Camp Hantesa is a Camp Fire Heart of Iowa camp in Boone adjacent to Ledges State Park, and the oldest Camp Fire camp in the United States. It runs weekly resident and day camp programs, including Hantesa Day Camp (grades K-5), Hantesa Outrageous (grades 6-8), and Junior Apprentice (grades 9-10), plus resident sessions spanning grades 1-12, with nature-based outdoor activities.
Camps
| Camp | Dates | Ages | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Day Off: Forest Detectives | October 5 (Ames)7:30am – 5:30pmRegister → | Oct 5, 2026 | 5–12 | $60/day | Active |
| School Day Off: Forest Detectives | October 9 (Ankeny)7:30am – 5:30pmRegister → | Oct 9, 2026 | 5–12 | $60/day | Active |
| School Day Off: Halloween Hijinks | October 12 (Ankeny, Johnston)7:30am – 5:30pmRegister → | Oct 12, 2026 | 5–12 | $60/day | Active |
Price Varies $100 - $450
Before & after school care
| Program | Dates | Ages | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPARKS Boone 2026-2027 | Drop-In CareRegister → | Aug 24, 2026 – May 21, 2027 | — | $10 – $25/day | Active |
| SPARKS Boone 2026-2027 | After-School Only, 4-5 days per weekMon/Tue/Wed/Thu/FriRegister → | Aug 24, 2026 – May 21, 2027 | — | $0 – $320/mo | Active |
| SPARKS Boone 2026-2027 | After-School Only, 1-3 days per weekMon/Tue/Wed/Thu/FriRegister → | Aug 24, 2026 – May 21, 2027 | — | $0 – $220/mo | Active |
Drop-in rates are $10/day for before-school care $25/day for after-school care. Medical forms and all other paperwork must be on file before drop-in care can be provided.
After-School Only, 4-5 days per week: $320.00/month. Families are charged a $40 registration fee/child. A CCA Eligible option is listed at $0. …
After-School Only, 1-3 days per week: $220.00/month. Families are charged a $40 registration fee/child. A CCA Eligible option is listed at $0. …
The practical details
- Daily hours
- 7:30am–5:30pm
- Ages
- Ages 6–17 · Grades K–12
- Environment
- Indoor/Outdoor
- Operator
- Camp Fire Heart of Iowa · Private
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Camp Fire Heart of Iowa directly before you register or pay.
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Accreditations & licensing
As stated by the camp or listed in the accrediting organization's directory — confirm current status with the accreditor.
Google Reviews
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★★★★★samSuper fun summer camp. I've only gone once but it was amazing. Great food, people, and activities
★★★★★Michael Lux (Mikey)Looks like a fun summer camp! I'm a delivery driver and roll up on the camp at least 3 times a week. The staff is amazing and super helpful! The kids seem to be having a great time when I'm there delivering. The atmosphere is amazing, and the property is gorgeous! If you're looking for a place to escape the kids or for the kids to escape you, 😆 this place seems legit. Summer fun!!!
★★★★★Gustavo MacIntoshMy daughters love this place. They have done resident camp and day camp, and both are great. And there is no phone signal, so they are forced to unplug! The counselors and the people in charge are great too. And the location, next to a state park is awesome.
★★★★Immy BWas very fun but could use some renovation. Some of the cabins did not have air conditioning and the showers were dirty. The girl's bathroom had some with spiders and was kind of small for everyone. But the staff was very nice and the actvities were fun. It may need more funding. Upgrading the cabins and such. Overall though it was fun. The pool is nice. It is nice and I would go again.
★★★★Darrell HonrineMy son (6) spent a week here. He had fun. We sent him well prepared but when picking him up we saw that they did not assist him AT ALL for packing up to leave. I had to go through a lot of stuff just to verify he had all of his belongings.