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Prairie Backpack

College Community School District’s “green” approach to distributing information from school sponsored activities and non-profit organizations.

Intermediate School (5-6)

Events

  • Metro STEAM Academy Weather Balloon Launch

    Location
    Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library LivingLearning Roof
    Audience
    All ages, K-12, STEM learners and educators
    Cost
    Free
    Organization
    Cedar Amateur Astronomers
    Contact
    Gordon Baustian
    Email
    gordonbaustian@gmail.com
    Phone
    (319) 721-0659

    Information

    In collaboration with the Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference, the Metro STEAM Academy is launching a Weather Balloon from the LivingLearning Roof of the Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library on May 16, 2026.

    Launch pep starts at 9:30 AM with the launch at 10:00AM. Come watch and learn how and why this is done to study our atmosphere and how this relates to Astronomy. The students will be tracking the balloon’s flight using onboard tracking telemetry and you can follow the flight as it approached 100,00 ft over Eastern Iowa. Learn about the experiment the students are doing using onboad beetles that will be launched with the balloon.

  • Eastern Iowa Cosmic Conference

    Location
    The DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Complex, Downtown Cedar Rapids
    Audience
    All ages and learners and educators
    Cost
    The morning lectures are free. The afternoon session is $40 for a family of up to 4.
    Organization
    Cedar Amateur Astronomers
    Contact
    Gordon Baustian
    Email
    gordonbaustian@gmail.com
    Phone
    (319) 721-0659

    Information

    Two free open to the public presentations: 10:45 AM, Dr. Ryan French about Space Hazards and 11:45 AM Dr. Dominic Benford about Exoplanets. A Weather Balloon launch at 10:00 AM at from the LivingLearning Roof of the Cedar Rapids Public Downtown Library. Plus many other activities from 1-4 PM including a portable planetarium, 5 NASA Solar Ambassadors, Hands on Activities from the Van Allen Observatory Team at the Univeristy of Iowa and more.

  • Cedar Amateur Astronomers Public Night

    Location
    Palisades-Dows Preserve at 1365 Ivanhoe Road.
    Audience
    All ages and learners
    Cost
    Free
    Organization
    Cedar Amatuer Astronomers
    Contact
    Gordon Baustian
    Email
    gordonbaustian@gmail.com
    Phone
    (319) 721-0659

    Information

    Dr. Dustin Swarm will discuss Dying White Dwarf Stars: When stars die, that isn’t the end of the story. Stellar corpses can reanimate in the presence of a companion star. I research a type of reanimated stellar corpse: accreting white dwarfs. White dwarfs are the most common type of stellar remnant. When white dwarfs pull material (accrete) from a nearby star, they produce light from optical to X-rays. I will discuss my research of X-ray emission from a variety of accreting white dwarf systems to understand these undead stars.

  • Prairie Soccer Club 11U and 12U Tryouts for 2026-2027 Season

    Location
    Donald J. Bergman Golf and Recreation Complex lower soccer field at the corner of 76th Ave. and Kirkwood Blvd. (use the road at the South Entrance to Kirkwood CC Campus off Kirkwood Blvd. to access the parking lot and field).
    Audience
    Middle School and Intermediate School students.
    Cost
    $25.00
    RSVP
    Jun 01, 2026
    Organization
    Prairie Soccer Club (PSC Iowa)
    Contact
    Steven Robertson
    Email
    steven.robertson@psciowa.com
    Phone
    (319) 533-0589

    Information

    Tryouts are for any player born between August 1, 2014 and July 31, 2016 (12U and 11U).

    Tryouts will be held on June 1 & 4 2026 (make-up date is June 9) and are conducted by the PSC Iowa coaching staff. Players trying out for these teams need to register for tryouts on the PSC Iowa website by May 17 in order to guarantee a properly sized tryout shirt. Walk up registrations are accepted but you may not get a shirt at the site. Tryouts will be conducted at the Kirkwood lower soccer field on the corner of 76th Ave. SW and Kirkwood Blvd. (the South Entrance to Kirkwood Community College).

    In order to be placed on a team for the 2026-2027 season, it is highly recommended to attend one of the tryout dates.

  • Write Now: Microstory Writing Contest

    Location
    Virtual
    Cost
    Free
    Organization
    University of Iowa Center for Advancement
    Contact
    Tegan Donahue
    Email
    write.now@foriowa.org
    Phone
    (319) 467-3393

  • Mount Mercy Co-Ed Summer Basketball Camp

    Location
    Hennessey Rec Center - Mount Mercy Campus
    Audience
    going in 2nd -8th graders
    Cost
    $100
    RSVP
    Jul 12, 2026
    Organization
    Mount Mercy Men's Basketball
    Contact
    Aaron Jennings
    Email
    ajennings@mtmercy.edu
    Phone
    (319) 213-0230

    Information

    The camp is designed for entering grades 2nd – 8th who want to gain some serious offensive skills this summer! Our outstanding staff of coaches, current and former players will take you through the Mustang Offensive Improvement series.

  • Camp Tanager — Diabetes Day and Overnight Camp Program

    Location
    Camp Tanager, 1614 West Mount Vernon Road, Mount Vernon, IA 52314
    Audience
    Campers with Type 1 Diabetes
    Cost
    Sliding Scale Fee
    RSVP
    Jun 12, 2026
    Organization
    Camp Tanager
    Contact
    Donald Pirrie
    Email
    campmail@tanagerplace.org
    Phone
    (319) 286-4510

    Information

    Calling all young T1D Adventurers! Join us for an unforgettable week at our summer camp filled with exciting outdoor activities, arts and crafts, sports and endless fun. Don’t miss this opportunity to create lasting memories, friends and learn about your Type 1 Diabetes in a supportive and medically supervised T1D Summer camp program. Day and Overnight Programs are available! Sliding Scale Fee allows all campers to attend regardless of income.

  • Age Group Competitive SWIM Camp

    Location
    Camp Tanager, 1614 West Mount Vernon Rd, Mount Vernon, IA 52314
    Audience
    Swimmers 8-14 years with prior competitive swimming experience
    RSVP
    Jun 01, 2026
    Organization
    Camp Tanager
    Contact
    Donald Pirrie
    Email
    campmail@tanagerplace.org
    Phone
    (319) 286-4510

    Information

    Sharpen your skills and make a splash this summer at the Camp Tanager Summer Swim Camp! Designed for competitive swimmers ages 8–14, this four-day camp, July 6–9, combines expert instruction with classic camp fun. Swimmers will refine all four strokes, starts, turns, underwaters, and racing strategies while also participating in dryland training, nutrition sessions, and goal-setting activities. Best of all, campers get the unique experience of blending a high-energy competitive swim camp with the excitement and adventure of traditional summer camp. Spots are limited!

  • Prairie Show Choir Camp (Current Grades 1-8)

    Location
    Prairie High School Choir and Show Choir Rooms
    Audience
    Current 1st-8th Graders
    Cost
    $175
    RSVP
    Jun 15, 2026
    Organization
    Prairie Show Choirs/Prairie Music Association
    Contact
    Justin Sands
    Email
    jsands@crprairie.org
    Phone
    (319) 848-5340

    Information

    Join us for three days of singing and dancing at the Prairie Show Choir Camp, June 29-July 1. The camp is led by the Prairie Show Choir Directors, choreographer Jennifer Toney, and high school show choir students. We learn songs, choreography, and have fun sharpening our performance skills! Don’t miss it! Sign up today!

  • Imaginative Illustrators

    Location
    The Cherry Building 329 10th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Suite 121
    Audience
    Ages 7-12
    Cost
    140
    RSVP
    Jul 13, 2026
    Organization
    Barb Thompson Art & Design
    Contact
    Barb Thompson
    Email
    bthompsonartwork@gmail.com
    Phone
    (319) 310-1990

    Information

    Perfect for book lovers and imaginative thinkers. Have you ever read a book and thought; “I could add to this story?” Or “I would love to create a world like this?” If you ever wanted to create your own “Wild Thing” or imagine your own “Purple Crayon” adventure – this summer camp is for you! Summer Camp offered two different weeks: July 13-17 or July 27-31 at two time options: 9-11am or 1-3pm

    Each day will be a new adventure. Your student will come home with 4 story pages of their own, and one sketchbook story. We will use our powers of observation to realize the techniques that illustrators use when creating their art, and our powers of creativity to put our unique spin on popular stories. Materials provided and used during class: watercolor paper, sketchbook, watercolor pencils, micron pens, watercolor paint, crayons, brushes, palettes, paper towels.

    5 day camp with two hours of instruction each day. Perfect for ages 7-12. Watercolor Workshops are limited to 12 participants in Suite 121, my personal studio and gallery space on the first floor of The Cherry Building. This camp is located in the same building – on the same floor as The Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio, check out their many summer camp options!