Camp Hope 2011!
We hope you will join us this June for Camp Hope 2011!

The mission of Camp Hope is to introduce older Russian children to prospective adoptive parents. In the process, they get a chance to enjoy many of the wonderful activities Des Moines has to offer.

Please join us!

Most Camp Hope events are open to the public. Other events are available by RSVP. If you would like to learn more about the children or talk with host families individually, please contact us via e-mail or call 515-559-3819.

Schedule of Event

Monday, June 20 DUE TO VISA ISSUES, EVENTS THIS DAY ARE CANCELED, CHILDREN NOW ARRIVING TUESDAY

Tuesday, June 21 DUE TO FLIGHT CANCELATIONS, EVENTS THIS DAY ARE CANCELED, CHILDREN NOW ARRIVING WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, June 22 DUE TO FLIGHT CANCELATIONS, EVENTS THIS DAY ARE CANCELED, CHILDREN NOW ARRIVING THURSDAY.

Thursday, June 23

Afternoon
3:15p Camp Hope Family Meeting at Des Moines Airport
Host families, meet your Camp Hope support team. Receive informational binder and Camp Hope t-shirts for kids. Host families, please bring a stuffed animal to present to your host child when they first arrive.

4:45p on Delta 5312 Zdrastvetyah!
Children arrive Des Moines Airport. Everyone welcome!! Please join us!! No RSVP needed.

Evening
OPEN for Camp Hope families to spend time with children and REST after the "Incredible-est, Longest Petrozavodsk-to-Des-Moines Adventure."

Friday, June 24
Morning
OPEN for Camp Hope families to spend time with children and shop for needed items. Please join us at GAPKids at the Valley West Mall for extra special specials.

Afternoon
1:00 p.m. Lunch at Scornovacca's
1930 Southeast 14th Street in Des Moines. We'll meet in the group room. Special Russian ketchup menu! Everyone welcome, please click here to RSVP.

2:45pm to 5:00pm Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th Street in Des Moines. Everyone welcome at this wonderful city attraction; no RSVP needed. Meet at 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot by the entrance to get Camp Hope group rates. Special thank you to Fran Ronnau of RE/MAX Opportunities for her sponsorship of this event. FranRonnau@remax.net

Saturday, June 25
Morning - OPEN
Prospective adoptive parents can meet with host families by appointment.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY Swimming at Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center
1220 Prairie Ridge Drive in Ankeny. $4 for Ankeny residents; $5 for non-residents. Please bring bathing suits, sunscreen, towels. Everyone welcome, no RSVP needed.

5:00 p.m. Dinner at Waukee Pizza Ranch
448 Southeast University Avenue in Waukee. Mention you are with Camp Hope and join us in the Party Room. Everyone welcome, no RSVP needed.

6:30 p.m. Bowling at Warrior Lanes
190 SE Laurel St in Waukee. For a special rate, please mention Camp Hope when you are getting your shoes. Everyone welcome, please click here to RSVP.

Sunday, June 26
Morning - OPEN
Prospective adoptive parents can meet with host families by appointment.

Noon-4:00pm Stork Picnic at Dewey Park
5440 NW 64th Place in Johnston. Main dish and bottled water provided, please bring a side, salad, veggies or fruit to share. NO WATER BALLOONS OR WATER TOYS. Please join us in the shelter house at 1:00 p.m. for an English Language Learners (ELL/ESL) presentation and Q & A by Waukee ELL teacher Lindsay Garvin and Camp Hope Social Worker Susan Helkenn. Everyone welcome, no RSVP needed.

Evening - OPEN
Prospective adoptive parents can meet with host families by appointment.

Monday, June 27
Morning - OPEN
Prospective adoptive parents can meet with host families by appointment.

11:15a Lunch at El Mariachi
5825 Merle Hay Rd in Johnston. Order from the regular menu or from the special "Ketchup" menu for Russians! Everyone welcome, please click here to RSVP.

Afternoon
1:00 to 4:00p Horseback and Pony Rides at Jester Park Equestrian Center
11171 NW 103rd Street, Granger, Iowa. Everyone welcome, please click here to RSVP.

6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Community Night! OPEN TO EVERYONE!
St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1115 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines. Refreshments served. Interested in adoption or know someone who is? Join us! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the children, talk with host families, meet families who've adopted older Russian children, and learn more about Russian adoption. Everyone is welcome to attend Community Night, our capstone event! (Note to Camp Hope Alumni ... due to space limitations and supervision, this is an adults-only event. Thank you!)

Tuesday, June 28
Morning - OPEN
Prospective adoptive parents can meet with host families by appointment.

12:05pm - I-Cubs Game
Everyone welcome, please click here to RSVP before 9am on Tuesday morning.

3pm - Swimming at Northwest Aquatic Center
4915 Madison Avenue, Des Moines. Join us at swimming after the game! This is an approximate time as it will depend on when the baseball game is over. Everyone welcome, no RSVP required.

7:00pm p.m. Bowling at Warrior Lanes
190 SE Laurel St in Waukee. Everyone welcome!

Wednesday, June 29

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Karate, Tumbling and Swimming at UDSCG
Urbandale Dance Studio and Gymnastics Club, 3001 99th Street in Urbandale. Join us for an activity-filled session of Karate, tumbling and swimming sponsored by Dickie's Martial Arts. Please bring socks, bathing suits, sunscreen, towels. If you are interested in attending, please click here to RSVP.

2:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social
3619 SW Timberline Ct in Ankeny. A relaxing afternoon with sweet treats loved by Russians and Americans alike. Everyone welcome, no RSVP needed.

Evening - OPEN. Time to pack for return trip to Russia.
Prospective adoptive parents can meet with host families by appointment.

Thursday, June 30
Morning
7:00 a.m
Dasvidaniya! Kids depart for Russia at 7:00 a.m.

Special THANK YOU to Bob and Ann Carothers, Jon and Suzy Hider, Tom and Kasia Knapp, Paul Greene and Dickie's Martial Arts, Fran Ronnau of RE/MAX Opportunities, Ben and Leslie Johnson, and Alla Lakov of Stork Adoption Agency for their generous sponsorship of the Camp Hope events! Thank you for helping keep the costs down for our host families. Also THANK YOU to Jeff and Jenny Markey, Diane Janvrin, Ali Basaraba, and Mary Neubauer for organizing many other special events for Camp Hope 2011! as we welcome the children at the Des Moines Airport.

Interested in Volunteering?

Camp Hope is run entirely by generous volunteers. If you would like to assist in any way, please email camphopeiowa@yahoo.com.

If you have any questions about the schedule, please contact us.