Most public and private schools in central Iowa have a one-week spring break, during which parents need to keep the kids busy. Fortunately, the Des Moines area has no shortage of camp options for the school break, which runs from March 14-22 for the 2020 school year for most schools.
For more spring break ideas, be sure to check out our Calendar and our round up of spring break activities.
Here’s your guide to spring break camps & classes in Des Moines:
Academic Enrichment Camps & Classes
Rocking Robotics hosted by Ankeny Parks and Recreation
Outdoor Education Center • 610 NE 36th Street • Ankeny, IA 50021 • (515) 963-3570
Kids ages six to ten will play with Legos and make them come alive! Alligators, spinning birds, drumming monkeys; kids will have fun creating and coding these robots. Classes are taught by trained Sylvan instructors. March 16-19, 2020 10:00am to 12:00 pm, registration required.
Spring Break Workshops with Sylvan Learning Center
8707 Northpark Court • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 867-8000
If you’re looking for ways to engage your child in new and exciting experiences over spring break, you’ve got to check out Sylvan’s camps and classes. Kids imagine, collaborate, explore and create, all while learning super cool STEM skills that will help them in school and in life. Full day and half-day camps are offered, March 16-20, 2020.
STEM Activities hosted by Code Ninjas
15920 Hickman Road #200 • Clive, IA 50325 • (515) 393-4283
Code Ninja in Clive will host this fun and rewarding spring break camp for kids ages 7-14. Sharpen your mind and have fun at the same time with engaging STEM games and activities. The camp is offered March 16-20. Half-day from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon or full day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Super Structures hosted by Ankeny Parks and Recreation
Outdoor Education Center • 610 NE 36th Street • Ankeny, IA 50021 • (515) 963-3570
Explore, build and test the seven basic bridge types in the world today using K’NEX. Learn structural engineering and architecture concepts to develop a new appreciation for these super structures! Classes are taught by trained Sylvan instructors. For ages six to ten. March 16-19, 2020 1:00 to 3:00 pm, registration required.
Performing & Visual Arts Camps & Classes
Ducky Day Camp hosted by Kids Create
113 W Broadway Street • Polk City, IA 50226 • (712) 249-4415
This super fun class will celebrate a welcome sign of spring, baby ducklings! Students will create a duckling masterpiece, play games, and watch the movie Duck, Duck, Goose. They will also learn about, watch, and CUDDLE REAL DUCKLINGS! This fun camp is sure to get your student excited about art and nature. Monday March 16th 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, registration required.
Spring Break Camp with Curtain Call Kids
Grimes Community Complex • 410 SE Main Street • Grimes, IA 50111
Campers will learn and perform “The Royal Request”. There are fun parts for boys and girls of all ages. When kids aren’t working onstage, they will be working on small group character work, brushing up on their acting skills in theater game sessions and working on music and simple choreography. March 16 – 20, 20120 with a performance on Friday at 7:00 pm.
Spring Break Camps at Des Moines Playhouse
831 42nd Street • Des Moines, IA 50312 • (515) 277-6261
Kids in grades first through second grade can participate in “Do you wanna build a story?”. The camp runs from March 18-20, 2020, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Kids in third through eighth grade can participate in “Performance Academy: Frozen Kids”. March 16-20, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a performance on Friday. Students should bring a lunch and a snack to full-day camps. Extended care is available for Spring Break camp.
Spring Break at Pinot’s Palette
900 42nd Street • Des Moines, IA 50312 • (515) 277-7651
Take a walk on the wild side painting amazing creatures and the stunning sky at Pinot’s Palette over spring break. Paint one day or all days! Crafts and snacks will be included! Kids ages 5+ are welcome to register. March 16 – 20, 2020 at 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
Magicamp! West Des Moines Parks and Recreation
Valley Junction Activity Center • 217 5th Street • West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 222-3444
Magicamp is for kids ages 7-15 who like to have fun. You’ll spend two days learning from professional magician Lee Cole on how to entertain and amaze your friends, family and classmates. You’ll learn stuff that you can do anywhere, at anytime and for the rest of your life. All magic materials are provided. Tuesday, March 17 and Thursday March 19, 9:00 to 11:45 am. Registration deadline is March 17th.
Science and Nature Camps & Classes
Spring Safari Camp at Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th Street • Des Moines, IA 50315 • (515) 974-2590
This fun-packed camp will consist of hands-on lessons, games, art, zoo exploration, and live animal encounters. This year’s camp theme is “Incredible Journeys”. Kids will explore the life of our feathered friends and learn about migration! Monday through Wednesday, March 16-18, 2019. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Registration and pre-payment are required.
Spring Break at Living History Farms
11121 Hickman Road • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 278-5286
Experience Spring Break without the hassles of traveling and weather. Sign your child up for a 1-day or 5-day camp full of hands-on, interactive activities, or sign up for a family experience (one child and one adult). Camp hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm March 16-20, 2020. Registration is required.
Family Workshops and Day Camp at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
909 Robert D. Ray Drive • Des Moines, IA 50309 • (515) 323-6290
Spring springs eternal at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Family Workshops offer a fun, creative experience for youth and an adult to make a take-home project together. Various themed workshops are held each day March 17-20, 2020. Spring Break Day Camp-Mad Scientists will allow your first- through fifth grader to experiment in the Garden during this action-packed camp filled with botanical dyes and bubbling potions on March 17, 2020. Registration required for the workshops and day camp.
Spring Break Archery with West Des Moines Parks and Recreation
Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge • 2500 Grand Avenue • West Des Moines, IA 50265 (515) 222-3444
Looking for something fun to do during your spring break? How about spending some time at the Raccoon River Park Archery Facility? Kids ages 9-12 will have the opportunity to practice their archery skills and possibly learn some new ones in this spring break day camp. March 19 and 20 at 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
Survivor Camp with Polk County Conservation
Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center • 12130 NW 128th Street Granger, IA 50109 • (515) 323-5300
Spend a day having fun and staying active. Kids will be able to try archery, geocaching, and fire building! Activities will take place indoors and outdoors on March 20, 2020. Pre-registration required; deadline is March 6. For kids ages 10-12.
Sports Camps & Classes
Courage League Sports Spring Break Camps
Courage League Sports is a non-profit adaptive sports and recreational organization that offers year-round programming. CLS will be offering a number of camps and classes for school aged kids with special needs during spring break. Find their full spring break camp listing here: Courage League Sports 2020 Spring Break Flyer.
Slapshot! Sports Broadcasting Workshop hosted by Iowa Wild
Wells Fargo Arena • 730 3rd Street • Des Moines, IA 50309 • (515) 564-8000
Kids ages 10 and up can attend Slapshot! a broadcasting workshop with the Iowa Wild. Young sports casters will receive an introduction to hockey play-by-play by announcer Joe O’Donnell and his broadcast crew. Attendees will also get a behind the scenes tour, will attend a mock press conference with a player and will receive a recording of the audio of their broadcast. In addition, kids will receive admission to the hockey game. Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 1:30 to 7:00 pm. Registration required.
Spring Break Camps at Climb Iowa
3605 SE Miehe Drive • Grimes, IA 50111 • (515) 986-2565
Send your kids on a rock climbing adventure! Climb Iowa’s unique camps will engage your child’s mind and body while keeping them active and teaching them new skills. Children will learn about trust, teamwork and problem solving while developing their rock climbing skills through interactive games and activities. Session 1 is March 16-17 and Session 2 is March 19-20, 2020. Camp times for each session is 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. For ages: 8 – 13.
Spring Break Day Camps hosted by Jester Park Equestrian Center
11171 NW 103rd Court • Granger, IA 50109 • (515) 999-2818
Day Camps at Jester Park Equestrian Center will focus on grooming, horse care, leading, groundwork, and riding. Morning and afternoon classes will be offered March 17-20, 2020. Morning camps held from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon is for current Kindergartners through 3rd graders and afternoon camps held from 2:00 to 5:00 are for current 4th graders through high school. Registration is required.
Spring Break Camp with Chasing Laurels – CHA Certified Riding Instruction, Boarding & Training
33434 Ute Avenue • Waukee, IA 50263 • (515) 447-6866
Camp activities include fun both on and off horseback. There will be, daily riding (weather permitting), horsemanship lessons, playing games, a cookout, horsey arts and crafts, treasure hunt, and more. March 21, 2020; 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Spring Break Riding Camp
Stage Coach Stables • 1568 Stagecoach Road • Ames, IA • (515) 520-2021
Campers will receive riding instruction in both Western and English style riding. Camps will be tailored to the abilities of the riders with one on one instruction. March 16-18, 2020 at 1:00 to 4:30 pm or March 18-20, 2020 at 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.
Ready, Set, Go hosted by Ankeny Parks and Recreation
Lakeside Center • 400 NW Lakeshore Drive • Ankeny, IA 50023 •(515) 963-3570
Kids in second through sixth grade will enjoy contests, games and prizes in a day filled with fun and friendly competition. Lunch will be provided, and college basketball games will be on the big screen. Thursday, March 19, 2020 11:30 am to 4:00 pm.
What spring break camps and classes will you be signing your kids up for?
