Activity Information
Campers participate in two activities per day. Register early as activities fill quickly. Activity registration will be on a first come, first served basis. Capacity for each activity varies. Activities will be closed once the capacity for that activity has been reached. IWCC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule an activity for any reason.
See the full camp guide and registration forms for a day-by-day listing of activities. Not all activities are presented each day.
Activity Descriptions
Babysitting 101 for Boys & Girls
If you already do some babysitting or if you would like to, this session is for you. You will learn some basic tips about caring for young children including safety, what to do in case of an emergency, hygiene issues, play, and managing behavior. You will also create some activities, games, and “toys” to use with young children and leave with your own Babysitting Survival Kit.
Be a Radio Rock Star
Ever wonder what it feels like to be a radio rock star? In this session you will get to see exactly what it takes to be on the radio. You’ll make a commercial using your voice, learn about the music that is played on the radio, and maybe even get on air at 89-7 The River! Find out just how cool being a radio rock star can be!
Be an Ecologist…”Take a Hike”
Discover the amazing and diverse world of animals and plants that inhabit a deciduous forest and learn about their fascinating interrelationships. Walk through the woods exploring a world of native species, alien invaders, clones, bones and the myriad of creepy, crawly critters that call this ecosystem home. Watch for birds, net and identify butterflies or look for wildflowers and animal tracks while creating a personal journal of your observations to take with you. A good pair of walking shoes is important and don’t forget to bring along your ENTHUSIASM!
Bridges of Pottawattamie County
Ever thought of how you would design a bridge? Come and try your hand at building a balsa wood bridge - and then destroying it! Teams will construct bridges using balsa wood and glue. Bridges will be judged on their weight to strength ratio: how much the bridge weighs to how much it can hold before collapsing into a splintery pile of wreckage! Prizes will be awarded to the designers of the winning bridge.
Build a Computer
Something is waiting inside the box, where it is dark, where it is scary...where it’s alive! Come see what’s really inside your computer—from nuts to bolts to power supply and motherboard—and build it from start to finish! Beware, there may be a few dust bunnies lurking...
Ceramic Tile Laying Made Fun
Do you like to working with your hands? Are you creative? Do you ever wonder how they do those beautiful tile mosaics on counters, floors, and walls? Here’s your chance! Come join us and learn all about ceramic tile laying techniques. You will get to create your own unique mosaic design. Be sure to wear old clothes and no open-toed shoes.
Color Your World!
In this session students will learn the basics of chromatography and will explore the use of this technique in forensic investigation and art. Participants will determine the "guilty" person based on the analysis of ink samples and will create wear-able art (tie-dye t-shirts).
Create a Web Page
Get in on the excitement of creating your own web page. This activity gives you the experience you need to learn how to create, design, publish, and maintain a web page. Learn a little about HTML and use web page creation software.
Create an Avatar Movie Poster Featuring You
“Avatarize” your portrait picture and transform yourself into your very own blue Na’vi Avatar by using Adobe Photoshop! Creating posters with Photoshop can be a lot of fun!
Creating from Scratch
Like animation? Have you pondered creating your own animated stories? Wondering how you would incorporate your own music and art? Have you dreamed about sharing your creation online with millions? Then you should become a Scratcher. The MIT Media Lab hosts the online Scratch community for youth interested in learning more about computer programming. You will learn how you can make use of Scratch, a user-friendly tool for creating your own interactive stories, games, music and art. You will also learn how you can share your work products online.
Creative Writing: Hands-On Experience
Come express your creative side. Take part in individual and small group projects. This is an interactive session designed for you to create and enjoy writing in various genres.
Crime Scene Investigation
Use the skills you learned from “Forensic Investigation” to help solve the case! You will learn how to collect evidence, guard against contamination of samples, map the crime scene, and document the chain of custody for the evidence. Note: You must have attended the Forensic Investigation activity prior to signing up for this activity.
Design & Modeling: Robots and 3-D Inventions
Students will use computer-aided design and manufacturing tools to design and model 3-D inventions. Students will explore problem-solving using robots. Given specific problems to solve, students will develop solutions based on the capabilities of their robots. Students will then program the robots to implement their solution.
Digital Photography
Come experience photography in a whole new way! Learn the basics of digital photography and how to take better photos. You will get to take your photo and have fun applying effects with Adobe Photoshop. Come join the fun! Note: Digital cameras will be available for use during the session.
Exploring Creative Sculpture Techniques
Students will be introduced to several assemblage artists and then create their own animal sculpture out of clay and scrap materials. Students will also explore artists who create sculptures out of flat shapes. Using cardboard, students will cut, bend, and fold 2-diminsonal shapes to make a 3-dimensional work of art.
Exploring Electronics
Do you ever wonder what’s inside things like cell phones, computers, or DVD players? In this session, you will have a chance to dig into the guts of electronic devices and see what makes them tick. You will also build some basic gizmos that flash and make noise. You will bend wire and melt metal and learn how to make electrons do what you want. Caution: Learning about electronics may be a side effect of this experience.
Fire and Rescue
What kind of technology is used in fighting fires? Learn fire safety; get up close and personal with a fire truck and rescue squad. See what fire fighters do on a daily basis and talk to the experts.
Forensic Investigation
Ever wonder what it would be like to try some of the investigative procedures you see on CSI television programs? Now is your chance. Take part in this activity and you’ll get to experience photography, fingerprinting, artist sketch recreation, and microscopic analysis as they relate to crime scene investigation.
Horticulture From A to Z: Have Fun with Plants!
Are you fascinated with plants and getting your hands dirty? Does dissecting pickles, flowers and other plant parts sound like fun? Join us in having fun in the greenhouse and outdoor gardens with activities that include flower tie-dying bouquets, making a plant growth chamber, and investigating the world of plants and bugs!
How to Save a Life
Did you like to play nurse when you were little? Do you know how to save a life? Come and practice nursing skills using a human simulator and you will learn life-saving techniques. You will explore the human body systems and how they work together. Join us and find out what really being a nurse is all about.
More than Flags
Students will learn basic skills for handling flags and other items in the style of a marching band color guard. This activity will include movement and action as the participants toss, turn and dance to the music. No previous skills required, just be ready for an exciting, interactive musical experience.
Music of the People: Folk and Pop Music of the World
Students will learn about the music of different cultures from around the world including music that might appear on the iPods of teenagers in Africa, Asia and South America. Students will also build their own traditional instruments, like thumb pianos and talking drums, and create music in the style of cultures both near and far.
Not Your Average Grey’s Anatomy
Ever wonder how your body keeps you moving and breathing? Let’s explore inside our bodies to find out how the oxygen we breathe moves through our body to power our muscles. We’ll even compete to discover how much strength it takes to beat your friends!
PAWSitively Purrfect Pets
Are you crazy about animals and love pets? If you are fascinated with animals and want to learn more about how to care for your pets, this is the session for you! You will have fun while expanding your animal care knowledge by learning basic pet first aid and how to care for dogs and cats through animal-related games and activities. You will also learn dog and cat body language, some basic training techniques and understand what jobs are available for you in the field of animal welfare.
"Please Send an Ambulance!”
Live a few hours in the shoes of a 911 paramedic…. Experience the adrenaline rush as you are dispatched out to an emergency situation and learn some of the skills involved in rescue operations and medical emergencies. Emergency Medical Technicians will be on hand to give you an “up close and personal” look at what they do in their jobs every day. You will see a short video presentation and then get your hands busy as you learn some of the equipment and tasks needed to work in EMS. Finally, take your new skill to the street as your crew is paged out to handle an emergency call outside… come play with us, and see if you are one of the few who is cut out to be a paramedic!
R3 = Reduce Reuse Recycle
Do you want to go green? If you want to live green and have fun too, this is the session for you. Join us as we learn about the 3 R’s and have fun transforming trash to treasure.
Reiver Theatre
Come explore the world of theatre. Teams work together on various elements involved in staging a play and learn how an audience responds to a play! Teams will rehearse a scene, design a set, set a stage, hang lights, and perform a scene. The audience will participate in the outcome of the piece. Note: If you have a cell phone, please bring it with you for this activity.
Signing Made Simple!
Whether it’s a password or a hidden code, there is a special thrill in sharing a “secret” language with others. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to communicate in sign language? Maybe it’s just for fun or maybe it’s to communicate with someone who cannot hear you. Come learn a new language where you talk with your hands. Learn the alphabet and signs for common conversation and everyday activities. You will also learn a new way to sing.
Spice Things Up!
Touch it, smell it, taste it. This session is designed to “spice things up” in your kitchen. We will be talking about different spices; where they are grown and how they are processed. We will talk about the colors, aromas and flavors of the spices, and how they are used in cooking. You will do some cooking demonstrations so that you can see the spices in action.
Sports Announcing
You watch sports…you play sports…you LIVE sports. We have a session for that! Sports announcers go to games, do interviews with players and coaches, and talk about sports on the radio and on TV. Sound fun? Well, come and learn how to take sports from the field to the air waves by recording yourself reading sports scores, doing interviews, and more! No helmet required!
Virtual Surgery
Spend some time in the wonderful world of surgery! Experience a minimally invasive surgery with aseptic techniques in a hands-on session, which will keep you on your toes. You will learn the correct way to surgically scrub your hands, put on sterile gown and gloves, and then have the chance to earn a prize or two by demonstrating your laparoscopic surgical skills. Short sleeve shirt and comfortable shoes are suggested.
Weather Warning
Could a storm be coming? Learn how to measure dew point, wind speed and barometric pressure, and how these affect weather predictions. Learn about weather and meteorology from the staff at Offutt Air Force Weather Agency, who predict the weather for our military forces all over the world.
Windows Moviemaker
Discover how to make your own movies using Windows Moviemaker. This free program is fun and easy to use and allows you to use your own pictures, videos and music. You can also add titles, special effects, and credits to your movie. Your completed movie can then be written to a CD or DVD and shared with friends and family similar to a Blockbuster movie. Students can bring their own pictures, videos, and audio on a flash drive to use for the class.