Prairie Backpack
College Community School District’s “green” approach to distributing information from school sponsored activities and non-profit organizations.
Events
-
ExploreU
- Location
- Iowa City West High School
- Audience
- Girls completing 6th, 7th and 8th grade
- Cost
- $100, free for low income families
- RSVP
- Jul 11, 2025
- Contact
- Elizabeth Kleiman
- exploreustem@gmail.com
- Phone
- (515) 231-7133
Information
ExploreU is a week-long, STEM program for middle school girls completing 6th, 7th and 8th grade, held annually in the summer. The program is designed to help young girls learn math and computer science skills while having fun.
Two sections are available June 9-14 and July 14-19. -
Relay For Life of Linn County
- Location
- Prairie High School Football Field/Track
- Audience
- all students and parents
- RSVP
- Jun 06, 2025
- Contact
- Haley Huntington
- Phone
- (319) 248-0047
Information
Relay For Life is a free community walkathon event where every step is another step towards ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. This year’s event is Saturday, June 7th from 9 am to noon at PHS Football Field & Track.
We will start the event with our traditional “Survivor Lap” where we cheer on the brave cancer survivors in Linn County. We will follow along in their footsteps and keep walking or running until there is a cure! We will have vendors, activities like “Road To Recovery” cardboard car races for kids, face painting, silent auction, Maui Wowi coffee truck, and free-will donation continental breakfast for all who attend. Students can volunteer at this event and receive service hours! We ask all volunteers to sign up for a volunteer role online (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CACAF22A0F5C70-55675927-relay#/) and bring “service hour forms” with them on June 7th. -
Mount Mercy Volleyball Camp
- Location
- Mount Mercy University Hennessy Rec Center
- Audience
- 5th through 9th graders
- Contact
- Deb Marlin
- dmarlin@mtmercy.edu
- Phone
- (319) 361-3640
Information
Volleyball camp for 5th-9th graders looking for a week of skills and competition. Camps are run by head coach Deb Marlin and her staff as well as some of her athletes. Morning and afternoon sessions available from June 9 – 12th and 16th – 19th.
-
Jefferson Summer Swim Camp
- Location
- Jefferson High School, 1243 20th St SW, Cedar Rapids
- Audience
- ages 8-17, anyone who wants to improve their swimming skills
- Cost
- varies, see information
- RSVP
- Jun 09, 2025
- Contact
- Jessica Hinke
- jhinke@crprairie.org
- Phone
- (319) 361-9863
Information
Whether you can swim halfway across the pool, or several hundred yards at a time – We have a spot for you this summer at Jefferson! Developmental/”Pre-Swim Team” Group for ages 8 and up and Competitive Group if you can swim at least 50 yards of freestyle or have any competitive swim team experience.
-
J-Hawk Summer Swim Camp 2025
- Location
- Jefferson High School
- Audience
- WHO: anyone ages 8-17 who is interested in improving their swimming skills
- Cost
- Varies by Session
- RSVP
- Jun 09, 2025
- Contact
- Jessica Hinke
- jhinke@crprairie.org
- Phone
- (319) 558-2435
Information
Competitive and developmental Swim Camps
-
Swisher Youth Sports- Summer Baseball/Softball registration deadline 4/18 start date May 26th
- Location
- Castek Park - Swisher
- Audience
- Anyone ages 4 - 12 year old — Anyone and Everyone
- Cost
- $35
- RSVP
- Apr 18, 2025
- Contact
- Brittany Brown
- info@swisheriasports.org
- Phone
- (563) 419-0135
Information
Summer Baseball / Softball
-
Earth Day celebration
- Location
- 4521 Boy Scouts Road, Central City, IA 52214
- Audience
- all ages
- Cost
- no cost
- Contact
- Maureen Marron
- Phone
- (319) 512-9948
Information
Celebrate Earth Day at the Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation at this free, family friendly, and fun event! Exhibitors include Prairie States Mushroom Club, Xerces Society, UI Flood Center, Trees Forever, Monarch Research Station, Cedar County Conservation, Solar Integrators, Cedar Valley Rocks and Minerals Society, Cedar Amateur Astronomers, Zanfel, No Coast Social Club, Buffalo Ridge Orchard, Wildthunder Wildlife and Animal Rehab. Learn about Leave No Trace, making maple syrup, invasive plant species, and basic outdoor first aid. Hands-on activities!
-
Walford 2025 Youth Baseball / Softball – Sign Up Deadline 4/6/25
- Location
- Home Games are played in Walford. Away games are outlined in the Description section.
- Audience
- Preschool - 8th Grade
- Cost
- $0.00 Registration Fee - Shirts & Jerseys will be ordered by each family for their participant.
- RSVP
- Apr 06, 2025
- Contact
- Melissa Werner
- Phone
- (319) 360-8915
Information
Please complete registration as soon as possible to allow for adequate planning time.
Any student in a Cedar Rapids or College Community School District is welcome.
Please email Parks@CityofWalfordIowa.com with any questions relating to registration.
For the 2025 summer season, Walford P&R has decided to set the Season Fee as $0.00.
Families will only be responsible for purchasing their player’s jersey to participate in the program. Once rosters are finalized (~April 15th), parents will be contacted with other season specific information.
Please submit any questions or comments: Parks@cityofwalfordiowa.com
Iowa Valley League Baseball/Softball Season Dates:
– Preseason games will begin the week of May 19th.
– Regular games will runs the weeks of May 26th through June 27th.
– Post season [single elimination tournament] will run June 29th through July 2nd.
– All Star Game will be hosted by Blairstown the week of July 7th.
T-Ball | Grades Pre-K & K [Co-ed ]
**Grade is considered what the player will be finishing in May 2025
Games will be played on Sunday afternoons.
Regular season games will tentatively start May 18th.
Length of season and game locations will be dependent upon the number of teams registered in the league.
Coach / Mechanical Pitch | Grades 1 & 2 [Boys & Girls Separate]
**Grade is considered what the player will be finishing in May 2025
Games will be on Sunday evenings: Girls @ 4:30PM and Boys @ 6:00PM.
Games will be played in Blairstown, Keystone, Newhall, Norway, Shellsburg, Van Horne or Walford.
– Season/schedule is dependent upon the number of teams in each league.
– Plan is to tentatively start play May 17th.
Girls Little League Softball | Grades 3,4,5
Girls Pony League Softball | Grades 6,7,8
**Grade is considered what the player will be finishing in May 2025
Games will be on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Little League at 5:30 & Pony League at 7:00.
Games will be played in: Atkins, Blairstown, Fairfax, Keystone, Newhall, Norway, Shellsburg, Van Horne or Walford.
Boys Little League Baseball | Grades 3,4,5
Boys Pony League Baseball | Grades 6,7,8
**Grade is considered what the player will be finishing in May 2025
Games will be played on Monday and Thursday evenings. Little League at 5:30 & Pony League at 7:00.
Games will be played in: Atkins, Blairstown, Fairfax, Keystone, Newhall, Norway, Shellsburg, Van Horne or Walford. -
Red Shoe Run & Walk 5K
- Location
- Lower City Park, 200 Park Rd., Iowa City
- Audience
- All ages & families
- Cost
- $20 for 13 & under; $45 14 & up
- RSVP
- May 04, 2025
- Contact
- Heather Younker
- hyounker@rmhc-eiwi.org
- Phone
- (319) 500-7642
Information
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois is proud to host the 41st Annual Red Shoe Run & Walk 5K. This event raises important funds and awareness of our goal to keep families close to each other and the care they need, when they need it most. The 5K event features options to run, walk, or participate virtually. REGISTER by April 1 to GUARANTEE your RUN T-SHIRT!
This family-friendly event is open to runners and walkers of all skill levels! On-site we will have a kids zone, delicious post-race treats, and awards for top runners in multiple age groups. Strollers and pets on leash are welcome!
The event starts and finishes at the Lower City Park in Iowa City.
-
KICK Camps
- Audience
- Elementary and middle school students
- Cost
- Varies by camp
- Contact
- Melanie Bouzek
- Phone
- (319) 398-1278
Information
KICK camps are exciting and educational summer camps for youth ages 8-15. Designed around STEAM and career exploration, KICK provides fun, hands-on activities that promise to develop and build key skills for future success.
