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.

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.

I take Arabic classes here (currently on hiatus). Since I moved back home (I was visiting Ames…read morebriefly), they also offer virtual classes. They use a book from the UAE that is meant to teach speakers of other languages and really push them to learn through immersion. It helped me improve my language skills in Arabic very quickly within two months. I was totally shocked as I had been at a standstill for years (three to be exact)! They offer classes but also one on one tutoring. I highly recommend this center!

Excellent daycare. My daughter Maahay has just started this bright horizon daycare. she was upset…read moreyesterday but today she waved me goodbye. I was quite nervous but Jess (maybe the manager here) kept telling me to comeback and check on my baby whenever I feel like. They are pretty transparent and open for that reason. thank you everyone

I am currently in my final semester of studying Kinesiology, and this school has been nothing but…read moregreat. Campus- All together (no walking through a city)) with lots of grass and trees sprinkled throughout for a cohesive feel. Many different buildings with all sorts of architecture- some are original buildings, some are big limestone Washington DC lookin, big concrete block lookin, or all futuristic looking with huge glass fronts. Plenty of sidewalks to get you where you need to be. Maintenance of the grass and snow is pretty good. The use of sand instead of salt can be a nuisance when you come home and dump a sandbox out of your shoe. Class- I honestly enjoyed about 90% of my classes, especially because my classmates and I enjoyed what we were studying. Most professors are great and actually care about your education, always an outlier though. Don't buy or sell your books at the bookstore. Sports- Cyclones are (usually) decent in the big 12 conference, and its been a big part of my experience going to tailgates, football, waiting in the freezing cold for basketball, being on ESPN, and seeing friends compete in volleyball and gymnastics. For smaller sports, they often give out prizes or food to bring in students. Extracurriculars- I have been involved in research, college ambassadors, tutoring, student ministry (Salt Co.), club frisbee, and many intramural sports (fantastic program to take advantage of if you're not already). These alone have had a huge impact on my overall experience and getting to meet so many people! Dorms- I lived in Larch and it was pretty typical, as most are. Great to live in the dorms freshmen year to get acquainted with campus and meet lots of people. However after that I'd move out if you're looking to save any $ Overall, Ames is a ehh city with a great university. Go out and have fun at college, it will be a fun 4 years of you make the most of it!! GO CYCLONES.

Beautiful campus and warm hospitality! My daughter and I went for a college visit earlier this…read moremonth. Sign up for a campus visit online. If you have a mobility disability or any other disability, let them know and they will accommodate your needs as best as they can. They were ready to wheel me around in a wheelchair for their campus tour. The admissions representatives were organized and very excited to host prospective students and their families. They had a complimentary dining center meal to give you a taste of their on-campus boarding experience. ISU has a wide variety of housing options to fit your budget. They also have a strong House system. If you decide not to join a fraternity or a sorority, you have an active community to participate in inter-mural games and sports, to have dinner with or just hang out. We got to enjoy a bit of that with the honor's Anders House. We played board games at night and enjoyed meals with students. They love snacks and treats from parents. Academically, ISU is a fabulous STEM school school. It has many professors and opportunities for students to engage in research. It also has a fantastic Mandarin Chinese program with excellent teachers. I am proud that my eldest daughter is a Cyclone and hope my 2nd daughter seriously considers it as well.

Honestly a great little place to enjoy some winter sports in Central Iowa!…read more Obviously there is no mountains here so the slopes are as to be expected. The lodge area isn't anything fancy but it was actually larger than I expected. They also offer rentals for an additional fee to your lift ticket - skis, boards, boots, helmets, poles, etc. I am extremely impressed with the staff. I had only been snowboarding once about ten years ago and my husband never had. We were extremely nervous if we were going to pick it up and debated on paying for a private lesson. I would not advise paying for a lesson...Seven Oaks has many instructors perched on the learning/bunny hill. They offer group lessons on the hour but if you can find a free instructor and ask, they will give you their own sort of private lesson. That is what we did. An awesome board instructor spent about 15-20 minutes with us one-on-one, explained the basics and did some hands on instructing. After that, we both picked it up very quickly and could make it over to the more legit, but beginner hill. As I mentioned the lodge was more than I was anticipating. They have a concession stand, bar with pizza by the slice, and coffee shop. Lots of ample seating and even a large TV in the coffee shop area, we caught some of the Iowa State game while we were eating lunch. We would go back. It is a great option for the flat plains of Iowa.k

The good: Kayaking/canoeing was about $40 per person, which is a great price for entertainment…read morethese days. The river itself was stunning, we had gorgeous weather, and they had a small concession stand with necessities like bug spray available for purchase. Unfortunately, I still wouldn't recommend this experience when there are other options around Iowa for a similar price. We were told when reserving that if the river was too low, we would have the option to reschedule, which I think is a great policy. However, our reservation was on the last day of the season, so realistically rescheduling wasn't an option for us. My biggest issue wasn't even the low river level as the kayaks were doing great in the water- it was that the representative checking us in allowed us to take out a single canoe for our group knowing we would be dealing with less than a foot of water in some areas. This was our first time canoeing and kayaking, so we were relying on the staff's expertise. I really would have appreciated someone recommending that we switch from the canoe to a more maneuverable kayak given the conditions that day. Instead, we ended up having to get out and push the canoe for a large portion of the trip. It was exhausting, and for some customers, it may not even be physically possible. As a first-time floater who brought out-of-state friends specifically for this activity, I wasn't expecting the river conditions to be perfect. We were prepared to make the best of it. What I did expect was some guidance from the company about how to have the best experience possible given the conditions that day. I'd recommend choosing Seven Oaks to be more proactive about advising inexperienced customers, matching the right equipment to the river conditions, and allowing some flexibility to switch boats once you arrive.

We love this carousel. Unfortunately we didn't see the signs on Hwy 35 that used to advertise the…read morecarousel. We thought it had closed. It is happily still open and only $1. Stop by and help save the carousel. Only a few minutes off the freeway.

Gayle and I recently took a spin on the historical 1913 antique carousel. It was spinning during…read morethese summer months and for a $1 per ride, it's a heck-of-a deal. The merry-go-round is run by friendly volunteers and it's a time warp of the best kind.

Great environment for adults and children. Best show in town. Good customer service. We love…read morebowling here during holidays.

The owners are the BEST, very friendly and make you feel so welcome.. the menu looks so good, we…read morehave the Monday Night Special Pizza is was delicious‼ Highly recommend you visit, they always have fun things going on