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Prairie Backpack

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

All Ages

Events

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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
    Email
    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!