The Community Academy students will collaborate with several local partners including The City of Ames, Reiman Gardens, and the Ames High School Garden on long-term projects that make a difference.

Participants will be involved in many types of experiences each week from hiking and canoeing to growing, harvesting, and preparing food. There will also be opportunities to personalize their day based on their preferences.

Experiences may include:

• Long-term Collaborative Community Projects
  • Farm to Table – growing and harvesting food
  • Gardening, cooking, and food preparation
  • Foraging for local edibles
  • Improving Local Ecosystems
  • Monitoring wildlife at the Ames High Prairie (small and large mammals, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, etc.)
  • Collaborate with the City of Ames to plant Iowa Native Plants on public land
  • Learn to report news and create radio content as part of a collaboration with KHOI radio
  • Explore local history
  • Learn about local Native American culture
• Exploring Nature
  • Wildlife viewing (frog calls, beaver ponds, owls, bats, etc.)
  • Hike woodland, water, and prairie trails
  • Explore wetlands
  • Explore and canoe rivers and water resources in our community (Peterson Pits, Ioway Creek)
• Experiences
  • Indoor and outdoor mindfulness practice and reflection time
  • Creating art (Observational drawings, clay sculptures, sun art paper, etc.)
  • Visit public art and local art galleries
  • Get behind the scenes at local businesses