5th grade camps

For campers entering 5th grade in fall 2025

Celebrations Then and Now

Full day: 9am–4pm

Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Decoration/Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Halloween, or even Thanksgiving? When immigrants came to the United States, it was important to find communities where they could fit in, and their traditions became part of our tapestry. Explore ways that early immigrant communities in Iowa celebrated milestones and holidays, and compare how holidays are celebrated in Iowa and in other places.

The Heritage Celebration showcasing campers’ projects takes place Friday at 3:15pm at the Exhibit Center. Come to the camper drop-off/pick-up area, and you will be directed to the show.

Activities subject to change. Short weeks will vary but will include creek walk. On creek day your camper will get wet and muddy. Bring a towel or plastic bag for the car.

Iowa’s Natural Resources

Full day: 9am–4pm

Get creative with our natural resources to make food, art, and tools, just as generations of people have done throughout Iowa’s history. Bake bread like a pioneer, make a medicine bag like a 1700-era Native American, go fishing, and learn to appreciate Earth’s resources! Explore plants, animals, soil, wind, water, and the people who settled here to find out how they contributed to the growth of Iowa.

Activities subject to change. Short weeks will vary but will include creek walk. On creek day your camper will get wet and muddy. Bring a towel or plastic bag for the car.

Museum-ology (5–6th grades)

Full day: 9am–4pm

Have you ever wondered who puts museum exhibits together? A curator, that’s who! If you love history or museums, this is the camp for you. You will see items from the museum’s collections that are rarely on exhibit. Discover how the museum cares for these objects and what we can learn from them. Along the way, you will find out what it takes to create a museum exhibit and design your own tabletop exhibit. At the end of the week, show off your exhibit to your family in a Grand Exhibit Unveiling.

The Grand Exhibit Unveiling takes place Friday at 3:15pm at the Visitor Center off Hickman.

Note:  This camp does not include a creek walk. 

Activities subject to change.

Movers & Shakers (5–6th grades)

Full day: 9am–4pm

What does it mean to be a citizen? How have Americans participated in democracy throughout our history? Who has been included—and excluded? You’ll explore rural Americans’ role, from land purchases to voting to civic organizations to court cases. Throughout the week, you’ll prepare to re-create an election and a circuit court case for your family. The family event starts at 3 p.m.; arrive at 2:45 p.m. at the Visitor Center.

Don’t be late for court or to cast a vote! The family event takes place Friday at 3pm; arrive at 2:45pm at the Visitor Center off Hickman.

Activities subject to change. Short weeks will vary but will include creek walk. On creek day your camper will get wet and muddy. Bring a towel or plastic bag for the car.

Wait list

• If a camp session is full, you may fill out this form to be placed on a wait list.
• Include the program and date that you are interested in attending.

Group Requests

When we have multiple camps of the same grade level, we cannot guarantee your child will be placed with friends. However, we will make every effort to accommodate up to two requests. Please keep the following in mind:

• Campers must be registered for the same camp, in the same week, and be in the same grade.
• Camp is about making friends. When large groups of friends are together, other campers can feel left out. We will split requests larger than 3 friends.