The public is invited to participate in a tree planting event on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m. Interested volunteers should meet at the intersection of Idaho Avenue and Oklahoma Drive. Participants should bring gloves. All other tools will be provided.

Ames Parks and Recreation received a grant from Trees Forever, Alliant Energy, and The Ames Foundation to help plant 35 trees in the Idaho and Oklahoma neighborhood.



"We truly appreciate the generous support from Trees Forever, Alliant Energy, and The Ames Foundation. This contribution allows our residents to take an active role in a tree-planting initiative that directly improves the diversity and health of our urban forest," said Ames City Forester Gabriele Edwards.

Saturday, Oct. 10

Noon to 2 p.m.

Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, 115 N. Elm Ave.

Registration: $30 resident, $35 nonresident

Come swim with your favorite princess and/or mermaid and enjoy snacks in our party room. The event will take place in all pools except the wellness pool. The slide will be open during the event. Be sure to bring your camera to take pictures with your favorite character! Recommended for ages 1-9.

Registration includes one child and one adult. Additional children require an additional registration fee. Preregistration is preferred, but registration will also be available onsite the day of the event.

Ames Parks and Recreation Department is inviting volunteers to help clean and maintain Ontario Park and Ada Hayden Heritage Park on two upcoming workday events scheduled for October.

Ontario Park

The Ontario Park workday will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will meet at Ontario Park, located at 5658 Ontario St. Participants should use the main entrance off Ontario St. and will be directed to a designated parking spot upon arrival. Activities will involve various physical fitness levels and include tree trimming, brush clearing, trash pick-up, and fence removal. Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves, loppers, pruning saws, and water bottles. Chain saws are not allowed.

Ada Hayden Heritage Park

The Ada Hayden Heritage Park workday will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will meet at Ada Hayden Heritage Park, located at 5205 Grand Ave., at the north parking lot shelter. Efforts will focus on cutting sumac encroaching on the trails and trash pick-up. Participants should bring work gloves, loppers, and water bottles.

If you have questions, please contact Keith Abraham at Keith.Abraham@cityofames.org or 515.239.5349.

Registration is now open for fall courses!

Session two: Saturday, Oct. 17

Registration deadline: Friday, Oct. 9

Session three: Saturday, Nov. 21

Registration deadline: Friday, Nov. 13

Session four: Saturday, Dec. 12

Registration deadline: Friday, Dec. 4

8:30 to 11 a.m.

Ages: 10 and older

Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, 115 N. Elm Ave.

Registration: $90 resident, $105 nonresident

These courses will certify you in American Red Cross adult and pediatric CPR, AED, and first aid upon successful completion.

Session two: Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24

Registration deadline: Friday, Oct. 16

Session three: Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21

Registration deadline: Friday, Nov. 13

Session four: Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12

Registration deadline: Friday, Dec. 4

Friday, 4-8:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Ages: 11 to 16

Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, 115 N. Elm Ave.

Registration: $115 resident, $130 nonresident

The American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training program is designed to prepare youth ages 11-16 to safely and confidently care for children and infants. The program includes hands-on activities, videos, and discussions to develop essential, real-life babysitting skills.

The course covers feeding, diapering, picking up and holding children, safety, and emergency response. The program includes classroom-based Babysitter’s Training, as well as pediatric CPR, AED, and first aid training to help participants respond in the event of an emergency.

Please bring a water bottle and lunch to eat on-site.

Euchre

Mondays, Nov. 2 to Dec. 7

6 to 7:30 p.m.

Homewood Golf Course, 401 E. 20th St.

Registration: $36 per individual

This is a two-person team league. If you do not have a partner, staff will try to match individuals. Teams of two must register individually. A schedule will be sent weekly. All skill levels are welcome. Tutorials and demonstrations will be provided on the first night.

Socialize, meet new people and improve your skills. Points are awarded for attendance and games won each night. League winners will receive a Parks and Recreation gift card.

Cribbage

Wednesdays, Nov. 4 to Dec. 9

10 to 11:30 a.m. or 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Homewood Golf Course, 401 E. 20th St.

Registration: $30



This card game will be played individually. A scheduled rotation will be sent out weekly. All skill levels are welcome, as tutorials and demonstrations will be provided on the first night. Socialize, meet new people and improve your cribbage skills. Points are awarded for attendance and games won each night. A Parks and Recreation gift card will be awarded to the winners at the end of the season.

Charcuterie Workshop

Thursday, Nov. 12

6 to 7 p.m.

Homewood Clubhouse, 401 E. 20th St.

Registration: $60 per participant

Homewood Clubhouse and Letter Eats by B are partnering for a charcuterie workshop. During this hands-on workshop, you’ll create your own 10-by-10-inch charcuterie tray to enjoy, take home or give as a gift. All materials are provided. Adult and nonalcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.



This is the perfect workshop to prepare you to impress your friends and family during the holidays.

Mini Dribblers - Kindergarten

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 13 to Nov. 19

6:15 to 7:05 p.m.

Katie Mitchell School, 3521 Jewel Dr.

Registration: $55 resident, $70 nonresident

Participants will learn the basic skills and concepts of basketball, including dribbling, shooting, passing, out-of-bounds rules, traveling and double dribbling. Sessions will focus on skill development, with half-court scrimmages near the end of the program. Participants will use size 3 basketballs and play on 8-foot baskets.

Big Shooters - Grades 1 and 2

Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 13 to Nov. 19

7:10 to 8 p.m.

Katie Mitchell School, 3521 Jewel Dr.

Registration: $55 resident, $70 nonresident

Participants will review the fundamental skills taught in Mini Dribblers while being introduced to rebounding, positioning, fouls and defense. Participants will scrimmage during the final three weeks. Participants will use junior basketballs (27.5 inches) and play on 10-foot baskets.

Youth Basketball

Youth basketball leagues are open to children in four divisions: third- and fourth-grade girls, third- and fourth-grade boys, fifth- and sixth-grade girls, and fifth- and sixth-grade boys. Ames will participate in the Central Iowa Recreation League. Participants should expect to travel to other communities for some games.

Practices will be held at local elementary schools between 6 and 8 p.m. on weeknights or Saturday mornings. A more detailed schedule will be released once registration has closed. Teams may occasionally travel to surrounding communities for games.

Parent coach volunteers are needed for this program. If you are interested, please contact Sam Chia at 515-239-5367 or samuel.chia@cityofames.org. Training and equipment are provided, and your child’s registration fee will be refunded at the end of the season.

Grades 3 and 4

Registration: $72 resident, $87 nonresident

Registration deadline: Monday, Oct. 12

Skills assessment: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Coaches meeting: Week of Nov. 9

Practices: Week of Nov. 16. Coaches will notify athletes of practice dates and times.

Games begin: Saturday, Dec. 5

Grades 5 and 6

Registration: $72 resident, $87 nonresident

Skills assessment: Thursday, Oct. 8

6:30 p.m. at Sawyer Elementary, 4316 Ontario St.

Coaches meeting: Week of Oct. 12

Practices: Week of Oct. 19. Coaches will notify athletes of practice dates and times.

Games begin: Saturday, Oct. 31

Adult Basketball - Men's and Women's

Registration deadline EXTENDED: Sunday, Oct. 10

Captain's meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 14. Virtual link will be sent to all registered league captains.

Fees due: Wednesday, Oct. 21

Season begins: Sunday, Oct. 25

Post-season tournament begins: Mid-Feb.

5-on-5 games are played Sundays between 6 and 10 p.m. and Wednesdays between 7 and 10 p.m. All players must be at least 17 years old. Teams are guaranteed 12 games plus a single-elimination postseason tournament.



League fees include a base fee plus $15 for each nonresident player. Prizes will be awarded to league and tournament winners. No games will be played over winter break.

Submit roster forms to Sam Chia, samuel.chia@cityofames.org.

The City of Ames Parks and Recreation is looking for groups and organizations to serve as Buddies for the Fall 2026 Miracle League season on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Buddies should arrive at the fields by 8:45 a.m. and stay for both the 9 and 10 a.m. games. Games are held at the Rotary Club of Ames Miracle Field at Inis Grove Park, 2500 Duff Ave., and typically last 45 to 55 minutes.



Our goal is to provide a Buddy for every Miracle League athlete throughout the season.

What is Miracle League?

Miracle League is a baseball program that gives children, teens and adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of playing baseball in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Each athlete is paired with a volunteer Buddy who provides encouragement and assistance throughout the game, helping ensure every player can participate to the best of their ability.

As a Buddy, you'll help your athlete around the bases, celebrate accomplishments, provide companionship and, most importantly, help create a positive and memorable experience. No baseball experience is required—just a positive attitude and a willingness to have fun.

This is a great opportunity for service organizations, businesses, school groups, athletic teams, church groups, fraternities and sororities, and other community organizations to make a meaningful impact while building connections within the community. The goal is to have 30 Buddies at each game.

If your organization is interested in volunteering, use the link below to sign up.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to help make the Miracle League season a memorable experience for our athletes and their families. We hope you'll join us this fall!

Residents of Ames, Cambridge, Gilbert, Huxley, Nevada, Story City, and unincorporated Story County can dispose of yard waste at no charge during Fall No-Charge Yard Waste Days planned in October and November. The scheduled Saturdays are Oct. 24, Nov. 7 (includes brush), Nov. 14, and Nov. 21, at Steenhoek Environmental, 3892 N. 500th Avenue. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those participating in Fall No-Charge Yard Waste Days are asked to enter the site from the southwest side of the property and follow the road to the northwest exit after dropping off yard waste. All paper compostable and plastic bags of yard waste must be dumped out.

For more information about Steenhoek Environmental’s rules for yard waste disposal, go to https://www.secompost.com/copy-of-yard-waste-site.

For additional information or questions, contact Steenhoek at 515.599.0503.

Yard waste is not accepted at the Resource Recovery Plant. For more information about yard waste disposal, visit www.CityOfAmes.org/YardWaste.

Reminder: Register for Fall Session 2 Group Fitness and Aqua Fitness Classes!

Fall Session 2 began this week and will run through Nov. 15.

Evening Swim Lessons

Session three: Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nov. 10 to Dec. 10

Registration deadline: Monday, Nov. 2

Various times

All ages

Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center, 115 N. Elm Ave.



Registration: $72 resident, $87 nonresident

Parks and Recreation is now hiring for upcoming fall youth and adult activities.

We're hiring for the following positions:

• Lifeguard and swim instructor
• Youth dance and gymnastics instructor
• Youth sport official (soccer, volleyball, and basketball)
• Adult basketball scorekeeper
• Adult site supervisor (basketball and softball)
• Adult sports officials/umpires (softball, basketball, sand volleyball, and indoor volleyball)
• Youth sports instructor (soccer, basketball, and volleyball)
• Youth sports director/site supervisor (Miracle League, youth soccer, youth basketball, and youth volleyball)

View more information about each position and apply below.