Preschool & Kindergarten - Summer Session 2025

---

The 2024-2025 regular school year for Morning Song and Day Song preschool & kindergarten ends on May 30. From June 9-Aug. 21, Prairie Flower will offer a summer session of preschool & kindergarten programming. We are excited to continue this year-round programming that we started last year.

Programming will be the same as the current Morning Song and Day Song preschool & kindergarten program, which uses an emergent curriculum, emphasizes spending as much of the day as possible outdoors (in all weather, including rain!), unhurried daily rhythms and unstructured, child-led play time.

During the summer, we will also make time for typical summer fun like running through sprinklers and splashing in the creek, occasional trips to Furman Aquatic Center, and occasional field trips to parks across town via CyRide.

Summer Preschool Details

• Ages: For children age 3 through entering kindergarten (must be toilet-trained)
• Location for drop-off & pick-up: Prairie Flower Children's Center, 1517 Northwestern Ave, Ames IA 50010
• Hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Tuition: $260 per week (full days M-F), or $130 per week (half-days M-F) *childcare assistance accepted
• What's Included: supplies for activities; lunch (vegetarian cooked lunch, for full-day children); afternoon snack (for full-day children); entrance fee for occasional pool trips to Furman Aquatic Center; and fare for occasional CyRide trips.

*Childcare assistance funding is available through Iowa DHS for families meeting DHS requirements. This requires a separate application through DHS.

Daily Schedule

• 8-9 a.m.: Drop-off. Handcrafts, group-building. Kids in summer preschool & kindergarten program will be together with school-age summer camp kids during this time.
• 9 a.m.-Noon.: Activities outdoors; morning snack. Morning Song children are picked up at noon.
• Noon-12:45 p.m.: Day Song children help with lunch prep.
• 12:45-1:15 p.m.: Lunch & cleanup (vegetarian lunch is provided)
• 1:15-2:45 p.m.: Nap or rest time; quiet indoor activities
• ​3-5:30 p.m.: Pick-up. Child-directed activities at Prairie Flower's nature playscape, or indoors in Prairie Flower classrooms if needed. Kids in summer preschool & kindergarten program will be together with school-age summer camp kids during this time.

Note: The main outdoor spaces used will include Brookside Park, Ames High Prairie and Prairie Flower's nature playscape, as well as occasional field trips to parks along CyRide routes.

Weeks Offered:
Sign-up is on a week-by-week basis, for the weeks listed below. Sign up is for Monday-Friday of that week; if you wish for your child to attend only part of a week, the full weekly tuition is still due. Sign up for either full days, or half days (8 a.m.-12 p.m.) each week. 

• June 9-13
• June 16-20
• June 23-27
• June 30-July 3 *No camp July 4. Special prorated tuition rate.
• July 7-11
• (No camp week of July 14-18)
• July 21-25
• July 28-Aug. 1
• Aug. 4-8
• Aug. 11-15
• Aug. 18-21 *No camp Aug. 22. Special prorated tuition rate.

Behavior policy and payment/refund policy
Click here to read.

What to Bring (for Backpacks)

• Small backpack (chest clip is preferred and recommended for comfort and ease of use for children) 
  
• ​Water bottle (with a minimum capacity of 12 ounces, and backpack-safe).
  
• Two-compartment snack container
  
• Hat (for sun and tick protection)
  
• Sunscreen
  
• Bug repellent
• Hand towels
• Extra socks (in backpack)
  

Note: Morning snack is part of the cooperative model and is provided by families on a rotating basis. Children won't bring their own snack each day. 

Gear Your Child Will Need:

• Rain pants (not optional -- Needed for this age)
  
• Rain boots (not options -- Needed for this age)
• Rain jacket for rainy days
• Sturdy closed-toe shoes (waterproof preferred)
  
• Pants for going in the woods  
  
• 2 x Pair of extra clothes (to be kept in child's cubby)
  
• Small pillow and blanket, for rest time
  

---

Sign Up Today!

Prairie Flower uses Brightwheel for forms and for communication with families. You will be prompted to create a Brightwheel account if you do not have one already.

Enroll in Summer 2025

---

Note: Enrollment is capped at 15 students per week. Once you apply, a member of Prairie Flower's enrollment team will contact you if space is available for your desired week(s). Families currently enrolled in preschool receive priority, and families requesting to enroll in full days will have priority.

---

Registration will be open for each week until the Monday of the week prior, or until the enrollment cap is reached.