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Prairie Backpack

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

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Events

  • Youth Rugby Camp

    Location
    Field Across From Prairie Hill Elementary School
    Audience
    15+
    Cost
    $30
    RSVP
    May 29, 2026
    Organization
    Cedar Rapids Prairie Rugby Club
    Contact
    Adam Ruff
    Email
    adamruff405@gmail.com
    Phone
    (319) 540-3660

    Information

    Ready to Try Rugby This Summer?

    The YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area and Prairie Hawks Rugby Club Coaches are excited to offer an Introduction to Rugby Co-Ed Camp for incoming 6th–8th graders!

    This 6-week camp is a great opportunity for boys and girls to learn the basics of rugby in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. No experience is needed! Players will learn passing, teamwork, movement, game fundamentals, and have fun staying active this summer.

    📅 Dates: June 3 – July 8
    📍 Location: Field Across from Prairie Hill Elementary School
    🕕 Time: Wednesdays from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    👥 Grades: Incoming 6th–8th Grade Students (2026–2027 school year)
    💲 Cost: $30 per participant

    The camp is hosted by local Prairie Hawks Rugby Club coaches and is open to all skill levels. Rugby is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and a great way to build confidence, teamwork, fitness, and friendships.

    Questions or want to register?
    Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the YMCA program page.

  • Cedar Rapids Reads: Summer Reading Challenge

    Cost
    FREE
    Organization
    Cedar Rapids Public Library
    Contact
    Amber McNamara
    Email
    mcnamaraa@crlibrary.org
    Phone
    (319) 739-0404

    Information

    Celebrate the love of reading all summer long! The Cedar Rapids Public Library Summer Reading Challenge starts June 6 and runs through August 8, 2026. Read 600 minutes to complete the Challenge and be entered to win a grand prize! Enjoy special events for all ages, earn reading badges, and visit the library for prizes. Explore the many events all summer long for all ages: CRLibrary.org/summer

  • FREE Cedar Rapids Municipal Band Concerts in the Parks

    Location
    See flyer for details.
    Audience
    Family-friendly and open to all ages
    Cost
    FREE
    Organization
    Cedar Rapids Municipal Band
    Contact
    Heidi Haney
    Email
    crmuniband@gmail.com
    Phone
    (319) 651-4783

    Information

    Join us for eighteen FREE concert band performances in five metro locations this summer. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to marches, overtures, comtemporary pieces, and movie medleys. Each concert is one hour long and we have a different program each week. The band includes Prairie staff, students, and alumni.

  • American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life Trashmore Trek

    Location
    Mount Trashmore, 2250 A Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA
    Audience
    all students, families, community
    RSVP
    Jun 13, 2026
    Organization
    American Cancer Society (Tax ID Number: 13-1788491)
    Contact
    Haley Huntington
    Email
    haley.huntington@cancer.org
    Phone
    (319) 248-0047

    Information

    We are challenging our community to step up—literally—for the fight against cancer at the Trashmore Trek. Gather your friends, family, or coworkers and build a team to take on the ultimate challenge: trekking up and down Mount Trashmore where every step represents hope, strength, and our commitment to ending cancer. Along the way, you’ll celebrate survivors, remember loved ones, and make an impact in the lives of those facing cancer. Are you ready to take the trek? Volunteer opportunities are available for students! Visit our website RelayForLife.org/LinnCountyIA for more details.

  • Trinity Lutheran Church EWALU Day Camp

    Location
    805 Hwy 151 West, Walford, Iowa 52351
    Audience
    Preschool - 6th grade
    Cost
    $50
    RSVP
    Jun 14, 2026
    Organization
    Trinity Lutheran Church, Walford
    Contact
    Sharon Blanchard
    Email
    sharon.blanchard@tlcwalford.com
    Phone
    (712) 579-5851

    Information

    We invite you to come and explore what it means to seek God with your whole heart, to walk in the Spirit daily, and to reach out to a world around you with the love of Christ. You’ll have a blast!
    You’ll discover all kinds of amazing gifts God has given you to make a difference in your world.

    Each day begins with morning alpha (worship) with songs, skits, and scripture all focusing on the day’s theme. Then it’s off to Bible studies, crafts, games, snack time, and more fun. Each day is brought to a close with afternoon omega (closing worship). Camp is led by EWALU Bible Camp Counselors and many volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church. EWALU counselors bring with them a ton of energy, love for kids, crazy songs and skits, and a desire to share God’s love.

    Who: All kids who have completed Kindergarten – 5th grade
    ** Preschool VBS available for ages 3 – 5 years old ** $20 (cost for t-shirt)
    9:00 a.m. ~ 11:30 a.m. Monday ~ Friday ** Must be potty-trained **
    Where: Trinity Lutheran Church
    805 Hwy 151 West
    P.O. Box 336
    Walford, IA 52351
    When: Monday, June 15th – Friday, June 21st, 2026
    Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday ~ Thursday
    9:00 a.m. – 1:00 Friday

    Cost per family: $50.00 first child, $25.00 each additional child. Cost includes a t-shirt. Pre-school VBS cost is $20 and will include t-shirt.
    Families can pay with Cash or Check on on the first morning of Day Camp when campers check in.
    Scholarships are available. Pre-school VBS cost is $20 and will include t-shirt. For more information or to request a scholarship, please call: Trinity Lutheran Church at 319-845-2636 or Sharon Blanchard at 712-579-5851.

    To keep our costs down, we ask EWALU Day Campers to bring the following list items to check-in on Day 1:
    ** Snack ~ 2 dozen ~ (VBS kids bring 1 dozen) fresh fruit, string cheese, carrot sticks, pretzels, trail mix, yogurt tubes, granola bars, cheese crackers, etc.
    ** Drinks~ One, 10 pack drink boxes or pouches.

    Additionally, campers should bring their own sack lunch for Monday ~ Thursday.

    You’re Invited!
    **********Friday there will be a Family Program where the campers can share songs, skits, and other things they have learned throughout the week. Walking taco potluck luncheon starting at 12:00 pm and program starting at 12:30 (estimated to be completed by 1:00).

    Families are welcome to bring a dessert or a side. Everyone is invited!

  • Prairie Youth Volleyball Camp

    Location
    Prairie Point Middle School Gym
    Audience
    2nd - 4th Graders (Current Grades) and 5th - 7th Graders (Current Grades)
    Cost
    $75 per athlete
    RSVP
    Jun 05, 2026
    Organization
    Prairie High School Volleyball Team
    Contact
    Coach Mulherin
    Email
    mmulherin@crprairie.org
    Phone
    (319) 848-5340

    Information

    Have fun and learn volleyball skills at the Prairie High School Volleyball Camp. NEW LOCATION: Prairie Point Middle School

  • Get Ready with Girl Scouts – Kindergarten Readiness

    Location
    Cedar Hills Community Church
    Audience
    Pre-K Girls
    Cost
    FREE Girl Scout Membership through September 2027
    RSVP
    May 15, 2026
    Organization
    Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
    Contact
    Grace Coffman
    Email
    gracec@girlscoutstoday.org
    Phone
    (319) 232-6602

    Information

    Starting kindergarten this fall? Kickoff your journey with Get Ready with Girl Scouts
    a special summer program designed just for NEW Girl Scouts—perfect for making friends
    and beginning your Girl Scout adventure!

  • 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.