Summer Explorations | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Hancock County

A lifetime of fun in one endless summer. Come and join us for a summer of fun, excitement, new adventures, and explorations. Listed below is our line up of 43 Summer Explorations (with multiple locations offered) designed for hands-on educational learning for all ages of youth. You must use the registration form (link upper right) to sign up for events.

2022 Summer Explorations Brochure

2022 Summer Explorations Registration Form - download to see full classes

Kickoff to Summer

When: Tuesday, May 31 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Who: K-12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Join us for an evening of games, crafts, and more! Come and go as you please. All families are welcome!

Where: Pool Park – Garner

Cost: Free will donation to Hancock County Council

RSVP: Come and Go, no RSVP needed.

Pizza Party

When: Wednesday, June 1 from 3:30-4:30 PM

Who: K-12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn the art of food design while creating your very own fruit and veggie pizzas!

Where: Britt Municipal Building

Cost: $15

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 15.

Shadow Boxes - Garner & Britt

When: Thursday, June 2 Garner 1:00 - 2:00 PM - OR - Britt 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Who: 4 - 8 grades (grade just completing)

What: Create beautiful shadow boxes using Cricut cut flowers, glitter and more!

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park, Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 25 per session.

Melted Crayon Canvas

When: Friday, June 3 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Who: 3 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Pick a silhouette image and melt a beautiful crayon background for your masterpiece.

Where: Tourist Park, Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 20.

Hot Pad Towel

When: Monday, June 6 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Who: 4-12th grade (grade just completing)

What: Turn an ordinary hot pad and dish cloth into a hanging towel that doubles as a hot pad.

Where: Britt Lutheran Church

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 16.

Woodworking Wall Shelf

When: Tuesday, June 7 from 1:00 - 4:30 PM

Who: 4 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Build your very own wall hanging shelf that has lots of options for customization.

Where: GHV High School Shop

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 16.

Art in the Park - Animal Abstract

When: Wednesday, June 8 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Who: K - 3 grades (grade just completing)

What: Students will enjoy a blast of collage and color to create unique animal paintings. Students will experiment with making their own collage material, ripping up and attaching collage material to resemble animal fur, then using paint to create a unique animal face.

Where: Tourist Park, Garner

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 20.

Glitter Cups - Garner & Britt

When: Thursday, June 9 Garner 1:00 - 2:00 PM - OR - Britt 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Who: 2-8 grades (grade just completing)

What: Customize and create your very own glitter tumblers!

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park, Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, May 20. Limited to 20 per session.

Charcuterie Boards

When: Monday, June 13 from 1:00—2:00 PM

Who: K - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Come learn the art of making beautiful and fun charcuterie boards! We will be dividing into groups and creating different boards and eating them when finished. Contest is also coming back to the fair this summer!

Where: Hancock County Extension Office

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 20.

Explore It: 321 Nutrition

When: Monday, June 13 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Who: 3 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn about what it means to be an entrepreneur, run your own business, be your own boss! Join us as we talk to Shayna Bellingtier at 321 Nutrition in Garner about her entrepreneurship journey!

Where: 321 Nutrition, 336 State St., Garner

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 20.

Reverse Canvas - Garner & Britt

When: Tuesday, June 14, Garner 1:00 - 2:00 PM or Britt 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Who: 3 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Create a beautiful art piece by flipping your canvas inside-out! Learn how to do so at this workshop!

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park or Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 20 per session.

Pallet Trees

When: Wednesday, June 15 from 1:00 - 3:30 PM

Who: 4 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Repurpose a wood pallet into a tree!

Where: Hancock County Fairgrounds

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 15.

Carpet Cat House

When: Wednesday, June 15 from 4:00- 6:00 PM

Who: 4 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Design and build your own cat house using carpet scraps and other repurposed material!

Where: Hancock County Fairgrounds

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 15.

Cultural Tastebuds: Germany

When: Thursday, June 16 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Who: 2 - 6 grades (grade just completing)

What: Discover the culture of Germany with your taste buds! We will be making and eating traditional German food including potato pancakes and spaetzle.

Where: Britt Lutheran Church

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 20.

Gel Candles

When: Thursday, June 16 from 3:30-4:30 PM

Who: K - 3 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn the art of gel candle making and make your own to enjoy at home!

Where: Lions Park, Britt

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 20.

Rhubarb Crisp Workshop

When: Friday, June 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Who: 1 - 5 grades (grade just completed)

What: Learn how to make a classic spring dessert: Rhubarb Crisp. Kids preparing and combining ingredients to bake and enjoy together.

Where: GHV High School, Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 3. Limited to 20.

Ice Cream in a Bag - Garner & Britt

When: Monday, June 20 Garner 1:00 - 2:00 PM - OR - Britt 3:30-4:30 PM

Who: 2 - 6 grades (grade just completing)

What: Use your scientific skills by making your own ice cream...in a bag! This easy-to-do experiment is sure to be a yummy treat!

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park or Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 10, Limited to 20 per session.

Weather Workshop - Garner & Britt

When: Tuesday, June 21 Garner 1:00-2:00 PM - OR - Britt 3:30-4:30 PM

Who: K - 3 grades (grade just completing)

What: Become a meteorologist at our weather workshop! Youth will do experiments and make their own rain clouds!

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park or Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 10. Limited to 20 per session.

Art in the Park: Geometric Art

When: Wednesday, June 22 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Who: K-3 grades (grade just completing).

What: Students will learn about color schemes in abstract art by making their own colorful creations based on artist Sonia Delaunay's artwork.

Where: Tourist Park, Garner

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 10. Limited to 25.

Explore It: Vet

When: Wednesday, June 22 from 2:30-3:30 PM

Who: K - 3 grades (grade just completing)

What: What does it mean to be a vet? How do you take vitals of your pets? What are common pet diseases? How are they treated? Learn all this and more by touring the Garner Vet Clinic and learning from the experts.

Where: Garner Veterinary Clinic, 435 US Hwy 18

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 17. Limited to 20.

Cupcake Wars - Garner & Britt

When: Thursday, June 23 Garner 1:00 - 3:00 PM or Britt 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Who: 2 - 8 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn from expert bakers on how to bake and decorate cup cakes. Decorate your cupcakes using different piping techniques. You will be bringing cupcakes home for your family to enjoy! Sign up for this workshop to prepare for the Cupcake Wars contest at the 2022 Hancock County Fair!

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park or Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $20

RSVP: Friday, June 10. Limited to 15 per session.

Explore It: Detective

When: Monday, June 27 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Who: 3 - 5 grades (grade just completing)

What: Navigate around a crime scene and see if you can solve the crime. Experience what goes on behind a crime scene with Sheriff Rob Gerdes.

Where: Hancock County Extension Office

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 10. Limited to 25.

Strawberry Jam Workshop

When: Tuesday, June 28 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Who: 3 - 12 grades (grade just completed)

What: Learn the steps to prepare and can your own seasonal jam. Students will help prepare the ingredients for jam, learn about the process of jamming and get an introduction to water bath canning.

Where: GHV High School, Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 17. Limited to 20.

Movie Makers Series Camp

When: Tuesday, July 5, Thursday, July 7, and Monday July 11, from 1:00 -2:30 PM

Who: 5-12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn the art of movie making! From filming to editing, you will create your own mini movie! Bring a phone, camera, or tablet to film on!

Where: Hancock County Extension Office

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 24. Limited to 10.

Art in the Park: Vincent Van Gogh

When: Wednesday, July 6, 1-2 PM

Who: K-3 grades (grade just completing).

What: Students will discover the art of composition by learning how to utilize the foreground, middle ground, and background to create a contrasting sharpie and watercolor landscape based on Vincent Van Gogh's flowing landscapes.

Where: Tourist Park, Garner

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, June 24. Limited to 25.

Escape Room

When: Wednesday, July 6 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Who: 4 - 8 grades (grade just completing)

What: Crack the code, unlock the box, complete the puzzles. Do you have what it takes to find the answers and solve the mystery before time is up?

Where: Hancock County Extension Office

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 24, Limited to 20.

Explore It: Salon Embellish

When: Thursday, July 7 from 3:00-4:30 PM

Who: K - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn the ins-and- outs of becoming and being a hairstylist! Join us at Salon Embellish to talk with Robin about her experiences.

Where: Salon Embellish, 455 State St., Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 24. Limited to 15.

Virtual Mug Meals - Take II

When: Friday, July 8 from 1:00 -3:30 PM

Who: K - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Make your own breakfast, lunch, and dessert all in a mug. New recipes from last year. You’ll need your microwave and a large size ceramic mug that can go in the microwave.

Where: Virtually, in your own kitchen

Cost: $10, includes meal ingredients that will be picked up prior to the virtual workshop date.

RSVP: Friday, June 24. Limited to 30.

Viking Stadium Tour w/ Como Zoo

When: Tuesday, July 12 from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM

Who: 3 - 8 grades (grade just completing)

What: Tour the Vikings Football stadium and see how it was designed to be environmentally friendly. Also explore Como Zoo & Exploratory.

Where: Meet at the Hancock County Extension Office

Cost: $20, bring your own lunch and money for fast food supper.

RSVP: Friday, July 1. Limited to 40 (4 counties).

Stellar Robotic Welding

When: Wednesday, July 13 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM

Who: 6 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Students will arrive at Stellar Industries and start out with a tour and see how robotics are used in welding. Program a collaborative weld robot to build a creation and take it home.

Where: Stellar Industries, 380 West 3rd St., Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, July 1. Limited to 6.

Explore It: Mike Stevens Barber Shop

When: Thursday, July 14 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Who: 4 - 12 (grade just completing)

What: Learn from Mike Stevens on what it means to be a barber and tour his shop!

Where: Mike Stevens Barber Shop, 71 Main Ave. N, Britt

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, July 1. Space limited to 15.

Edible Science - Garner & Britt

When: Britt - Thursday July 14 from 3:30-4:30 PM, - OR - Garner Monday, July 18, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Who: 2 - 8 grades (grade just completing)

What: Become a scientist with your food! Learn how to make fun creations using everyday kitchen items.

Where: Garner @ Tourist Park or Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $10

RSVP: Friday, July 1. Limited to 15 per session.

Coding Mouse - Garner & Britt

When: Friday, July 15 Garner 1:00 - 2:00 PM - OR - Britt 3:00 - 4:00 PM

Who: K-2 grades (grade just completing)

What: Learn the basics of how to code by programming your mouse to complete different challenges. Can you get the mouse through the maze?

Where: Garner @ Hancock County Extension Office or Britt @ Lions Park

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, July 8. Limited to 20.

Minute to Win It - STEM

When: Tuesday, July 19 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Who: 4 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Join us for a fun afternoon of STEM challenges! Youth will be split into team to complete challenges in only a minutes time.

Where: Tourist Park, Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, July 8. Limited to 25.

Day as a Doctor

When: Wednesday, July 20 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Who: K - 3 grades (grade just completing)

What: Spend the day as a doctor, tour the hospital, get your own stethoscope, dress like a surgeon, learn about your body, and more!

Where: Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Britt

Cost: $15, includes lunch and snack

RSVP: Friday, July 8. Limited to 20.

Innovative Ag Science

When: Tuesday, August 2 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Who: 8-12 grades (grade day completed)

What: This jammed pack day will be filled with innovative ag science, crop trials, gardening tips, leadership, strengthening mental health and so much more. Come see all the Kanawha Research farm has to offer.

Where: Kanawha Research Farm

Cost: $5, lunch included

RSVP: Friday, July 22. Limited to 20.

Stellar CAD/3D Print Workshop

When: Wednesday, August 3 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM

Who: 6 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Explore basic CAD functions in Solid Works, and see what 3D printing does in the working world. Participants design and print out 3D mini truck.

Where: Stellar Industries, 380 West 3rd St., Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, July 22. Limited to 6.

Farm Career Exploration

When: Friday, August 5 from 1:00 - 6:00 PM

Who: K - 3 (Grade just completing)

What: Visit a beef cattle farm, a large vegetable garden, and see how tractors drive themselves all while learning about how to turn these adventures into a career.

Where: Pick Up and drop off at the Extension Office in Garner, visiting Ed Greiman’ s cattle yard, Brent Renner’s crop farm, and Jeff Short’s vegetable garden.

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, July 22. Limited to 40.

JR. FLL Robotics - Garner & Britt

When: Wednesday, August 10 Garner 1:00 - 3:00 PM - OR - Britt 3:30 - 5:00 PM

Who: K - 2 grades (grade just completing)

What: Explore Jr. Lego League where you build with Legos and program a robot. What can you create? How can you help solve problems? Like LEGOS? Want to learn the first steps of coding?

Where: Garner @ Hancock County Extension Office or Britt @ Municipal Building

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, June 10. Limited to 15 per session.

Garden Salsa

When: Tuesday, August 16 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Who: 3 - 12 grades (grade just completing)

What: Make fresh garden salsa to enjoy together! We will also talk about how to can your own salsa to enjoy year round.

Where: GHV High School, Garner

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, August 12. Limited to 20.

Real Heroes

When: Wednesday, August 17 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Who: K - 3 grades (grade just completing)

What: Come meet our local heroes from the fire department, ambulance crew, and sheriff office and learn what they do. See their equipment and how it works.

Where: West Hancock Ambulance Shed, Britt

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, August 12. Limited to 30.

FLL Robotics Coding

When: Thursday, August 18 & Friday, August 19 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Who: 3 - 7 grades (grade just completing)

What: Build your robot so it can run a mission. Maybe you want it to dance? Or push a pole? Code our Spike Prime robot bricks to successfully complete a mission of your choosing from the FLL robot table missions.

Where: Hancock County Extension Office

Cost: $5

RSVP: Friday, August 12. Limited to 20.