Register Now for Summer Enrichment Camps and Activities
Explore a wide range of summer enrichment camps and activities by visiting any of the Summer Enrichment links below. Whether it’s a cooking class, learning about horses, arts, reading, or sports, there are a variety of options for children of different ages and interests.
| Activity | Description | Contact |
| Career Exploration Opportunities | We have a wide range of career exploration opportunities to help you find your passion and prepare for your dream job. Our career exploration programs include internships, job shadowing, mentorship programs, informational interviews with professionals in various fields, career fairs, and networking events. Whether you’re a high school student or in middle school, we have programs and resources to help you explore different careers, gain valuable experience, and connect with industry professionals. Let us help you take the first step towards a fulfilling and rewarding career. | Career Exploration website |
| Reading Activities to help prevent Summer Slide | Suggestions to encourage children to open books even after school doors close. Have some fun and avoid the summer reading slide. | 10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adventures
2023 Summer Library Program for all ages – Find Your Voice Scholastic Article: KIDS & FAMILY READING REPORT THE SUMMER READING IMPERATIVE |
| ACSD Summer Classes | Ankeny Community Engagement is proud to offer quality continuing education courses for students and adults in the Ankeny community and surrounding areas. Whether it’s an adult fitness class, evening or weekend enrichment for kids, or a class to keep your finances in check, you’ll find a wide variety of courses. View our Summer Course Catalog.
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Kristopher Koehler
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| DMACC Kids College Youth Camps | Youth Tech Inc. in cooperation with Des Moines Area Community College West Campus’s Celebrate! Innovation program is an interactive computer camp that focuses on providing enrichment opportunities to students in the world of computers. Classes offered at DMACC’s West Des Moines Campus or virtually. Various courses offered. Age range: 6-17. Registration fee. | DMACC Kids College website |
| Blank Park Zoo Summer Safari Camps | Explore the world of animals and nature. Week-long half-day or full day camp options that consist of hands-on lessons, games, art, zoo explorations and live animal encounters. Age range: 3 years through 7th grade. Registration discount for zoo members. Registration fee. | Blank Park Zoo Safari Camps website |
| Climb Iowa Summer Youth Camps | Climb Iowa camps introduce young adventurers to climbing. Children will learn about trust, teamwork and problem solving while developing their rock climbing skills through interactive games and activities. Ages 8-12. Registration fee. | Climb Iowa Youth Camps website |
| Jester Park Equestrian Camps | Four fun-filled mornings of summer camp at Jester Park Equestrian Center. Enjoy learning all about horses and spending plenty of time riding, along with participating in other fun camp activities like games and crafts. Ages 5-12. Registration fee. | Jester Park Equestrian website |
| Living History Farms Day Camps | Half-day and full day camps offered for children entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Registration fee. | Living History Farms Camps website |
| Polk County Conservation Day Camps | Variety of day camps offered for ages 6+. These day camps are designed to encourage hands-on learning through outdoor explorations, activities, games, crafts, and more. Camps will be led by naturalists. Campers are asked to bring a water bottle and sack lunch for day long camps. Prepackaged snacks will be provided. Registration fee. | Polk Country Conservation Camps website |
| Love Lunches | Love Lunches is served every weekday all summer long to kids and families in Ankeny that have need. Hot and cold lunches served daily at Ankeny Presbyterian Church, 317 SE Trilein Drive in Ankeny from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Monday-Friday and at Sunset Park, 1320 SW 3rd Street in Ankeny, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Monday-Thursday. | Love Lunches facebook page
Mary Kohlsdorf, 515-965-1737, ext. 224. holly.szcodronski@gmail.com (Sunset Park location – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church) |
| Ankeny Park & Recreation Department | The Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of leagues and activities for children ages toddler to 18. Click link for full listing of leagues, camps and courses. | Ankeny Parks and Recreation Activity website |
| Des Moines Performing Arts Summer Camps | Young people sharpen their skills, stretch their imaginations, and create unique memories through a variety of Des Moines Performing Arts education opportunities. With theater professionals as the instructors, students gain a deeper understanding of the process, build confidence, and benefit from a fresh jolt of creative energy. Grades 3-12. | Des Moines Performing Arts Summer Camps website |
| Des Moines Community Playhouse Summer Camps | Variety of Camps held for grades K-12. | Des Moines Community Playhouse Summer Camps website |
| Real Food 4 Kids | Hands on cooking camp for kids and teens, ages 6+. Three options offered for 4 –day sessions. | Cooking Class website |
| Elementary Math Activities and Games | Have fun this summer incorporating math into each day. You and your child can play dice and card games, engage in conversations about a picture, or solve a problem together. You will find FREE resources to help you and your child develop a love of mathematics. | Math Summer Resources |
| Des Moines Y Camps | Overnight and day camp options for ages 6-13 (daycamp) and ages 9-12 (overnight camp). What better place for your child to spend their summer days than at the Des Moines Y Camp located in Boone?
Under the supervision of trained staff your child will spend their summer enjoying the outdoors through various program activities all while building new friendships and growing in the four Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Daily traditional activities may include: climbing, hiking, archery, fishing, canoeing, field games, Imagineering, crafts, swimming, gaga ball, horseback riding (additional fee), and so much more! VIP Program for ages 14 – 17 |
Des Moines Y Camps website |
Spring Musical
Ankeny Youth Club of the Year
The Centennial Service Club was named Ankeny Youth Club of the Year by the Mayor’s Youth Council. Each year it is presented to an exceptional youth organization that has served their fellow citizens and/or created an environment for others to serve. The award was presented to the student club members and their sponsor, Lynette Carlson, on Saturday, April 1. The Service Club has had a busy year thanks to all our student volunteers. This year they have organized two food drives with over 1,000 items collected, a sock drive, Hats Not Hate (donated hats to the elementary schools), winter clothing drive, Operation Christmas Child, Giving Tree for YESS, made and donated 60 tie blankets, book drive, organized parking lot cleanups, and are working on planting 28 trees at Northview Middle School on April 29, and a Spirit Wear Clothing Drive. Congratulations and thank you for all you do for our community.
Athletic/Academic Scholarship Opportunity
The Ankeny Athletic Booster Club is offering the Gary Telford Scholarship which recognizes student-athletes. Any CHS senior who has participated in at least two sports each year for grades 10, 11, 12 while simultaneously maintaining a minimum requirement 3.0 cumulative GPA is eligible to apply. Four $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female recipient from AHS and ACHS. Complete the scholarship application form and return it, with essay, to the Activities Office no later than Friday, April 7. You can also pick up a copy of the application in the Activities Office.
Spring/Summer Parent Meeting, February 23
The spring/summer sports parent meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 23, at 6:30 pm at Centennial High School in the Commons. This meeting is for parents of students in grades 9-12 that will be participating in Girls Tennis, Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Girls Track, Boys Track, Girls Golf, Softball and Baseball. Following a brief meeting with the Activities Staff, parents will meet with coaches for additional information.
NV Spring Athletic Newsletter
2023 Northview Spring Athletic Information
Athletic Participation Forms – REQUIRED
- Parents, please complete our online registration process prior to Monday, February 13, 2023
- Here is the link to complete the registration: https://ankenycentennial-ar.rschooltoday.com
Track and Field
8th Girls Track –
Sign-up and informational meeting on Thursday, February 16 @ 3:45am in the cafeteria or Thursday, February 23 @ 7:45 am in Coach Simak’s classroom (1609) Athletes only need to attend one of the two meeting times. Practice daily from 3:45-5:00p, meet in the east gym. No Practice during Spring break (March 10th-19th). All athletes must have tennis shoes, completed the online registration, and an up to date physical and before eligible to participate.
Contact Coach Jeff Simak with questions: jeffrey.simak@ankenyschools.org
8th Boys Track –
Sign-up / informational meeting on Monday, February 27th in the NV East Gym at 3:45pm. We will hand out sweats on Wednesday, March 1st. Practice will begin on Thursday, March 2nd. Practice will be held at NV Stadium. No practice during spring break March 9-19th. All participants must have tennis shoes and an up to date physical and online registration.
Contact Coach Ryan Pezzetti with questions: ryan.pezzetti@ankenyschools.org
9th Girls Track – Practice starts 2/20/2023
Informational meeting at Northview on Monday February 13th at 3:40 in room 1306. Sign up, schedules and other information is on our flyer. Once you sign up, you should see the track team Canvas page appear in your dashboard a few days later. First practice is Monday, February 20th at Centennial at 4PM.
Twitter- @JaguarGirlsTF
Instagram- @JaguarGirlsTF
Contact Head Coach Tyler Asbe with questions: tyler.asbe@ankenyschools.org
9th Boys Track – Practice starts Monday, March 6 at NV
9th Boys Track Meeting –Monday, February 27th in the NV East gym at 8 am
Physical & Athletic Forms must be uploaded
Twitter – @JagTrackField
Instagram – @achsboystrack
Contact coach Nate Smith with questions: nathan.smith@ankenyschools.org
Golf
9th Girls Golf – Practice starts 3/20/2023
NV Informational Meeting-Thursday, Jan 19 at 7:45 am in the Commons.
Parent/player meeting on Feb. 9th at ACHS room 2601 starting at 7:00 pm.
First practice will be March 20 after school at Briarwood Golf Course.
Contact Coach John Petersen with questions: john.petersen@ankenyschools.org
Soccer
9th Girls Soccer – Practice starts 3/20/2023 unless available over Spring Break
Informational Meeting (only need to go to 1)-Thursday, Feb 2 at 7:45am in room 1612 at NV, Wednesday, Feb 1 at 3:45 in room 2108 at CHS, or Friday, Feb 3 at 7:30 am in room 2108 at CHS.
Girls Soccer: Practice begins 3/20/23
Varsity tryouts start March 21 at Centennial in the morning and TBD in the afternoon. For players not trying out for varsity, practice will begin on March 21 at TBD after school. Practices will run from approx. 4:05-6:00 pm Monday through Friday for JV1 and JV2. Varsity practices will take place from 5-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 4-6 pm on Friday.
Contact Coach Chris Allen for more information. Email: chris.allen@ankenyschools.org
9th Boys Soccer –
Informational Meeting-Wednesday, January 25 in ACHS Cafeteria from 6-6:30.
Contact Coach Brian Duax with questions: Brian.duax@ankenyschools.org
Tennis
9th Girls Tennis – Practice starts 3/20/2023
Informational Meeting-Friday, February 10 from 3:45 to 4:30 in room 1107 (off the Cafeteria)
Contact Chad Brooks or Allika Gustafson with questions: chad.brooks@ankenyschools.org or allika.gustafson@ankenyschool.org
9th Boys Tennis – Practice starts 3/13/23
9th grade boys’ tennis informational meeting 1/24 and 1/25 at 3:45pm in NV cafeteria
All participants must have completed the online registration, including uploading a current physical prior to participation.
Contact Coach Tami Lewton to sign up or with any questions. Tami.Lewton@ankenyschools.org
Yard Sign/Decal Order Due February 10
Get your activity yard sign and decal! Next orders due February. Spring and summer activities get your sign/decal ordered!
National Honor Society
The Ankeny Centennial High School chapter of the National Honor Society will be accepting applications in January and February of the current calendar school year. Applicants may be sophomores, juniors, or seniors, and students must have an unweighted cumulative (all grades starting in 9th grade) grade point average of 3.5 or above to apply. Please complete the application to be considered for National Honor Society. Any questions should be directed to Tim Garner, National Honor Society sponsor at Centennial H.S. His e-mail is tim.garner@ankenyschools.org, and the Centennial H.S. phone number is 515-965-9610.
Winter Band Concert
The Winter Band Concert is scheduled for Monday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m. The Northview Concert Band, Centennial Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony Band will be performing. The concert will be held at the Centennial Auditorium and is free to attend.
Festival of Choir Concerts
The Festival of Choir concerts will be held Saturday, December 10, at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 11, at 2:00 p.m. at Centennial High School Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased online only.