Prairie Backpack
College Community School District’s “green” approach to distributing information from school sponsored activities and non-profit organizations.
Events
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College Community Schools K-6 Night at the Ballpark
- Location
- Veterans Memorial Stadium, 950 Rockford Road SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
- Audience
- Elementary & Intermediate Schools Students and Families
- Cost
- $15 per person, Kids 3 and under are free if they sit on a parent's lap
- RSVP
- May 14, 2026
- Organization
- Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Contact
- Brady Quinn
- bquinn@kernels.com
- Phone
- (319) 896-7615
Information
Please join us for College Community Schools K-6 Students & Family Night at the Cedar Rapids Kernels! This fun event will take place on Friday, May 15th, where the Kernels will take on the Fort Wayne Tincaps.
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Prairie Youth Girls Basketball Camp
- Location
- Prairie Creek Intermediate
- Audience
- Elementary, Intermediate School, Middle School
- Cost
- $75
- RSVP
- Jun 09, 2026
- Organization
- Prairie High School Girls Basketball Team
- Contact
- Bruce Dall
- bdall@crprairie.org
- Phone
- (319) 848-5350
Information
Have fun learning the game from the Prairie HS Girls Basketball Coaches and Players.
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2026 Prairie Boys Basketball Camp
- Location
- Prairie High School South Gym
- Audience
- elementary, middle school students
- Cost
- $80
- RSVP
- Jun 05, 2026
- Organization
- Prairie High School Boys Basketball Team
- Contact
- Coach Kuntz
- tkuntz@crprairie.org
- Phone
- (319) 848-5350
Information
Have fun learning the game from the Prairie HS Boys Basketball Coaches and Players
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Cornell College Basketball Camps
- Location
- Cornell College Richard & Norma Small Athletic and Wellness Center (gym)
- Audience
- K-9th grade
- Organization
- Cornell College
- Contact
- Brent Brase
- Phone
- (319) 350-6689
Information
Boys and Girls Basketball Camps. Day Camps and Overnight Camps.
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Prairie Creek Running Club
- Location
- Prairie High School Track
- Audience
- Intermediate Students (5-6)
- Cost
- Free
- RSVP
- Apr 26, 2026
- Organization
- Prairie Track & Field
- Contact
- Matthew Lorenz
- mattlorenz@crprairie.org
- Phone
- (319) 491-4763
Information
Join us for a fun opportunity to stay active, make friends, and build running skills! Prairie Cross Country and Track & Field invites any Creek student to join us on Sunday evenings in April/ May from 5:00- 6:00 pm at the Prairie High School Track. (If there is bad weather, we’ll move indoors for activities.)
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Cub Scout Paper Rocket Launch & Learn About Scouting
- Audience
- Castek Park, Swisher, IA
- Cost
- Free!
- Organization
- Cub Scout Pack 37
- Contact
- John Palmer
- crpack37@gmail.com
- Phone
- (319) 244-8677
Information
Cub Scout Pack 37 invites local families to a hands-on Paper Rocket Launch at Castek Park on Saturday, April 11, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Kids can build and launch paper rockets powered by air pressure while learning basic STEM concepts in a fun outdoor setting. Pack leaders will be available to guide participants and answer questions.
This event is open to current Cub Scouts, siblings, and friends, as well as families interested in learning more about Cub Scouting. Stop by anytime during the event to participate and meet Pack 37.
No experience is needed and materials will be provided.
Please note: Park restrooms may not be open yet for the season. Families may want to plan accordingly.
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3rd Annual Maker Fest
- Location
- Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library
- Audience
- k-12, STEM/STEAM learners and educators
- Cost
- Free
- Organization
- Cedar Rapids Public Library
- Contact
- Alison Gowans
- gowansa@crlibrary.org
- Phone
- (319) 739-0406
Information
Join the library and community partners for the third annual Maker Fest. This year’s festival will celebrate space. Families can enjoy a wide range of crafts and activities that feature outer space, the stars, and maker technology.
Collins Aerospace and the University of Iowa’s Astronomy Lab and Observatory staff will provide fun, space-related crafts and information about the work they do in the community. People can view an exhibit from the Collins Aerospace Museum in the Skywalk Gallery, exploring items the company worked on for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions.
The University of Iowa’s School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability will bring meteorites and other space-related rocks to view, and the American Society of Civil Engineers will hand out STEM kits.
The Cedar Amateur Astronomer’s will have solar telescopes on the LivingLearning Roof, weather permitting, to look at solar activity, as well as a cut-away telescope to demonstrate how that technology works. They will also be showing NASA’s “Artemis 1” documentary series throughout the event.
The Star Lab Planetarium from the Curiosity Path will have 20-minute movies and demonstrations on a variety of space topics. The dome can fit up to 30 people at a time. Wristbands are required for this activity and will be handed out 15 minutes before the event starts.
Throughout the library, patrons will be able to get first-hand experience with the library’s maker tools, whether that is crafting a space themed button, creating a planet with a Doodle pen, or building a laser-cut wooden astronaut.
Maker Fest is generously supported by Presenting Sponsor Bankers Trust and Innovator Sponsors Sunrise Builders & Alliant Energy
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CoderDojo with Henry Morray Blackout Poetry and Collaging
- Location
- Foundation 2 - 305 2nd Ave SE. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401.
- Audience
- K-5th students and families
- Cost
- Free
- RSVP
- Mar 21, 2026
- Organization
- NewBoCo
- Contact
- Ashley Turner
- ashley@newbo.co
- Phone
- (319) 412-5222
Information
CoderDojo is a free, hands-on program designed for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade who are curious about STEM. Children can explore a variety of science, technology, engineering, and math-themed stations at their own pace, with friendly mentors available to help them get started. It’s all about learning through creativity, curiosity, and play.
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Chick Fil A Westdale Spirit Night-Pay off Unpaid School Meal Balances
- Location
- Chick Fil A Westdale, 2610 Edgewood Road SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
- Audience
- All grades
- Organization
- CCSD Food and Nutrition Department
- Contact
- Ginny Scott
- vscott@crprairie.org
- Phone
- (319) 848-5337
Information
10% or more of attributed sales are directed towards paying off unpaid school meal balances.
April 27, 2026 5-8pm
Visit in person or order online. See the flyer for more details. -
5K4K9
- Location
- 3111 N 10th St Marion IA
- Audience
- All ages!
- Cost
- $25 for those over 18 and $15 for those participating in the kids' fun run.
- RSVP
- Apr 17, 2026
- Organization
- Marion Police Department
- Contact
- Willow Botsford
- 9073@marionpolice.com
- Phone
- (319) 377-1511
Information
5K4K9 fun run/walk hosted by the Marion Police Department. The family-friendly community event will be held at Linn-Mar High School and include bounce houses, a kids’ fun run, and the 5K event. Be sure to stick around to see the MPD K9s and their handlers in action. Event activities start at 9 a.m.
The cost is $25 for those over 18 and $15 for those participating in the kids’ fun run. Register via the city website at cityofmarion.org/5k4k9
Proceeds from this event will help support the Police Department’s K9 program and the creation of a new Crisis K9 team. The Crisis K9 is specially trained to provide emotional support and comfort to individuals, families and first responders during times of crisis. From traumatic incidents to community emergencies, this resource plays an important role in supporting both residents and staff.
