We had our college retreats here and it was great!! Very accommodating and the staff was very…read morehelpful! Perfect for any size group and has different kinds of housing for all of your people. I believe most of the camp is wheelchair accessible as well.

I grew up at this camp. Spending a week as a camper there from as long as I could remember till I…read morewas a teenager. Then I started to work for the camp and worked there through high school and college years. It was such a blessing on my life and forever shaped my life. I don't think I ever made any better friends than I did at Hidden Acres. I will never forget my time spent there, nor the friends I made.

My daughter started coming to the Y Camp when she was in single digits with Camp Hertko Hollow (for…read morekids with T1D)... A few years ago she started signing up for their LDP program. First VIP then LA and finally CIT. Now at 17 she is employed as a Leader. She's leading younger kids through their overnight, day, and family camp programs. Along with things coming full circle and helping the kids coming in for Camp Hertko Hollow. I'm pretty proud of her. As a parent I've worked with the staff here for over a decade watching my daughter grow up partly under their care... I've watched her build friendships that don't just last a summer... They get together at each other's homes during the school year too...and if that's not possible thanks to technology they still keep in touch one way or another. We live close enough she still comes home now and then after camp breaks on Saturday and returns before it resumes on Sunday. She came home last weekend for a day and brought two car loads of kids with her. I believe they participate in the IENA program... Kind of an exchange program with international and North American camp leaders. I only got to meet a few of them. Two of her friends were from Ireland and one was from the UK. That was different...and fun! All great kids! The facilities are modern and kept up to date with periodic remodels. It's sure not the tent camping I was used to with Scouts. Now don't get me wrong... It's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows. Things happen with kids... Kids get homesick and some minor accidents etc. come with the territory. The staff here always deals with it well and involves the parents when needed. As a parent it can be kind of hard to let go and start to give your child that freedom... But I trust the staff and I know she's always been in a good place here.

Stayed at the Y Camp for Pollinate Women's Wellness Weekend on Oct. 9-13 and it was lovely. Aside…read morefrom the outstanding programming of the Pollinate organizers, the facilities were amazing. The cabins were cozy and warm, almost all indoor spaces had a fireplace, the bathrooms were clean, the showers had hot water and the staff were friendly and helpful. Although the cold eliminated some water activities, there was still a ton to do. They offered archery, zip lining, guided hikes, climbing walls, horse back riding, sling shotting, arts and crafts, and a hammock farm! The meals were tasty and the dining hall was comfortable. The grounds felt safe and offered views of a creek and the Boone railway. There were plenty of spaces to just relax in nature and while the campgrounds are huge, most of the facilities are easily within a 5 minute walk of each other. I would love to return for family camp, or to send the kids for one of their many summer camp options. If you are looking for a place to host a family reunion, wedding, or event, I recommend checking them out. They have a space for almost any kind of event and their prices are very reasonable.

My granddaughter attended Wesley Woods horse day camp in 2024 when she was 10. She'll go again this…read moresummer - but wants to have the week-long overnight experience. She's already decided that after beginner, and now intermediate, she wants to go on to advanced - all the way to becoming an instructor!

Came here for horseback riding with my family. This is a Methodist Church camp that offers…read morehorseback riding year-round for a price way lower than anywhere else I've ever been. This is a great outing for anyone new to horseback riding or to do with your children. It's also a price that makes this a great weekend activity for the whole family. Our guide led us around the large acreage of the camp for around 45 minutes on a very easy and beautiful ride.

Prairie Flower Children's Center is a wonderful, Waldorf-based preschool that emphasizes time in…read morenature and imaginative play. All four of my children have attended Prairie Flower, and I am so grateful they were able to have non-traditional preschool experiences that do not focus so heavily on learning letters and numbers but rather focus on educating the whole child and nurturing the magic and wonder of childhood. I can't imagine a better experience for little ones.

When my daughter went here, she was relatively happy with it (although frequently confused by the…read morerules). As a parent, though, I was not happy. It felt very judgmental and clique-y. We got in trouble for dressing our daughter in tshirts with cartoons on them, for bringing non-homemade snacks, because she watched a video while at her grandparent's house (gasp!), and we were admonished for not showing up to things like the Harvest Forest Walk (or whatever they called it) because we had to work. This place feels like it's for parents with more time on their hands than the rest of us can reasonably hope to have. We believed in the philosophies of Waldorf, but needed something that worked in real life. Real life... where sometimes you set your kids in front of the TV. Real life... where you don't have time to make organic homemade gluten-free sugar-free cupcakes because you have to WORK. Real life... where you have to make compromises. When compared to other childcare places, I really appreciate that they have a philosophy that gives the kids the chance to connect to the seasons and the outdoors. But, ick. They give the idea a bad name, and our time there felt like a visit to Guilt City.

Moingona girl scouts are fond memories over in the Boone, IA area. We sold more cookies than…read moreanyone else because we ordered a ton of cookies and then went door to door at the college dorms. We made out nicely and got to go to camp for free because of it.

Flexibility, independence, and fun stuff to do. Kiddo went to a lot of different camps last summer:…read morescience center, living history farms, gymnastics (some others I can't think of right now). This is the one and only camp she asked to go to this year. And she asked to go all summer. (She isn't doing that much yet but will fill in there at least a week every summer month.) The flexibility is so great. I buy a bunch of days. More than I need because there's a refund at the end for unused days. Then I tell Steve or Kate that Kiddo is coming the day before. Pick her lunch, or let her pick, and that's it. Maybe check to see if there is a water activity planned because good dads shouldn't forget to send a suit and towel. lol Drop her off any time in the morning and pick her up anytime. So. Convenient. Kiddo gets to pick out her day. If she picks to be on a tablet all day every day, that's a conversation for her and one of her grown ups. Independence means she can make less-than-perfect choices and learn from them. Last summer, Kiddo picked baking in the afternoon every afternoon she went. She was so excited about it. Every day. So excited. Maybe this summer she will sew. She did see a baby raccoon hopping out of a Greenwood park garbage can, so I know she was outside at least once. Haha! The staff was young but dedicated last summer. And I expect it will be the same this summer. They were all really on their games and made sure kids were safe while letting them have space to flex their independence. I'm so glad Des Moines has this option. The weekly fun activities are worth paying attention to--the inflatable water slide was not to be missed last summer. And I sort of wish I could get in on the pies in the face!

This place is a rip off. The staff are rude, my kid comes home and says he was on a tablet pretty…read moremuch all day. They offer the kids garbage food like takeout pizza and takeout bagels and he didnt see a single vegetable. Everyone working here is an underpaid teen. We tried to cancel 2 days in advance and it wasn't til after the submission screen we got a pop up message there would be no refund or recredit. We tried to call to at least get the day we paid for back and they said no literally laughed in our face and suggested we pay for the day again.

Jen and her staff has been truly amazing. my son has gone to the Children's Jungle since they very…read morefirst opened and they treat him like family. As any first time mom I was very nervous to send my child to daycare and adding to that nervousness my son has a disability so knowing he was getting the correct care, attention, and love means the world to me. I can't say how much I appreciate the staff for all being so inclusive and kind to my son, my partner, and myself. Any time I have had a worry or concern it was dealt with in a timely manner and where I actually felt like I was being heard and seen. I highly recommend sending your kiddos here.

From the owner: Over 25 Years of Combined Experience, New Playground, Peanut-Free Zone, Separate Toddler Play Area…read moreand Six Age-Specific Classrooms, Local Family Owned Business, On-Site Cook Follows CACFP Nutrition Guidelines. Products: Nutritious Meals and Snacks. Services: Transportation to Winterset Schools, Sports Activities and Winterset Gym for Kindergym, Field Trips and Community Education Days, Infant and Toddler Care, Summer Programs, Before and After School Care for Ages 5-12, Activities for Kids Between 12-18, Year-Round Child Care. Location Facts: From the 92/169 four-way stop, head West to 8th Ave then South to Summit. Turn West and drive one block down.