration programs include internships, job shadowing, mentorship programs, informational interviews with professionals in various fields, career fairs, and networking events. Whether you’re a high school student or in middle school, we have programs and resources to help you explore different careers, gain valuable experience, and connect with industry professionals. Let us help you take the first step towards a fulfilling and rewarding career. | Career Exploration website |
| Reading Activities to help prevent Summer Slide | Suggestions to encourage children to open books even after school doors close. Have some fun and avoid the summer reading slide. | 10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adventures
2023 Summer Library Program for all ages – Find Your Voice Scholastic Article: KIDS & FAMILY READING REPORT THE SUMMER READING IMPERATIVE |
| ACSD Summer Classes | Ankeny Community Engagement is proud to offer quality continuing education courses for students and adults in the Ankeny community and surrounding areas. Whether it’s an adult fitness class, evening or weekend enrichment for kids, or a class to keep your finances in check, you’ll find a wide variety of courses. View our Summer Course Catalog.
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Kristopher Koehler
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| DMACC Kids College Youth Camps | Youth Tech Inc. in cooperation with Des Moines Area Community College West Campus’s Celebrate! Innovation program is an interactive computer camp that focuses on providing enrichment opportunities to students in the world of computers. Classes offered at DMACC’s West Des Moines Campus or virtually. Various courses offered. Age range: 6-17. Registration fee. | DMACC Kids College website |
| Blank Park Zoo Summer Safari Camps | Explore the world of animals and nature. Week-long half-day or full day camp options that consist of hands-on lessons, games, art, zoo explorations and live animal encounters. Age range: 3 years through 7th grade. Registration discount for zoo members. Registration fee. | Blank Park Zoo Safari Camps website |
| Climb Iowa Summer Youth Camps | Climb Iowa camps introduce young adventurers to climbing. Children will learn about trust, teamwork and problem solving while developing their rock climbing skills through interactive games and activities. Ages 8-12. Registration fee. | Climb Iowa Youth Camps website |
| Jester Park Equestrian Camps | Four fun-filled mornings of summer camp at Jester Park Equestrian Center. Enjoy learning all about horses and spending plenty of time riding, along with participating in other fun camp activities like games and crafts. Ages 5-12. Registration fee. | Jester Park Equestrian website |
| Living History Farms Day Camps | Half-day and full day camps offered for children entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Registration fee. | Living History Farms Camps website |
| Polk County Conservation Day Camps | Variety of day camps offered for ages 6+. These day camps are designed to encourage hands-on learning through outdoor explorations, activities, games, crafts, and more. Camps will be led by naturalists. Campers are asked to bring a water bottle and sack lunch for day long camps. Prepackaged snacks will be provided. Registration fee. | Polk Country Conservation Camps website |
| Love Lunches | Love Lunches is served every weekday all summer long to kids and families in Ankeny that have need. Hot and cold lunches served daily at Ankeny Presbyterian Church, 317 SE Trilein Drive in Ankeny from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Monday-Friday and at Sunset Park, 1320 SW 3rd Street in Ankeny, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Monday-Thursday. | Love Lunches facebook page
Mary Kohlsdorf, 515-965-1737, ext. 224. holly.szcodronski@gmail.com (Sunset Park location – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church) |
| Ankeny Park & Recreation Department | The Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of leagues and activities for children ages toddler to 18. Click link for full listing of leagues, camps and courses. | Ankeny Parks and Recreation Activity website |
| Des Moines Performing Arts Summer Camps | Young people sharpen their skills, stretch their imaginations, and create unique memories through a variety of Des Moines Performing Arts education opportunities. With theater professionals as the instructors, students gain a deeper understanding of the process, build confidence, and benefit from a fresh jolt of creative energy. Grades 3-12. | Des Moines Performing Arts Summer Camps website |
| Des Moines Community Playhouse Summer Camps | Variety of Camps held for grades K-12. | Des Moines Community Playhouse Summer Camps website |
| Real Food 4 Kids | Hands on cooking camp for kids and teens, ages 6+. Three options offered for 4 –day sessions. | Cooking Class website |
| Elementary Math Activities and Games | Have fun this summer incorporating math into each day. You and your child can play dice and card games, engage in conversations about a picture, or solve a problem together. You will find FREE resources to help you and your child develop a love of mathematics. | Math Summer Resources |
| Des Moines Y Camps | Overnight and day camp options for ages 6-13 (daycamp) and ages 9-12 (overnight camp). What better place for your child to spend their summer days than at the Des Moines Y Camp located in Boone?
Under the supervision of trained staff your child will spend their summer enjoying the outdoors through various program activities all while building new friendships and growing in the four Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Daily traditional activities may include: climbing, hiking, archery, fishing, canoeing, field games, Imagineering, crafts, swimming, gaga ball, horseback riding (additional fee), and so much more! VIP Program for ages 14 – 17 |
Des Moines Y Camps website |
Orbis gets published!
Getting published isn’t easy but how Orbis came to be makes a great story. The program mission statement “Unleash passion. Realize potential. Impact the world.” focuses on that exact purpose aiming to solve real problems and improve the community. Authors, Trent Grundmeyer, School of Education, Drake University; Jill Urich, Ankeny Community School District; Jill Olson, Results Group; Stephanie Brown, Ankeny Community School District; and Susan Gentz, Ben and Susan Gentz Strategies, came together for this article explaining the Orbis program at Ankeny Community School District and the influence project based learning has on high school students. View their publication in Science Publishing Group!
Prescribed Burns
A prescribed (controlled) burn of the District’s prairie grasses have a start window of Dec. 1, 2022 through June 1, 2023. The burns will be conducted when the weather is within our parameters. The burns will be at:
The DNR recommends a burn every three years to maintain prairie grasses. District staff conducting burns have been trained and certified in prescribed burns.
Skilled Trades Camp – a big success!
This summer, Ankeny students got a hands-on look at different jobs within the trades industry. The skilled trades camp, put on by the Des Moines Home Builders Association, allowed these future graduates the chance to learn about additional options to a viable career outside of the school setting. Students traveled to different unions and were able to interact with specific responsibilities of plumbers and steamfitters, electricians, carpenters, as well as non union job sites. This opportunity provided clarity which pathway to take which could help them plan their next few years of high school and beyond. This camp gave our students confidence in making decisions about their pathway after high school. Check out the video!
Superintendent Pruitt pitches project to Orbis students
Dr. Pruitt stopped by the Orbis classroom last week to pitch their first project as a class for the 22-23 school year. The onboarding included interacting with Orbis innovators and discussion around the project. Stay tuned to find out how it turns out! Click here to find out more about our Orbis program and what it’s about!
Join Us April 21 for the Parent Advisory Committee
Please join us for the April 21, 2022 PAC meeting. This will be an open discussion about the draft Strategic Plan and Graduate Profile. The partnership between families, parents, students, and the school has always been a priority in Ankeny. This collaboration will grow as parents and families unite in support of student learning experiences such as career exploration and awareness of work-based learning. Determining a student’s vision for their future and engaging in learning that centers the student’s voice and choice in the process is best done when the educational team and the family work together.
When: Thursday, April 21 • 6-7:30pm
Where: Northview Middle School, 1302 North Ankeny Boulevard
Click here to review documents and provide feedback.
Save the Date: ESOL Family Night, May 9
When: Monday, May 9th, 6-8pm
Where: Northview Middle School, 1302 North Ankeny Boulevard
What: Join us for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Family Night! This event will help ESOL families to learn more about the district and available community resources. Please bring your child’s Chromebook. Dinner will be provided.
March Important Dates
March: In Like A Lamb, Out Like A …?
As we are enjoying this unseasonable balmy first day of March here are some important dates to remember.
- February 28 – March 3rd: Parent/Teacher Conferences
- March 11th: No School
- March 14-18: No School/Spring Break
View our parent calendar for more.
Profile of a Graduate
We are excited to launch the process of re-imagining our graduate profile! This document will work together with our strategic plan and equity framework to help chart a path for the district’s future. Please view this short survey to provide feedback on our graduate profile.
Black History Month Challenge
Calling all students ages 13-18!
- First Place: $3,500 scholarship
- Second Place: $1,000 scholarship
- Third Place: $500 scholarship