Homeschool benefits and savings in Polk County
Polk County Conservation offers free monthly homeschool nature programs at Jester Park Nature Center for children age 5 and older, with grades K-5 recommended. Register separately for a 90-minute November 13 or December 11, 2026 session.
Who qualifies
Your child is at least 5
The series is designed for homeschool students, recommends grades K-5, and permits only ages 5 and older. The event listing also tags ages 5-10.
Register for your chosen session
Registration is required, opens one month before each program, and closes one day before the event.
Attend at Jester Park
Programs take place at Jester Park Nature Center and include an outdoor component.
What the program gives you
The county event page lists free admission and the remaining 2026 sessions, each lasting one hour and 30 minutes.
- Program admission
- Free
- November 13, 2026: Amphibians
- 10-11:30 a.m. or 1-2:30 p.m.
- December 11, 2026: Scientific method
- 10-11:30 a.m. or 1-2:30 p.m.
- Registration opens
- One month before the program
- Registration closes
- One day before the event
How to use the program
- One month before your session
Register online
Use the Sign Up link for your chosen morning or afternoon session.
- One day before the event
Meet the deadline
Complete required registration before the posted cutoff.
- Before attending
Request accessibility support
Contact Polk County Conservation if your child needs a disability-related modification.
- On your selected date
Attend the nature program
Join a story, craft or activity, and an outdoor component at Jester Park Nature Center.
What it includes
Included
- Nature-themed instruction
- Story activities
- Craft or activity
- Outdoor component
Good to know
The minimum age is 5
Your child can attend only once they turn 5. The posted minimum is age 5, with grades K-5 recommended, and the event is also tagged ages 5-10.
Who to contact
Polk County Conservation answers program questions and requests for accessibility modifications.
pccb_info@polkcountyiowa.gov 515-323-5300
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Iowa
You do not have to file a homeschool notice for independent private instruction.
Iowa sets these rules:
- Subjects: IPI must cover mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies at all grade levels. CPI must provide at least 148 days of instruction annually, with attendance on at least 37 days each school quarter; its other rules depend on the option.
- Testing: No standardized testing required for independent option.
- Records: IPI must provide specified instructor, location, authority, and student information on written request; CPI reporting and record rules depend on the option.
- Teachers: Iowa does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Iowa homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Iowa
Questions parents ask
- Which 2026 Jester Park homeschool sessions remain?
- The page lists Amphibians on November 13 and The Scientific Method on December 11, with both morning and afternoon options.
- Can we arrive without signing up?
- No. Each program requires registration, available starting one month ahead and due the day before the event.
- What happens at a session?
- Each 90-minute program has a story, a craft or activity, and an outdoor component at Jester Park Nature Center, with a different nature theme each month.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Put eligible education funds toward a curriculum that teaches the courses and grades the work. Check the program’s purchasing rules before paying.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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