Programming for children and youth
Nursery
Childcare is available each Sunday during Sunday School and worship. Trained staff members are available to care for your infant through kindergarten-aged children. The nursery suite is on the west end of the second floor of our education wing. Childcare is also available at our Wednesday morning Bible Study (by request).
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Little Lambs
Little Lambs Sunday school is for children ages 0-3 (and not yet in Godly Play) and their caregiver(s). Little Lambs meets one Sunday a month from 9 to 9:50 am in the nursery for songs, stories, and community building. Adults will learn how to talk to their children about faith and connect with other adult caregivers of young children. To register your child for Little Lambs, please click here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Godly Play
Godly Play is a method of learning that gives children lots of opportunities to wonder out loud and through creative outlets. Read more at the Godly Play website. We gather with ages three through fifth grade from September through April from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. before worship on Sundays. The Godly Play rooms are on the north and east sides of the second floor of our education wing. To register your child for Godly Play, please click here. We love volunteers to help lead our assist or Godly Play class. To volunteer, click here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Childcare is available each Sunday during Sunday School and worship. Trained staff members are available to care for your infant through kindergarten-aged children. The nursery suite is on the west end of the second floor of our education wing. Childcare is also available at our Wednesday morning Bible Study (by request).
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Little Lambs
Little Lambs Sunday school is for children ages 0-3 (and not yet in Godly Play) and their caregiver(s). Little Lambs meets one Sunday a month from 9 to 9:50 am in the nursery for songs, stories, and community building. Adults will learn how to talk to their children about faith and connect with other adult caregivers of young children. To register your child for Little Lambs, please click here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Godly Play
Godly Play is a method of learning that gives children lots of opportunities to wonder out loud and through creative outlets. Read more at the Godly Play website. We gather with ages three through fifth grade from September through April from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. before worship on Sundays. The Godly Play rooms are on the north and east sides of the second floor of our education wing. To register your child for Godly Play, please click here. We love volunteers to help lead our assist or Godly Play class. To volunteer, click here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Youth Group
Wednesday Night Youth Group (grades six to twelve) gathers on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for fun, faith and friends from September through April in our newly remodeled youth room (the basement of the west side of our education wing). During the summer the Youth Group participates in a variety of activities ranging from outings to the pool to ice cream and donut parties to bonfires to serving with local community organizations. In the summer, the youth also have the opportunity to go on mission trips or to larger denominational youth conferences. If you are a youth or you know a youth who wants to engage in open, honest discussions about faith and life, radical love and inclusion, ask hard questions and sit in the gray areas of faith, this is the place for you! To register your youth for Youth Group, please click here.
For more information about participating in or volunteering to work with youth, please contact Pastor Betsy Thompson.
Youth Coffee Talk
Ames UCC's youth gather on Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. for Coffee Talk at Cafe Diem from September through May. To join us, for this relaxed gathering of youth, meet at the main doors nearest the courtyard by 9 a.m. and we'll walk over together! To register your youth for Coffee Talk, please click here.
For more information, please contact Pastor Betsy Thompson.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a special time of study and reflection for high school students who wish to affirm their baptism. If they were not baptized as an infant or child, it is an opportunity to consider baptism.
Wednesday Afternoon Club (WAC)
WAC is a mid-week opportunity for elementary school children to spend time together, have a lesson, and play. It is among our most popular offerings with kids. We meet during the school year on Wednesday immediately after school until 5:00 p.m.
To register your child for WAC, please click here. A favorite part of Wednesday Afternoon Club is the snacks! To volunteer to provide snacks, please click here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Vacation Bible School
Please join us for Vacation Bible School 2025: Roadtrip-on the go with God is for children in pre-school (age 4) through those finishing 5th grade and will be hosted at Ames First United Methodist Church. Vacation Bible School runs from June 23rd-26th from 8:30am –11:30am with the option of early drop off starting at 7:45am and late pick up ending at 12:15pm to help families out with work and transportation needs. You may register your child to attend or to serve as a youth or adult volunteer here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Summer Camp
Ames UCC is affiliated with Pilgrim Heights Camp and Retreat Center in Montour, IA.
For more information on the Summer 2025 camps, click here:
Safe Church Policy
Our congregation adopted and strictly follows what is known as a “safe church policy.” This policy is an effort to ensure that children are safe and their parents and guardians are free from worry. Details can be found here (PDF).
Wednesday Night Youth Group (grades six to twelve) gathers on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for fun, faith and friends from September through April in our newly remodeled youth room (the basement of the west side of our education wing). During the summer the Youth Group participates in a variety of activities ranging from outings to the pool to ice cream and donut parties to bonfires to serving with local community organizations. In the summer, the youth also have the opportunity to go on mission trips or to larger denominational youth conferences. If you are a youth or you know a youth who wants to engage in open, honest discussions about faith and life, radical love and inclusion, ask hard questions and sit in the gray areas of faith, this is the place for you! To register your youth for Youth Group, please click here.
For more information about participating in or volunteering to work with youth, please contact Pastor Betsy Thompson.
Youth Coffee Talk
Ames UCC's youth gather on Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. for Coffee Talk at Cafe Diem from September through May. To join us, for this relaxed gathering of youth, meet at the main doors nearest the courtyard by 9 a.m. and we'll walk over together! To register your youth for Coffee Talk, please click here.
For more information, please contact Pastor Betsy Thompson.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a special time of study and reflection for high school students who wish to affirm their baptism. If they were not baptized as an infant or child, it is an opportunity to consider baptism.
Wednesday Afternoon Club (WAC)
WAC is a mid-week opportunity for elementary school children to spend time together, have a lesson, and play. It is among our most popular offerings with kids. We meet during the school year on Wednesday immediately after school until 5:00 p.m.
To register your child for WAC, please click here. A favorite part of Wednesday Afternoon Club is the snacks! To volunteer to provide snacks, please click here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Vacation Bible School
Please join us for Vacation Bible School 2025: Roadtrip-on the go with God is for children in pre-school (age 4) through those finishing 5th grade and will be hosted at Ames First United Methodist Church. Vacation Bible School runs from June 23rd-26th from 8:30am –11:30am with the option of early drop off starting at 7:45am and late pick up ending at 12:15pm to help families out with work and transportation needs. You may register your child to attend or to serve as a youth or adult volunteer here.
Contact: Pastor Betsy Thompson
Summer Camp
Ames UCC is affiliated with Pilgrim Heights Camp and Retreat Center in Montour, IA.
For more information on the Summer 2025 camps, click here:
- Better Together Grandparents Camp--June 16-18
- Summer Church Camp (Students finishing Kindergarten - 5th grade) -- July 13-19th
- Summer Church Camp (Students finishing 6th grade - 12th grade) -- July 20-26th
- End of Summer Day Camp (Students finishing K-5th Grade) -- August 18-20
Safe Church Policy
Our congregation adopted and strictly follows what is known as a “safe church policy.” This policy is an effort to ensure that children are safe and their parents and guardians are free from worry. Details can be found here (PDF).
