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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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
- 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.
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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
- 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.
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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
- 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.
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Write Now: Microstory Writing Contest
- Location
- Virtual
- Cost
- Free
- Organization
- University of Iowa Center for Advancement
- Contact
- Tegan Donahue
- write.now@foriowa.org
- Phone
- (319) 467-3393
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Cub Scout Pack 214 – Spring Recruitment Event
- Location
- Schulte Park - 1288 Parkview Ln, Ely, Iowa
- Audience
- K-4
- Cost
- Free
- RSVP
- May 12, 2026
- Organization
- Cub Scout - Pack 214
- Contact
- Erin Wilde
- crpack214@gmail.com
- Phone
- (319) 310-7478
Information
Join Cub Scout Pack 214 for an evening of fun at Schulte Park (1288 Parkview Ln, Ely, Iowa) on May 12th at 6:00 PM! We’ll kick things off with our annual advancement ceremony, followed by plenty of activities including gaga ball, a bounce house, and refreshments available for purchase from the Grind Coffee Truck. This is a great opportunity to meet our Pack, learn about upcoming summer events, and see if Cub Scouts is the right fit for your family. Can’t make it? Feel free to reach out by email with any questions—we’d love to connect!
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CoderDojo with Korriban Squad of the 501st Legion
- Location
- Foundation 2 - 1st Floor Training Rooms - 305 2nd Ave SE. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
- Audience
- K-5th grade students + families
- Cost
- Free
- RSVP
- May 02, 2026
- Organization
- NewBoCo
- Contact
- Ashley Turner
- ashley@newbo.co
- Phone
- (319) 412-5222
Information
Just days away from “May the forth be with you”, we want to celebrate Star Wars by bringing the Korriban Squad of the 501st Legion. The Legion promotes interest in STAR WARS and facilitates the use of these costumes for STAR WARS-related events as well as contributes to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work, with the Korriban Squad representing the local chapter.
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CoderDojo at Wellington Heights Community Church
- Location
- 1600 4th Ave SE - Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403
- Audience
- K-5th + families
- Cost
- Free
- RSVP
- May 05, 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.
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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
- 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.
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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
- 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.
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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
- 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!
