In-Service Day Camps
Make the most of your kids’ days off from school with Day Camps at Indian Creek Nature Center.
Fall Camps
2025-2026 School Year (Grades K thru 5th)
September 22 - Incredible Insects (Waitlist)
Description: Join us to learn about the fascinating insects of Iowa! Where do insects live? What do they eat? How do they see? Why are insects important? We will answer these questions together as we explore Iowa’s incredible insects!
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: September 22, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
October 13 & October 16 - Fall Fest
Description: Join us for the “Fall Fest” In-Service Day Camp at ICNC. Students will ride an electric bus to Bass Farms for a fun filled time exploring the pumpkin patch before heading back to Indian Creek to have additional fall adventures.
Fee: $60 members, $80 Non-Members
Date: October 13, 2025 OR October 16, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Sack lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
October 27 - Nature's Unhuggables
Description: Join us to learn and meet “Nature’s Unhuggables.” Students will see real animals that often are considered ‘icky’ or ‘gross.’ After seeing them and learning about them, we hope they change their mind!
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: October 27, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Sack lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
November 3 & November 17 - Creature Feature; Snakes of Iowa (WAITLIST)
Description: Join us to learn about some of the snakes that live in Iowa! We will learn about their coloring and patterns, how they protect themselves, where they can be found, and what they eat. Lastly, we will visit with our resident milk snake, named “Needle.”
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: November 3, 2025 OR November 17, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
Winter Break Camps
2025-2026 School Year (Grades K thru 3rd)
December 29 - Animals in Winter (Waitlist Only)
Description: Explore the Nature Center in winter with hands-on activities, games and experiments both inside Amazing Space and outside on the trails and grounds. Day camps are open to all Kindergarteners through 3rd graders, and we will cover different topics and activities for each day so come for one or multiple days! (Monday’s topic is “Animals in Winter”, Tuesday is “Outer Space” and Wednesday is “Winter Fun”.)
Fee: $50 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: December 29, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, winter outdoor gear and clothing (coat, snowpants, boots, mittens, warm clothes, layers, etc.)
December 30 - Outer Space (Waitlist Only)
Description: Explore the Nature Center in winter with hands-on activities, games and experiments both inside Amazing Space and outside on the trails and grounds. Day camps are open to all Kindergarteners through 3rd graders, and we will cover different topics and activities for each day so come for one or multiple days! (Monday’s topic is “Animals in Winter”, Tuesday is “Outer Space” and Wednesday is “Winter Fun”.)
Fee: $50 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: December 30, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, winter outdoor gear and clothing (coat, snowpants, boots, mittens, warm clothes, layers, etc.)
December 31 - Winter Fun (WAITLIST ONLY)
Description: Explore the Nature Center in winter with hands-on activities, games and experiments both inside Amazing Space and outside on the trails and grounds. Day camps are open to all Kindergarteners through 3rd graders, and we will cover different topics and activities for each day so come for one or multiple days! (Monday’s topic is “Animals in Winter”, Tuesday is “Outer Space” and Wednesday is “Winter Fun”.)
Fee: $50 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: December 31, 2025
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00am-3:00pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, winter outdoor gear and clothing (coat, snowpants, boots, mittens, warm clothes, layers, etc.)
Spring Camps
2025-2026 School Year (Grades K thru 5th)
January 16 & February 2 - Winter Explorers
Description: Students will explore how winter ushers in changes for plants and animals. We will create nature journals to record what we find!
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: January 16, 2026 OR February 2
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, winter outdoor gear and clothing (coat, snowpants, boots, mittens, warm clothes, layers, etc.)
February 13 & February 27 - Creative Kids
Description: Students will enjoy many opportunities to use their creativity both indoors and out.
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: February 13, 2026 OR February 27
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, winter outdoor gear and clothing (coat, snowpants, boots, mittens, warm clothes, layers, etc.)
February 23 - Yeti Adventure
Description: Students will investigate signs of animals, both real and mythical. We will practice simple navigation skills while we learn about animals that are active in winter.
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: February 23, 2026
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, winter outdoor gear and clothing (coat, snowpants, boots, mittens, warm clothes, layers, etc.)
March 30 - Maple Syrupin' Then and Now
Description: Students will learn about maple syrup harvesting, past and present. We will show how to harvest maple sap together and learn how it is “cooked down” to become the delicious maple syrup that we eat!
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: March 30, 2026
Location: Penningroth Barn (6665 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
April 17 - Mystery Moments
Description: Students will discover some unusual happenings at Indian Creek Nature Center. Through teamwork and detective skills, students will uncover clues that help explain several mysterious (but not scary) events.
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: April 17, 2026
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
April 20 - Spring Travelers
Description: Students will meet some of Iowa’s spring travelers!! We will learn about migratory song birds and help band them as they embark on their spring migration.
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: April 20, 2026
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
May 11 - Blooming Wonders
Description: Students will play and learn through activities relating to plants with emphasis on the special woodland ephemerals that can be found in spring.
Fee: $55 members, $75 Non-Members
Date: May 11, 2026
Location: Amazing Space (5300 Otis Rd SE)
Session Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Drop Off from 8:45-9:00 am, Pick up from 3:00-3:15 pm
What to Bring: Lunch and snacks, water bottle, dress for indoor and outdoor play
No School. No problem!
Parents can transform a day at home into hands-on science and nature experiences for their children. Once they’re dropped off, children will go on indoor and outdoor learning adventures with experienced ICNC educators. Children will spend their time out of school learning in a fun new way.
**Please check your school’s calendar to see which in-service days work for your child.
- Students need a sack lunch and snack
- Kids should be dressed for indoor and outdoor play
- Pre-registration is required
ICNC Cancellation Policy
To be eligible for a fee refund or transfer, ICNC requires a 48-hour advance notice for all cancellations. Eligible cancelled registrations can either be refunded or applied to another registration. All refunded registrations are charged an administrative processing fee of 10%. Only in cases of extreme weather or other extenuating circumstances will ICNC cancel a scheduled program. All programs cancelled by ICNC will receive a full refund.