Fun and adventure await you on Wednesday evenings during the school year•from 6:45pm to 7:30pm. Bible Adventures is for children in Pre-Kindergarten (4 years old) through 3rd grade. We'll discover exciting Bible stories, sing and play games, and create crafts. Come join us in sharing the good news of Christ.

We meet in Room 10 at the Uptown Campus. In order for us to run this club, we need parent involvement. Come share some time with the children, you'll be so glad you did!

Find our online Sunday School Materials HERE.
Currently in-person Sunday School at all 3 of our sites required registration. Find it HERE.

Dive into Deep Blue includes inspiring Bible stories, activities, crafts, and games into a faith experience for children and youth. Each week, children and youth will discover exciting Bible stories and adventures to challenge them to grow in their faith.

With Deep Blue, kids will not only grow in mind and body--but also in heart and soul. We welcome all children (ages 3 years - 5th grade) to Sunday School, to grow in the their faith so that they can proclaim the good news of God’s love and serve God and their neighbors.

Join us at one of the following Ankeny First United Methodist Church locations:

Uptown Campus – Children, ages 3 years - 5th grade, are invited to Sunday School during both the 9:0am worship service. They are released during the first part of the service and are led to classrooms by an adult. Classrooms are located on the lower level of the Uptown sanctuary. Children and parents are asked to sign-in for Sunday School at the attendance computers near the Education office. A nursery is provided for infants and toddlers (under two years old) with trained childcare staff at all three Uptown worship services located in Room 117 near the sanctuary.

Christian Life Center – Children, ages 3 years - 5th grade, are invited to attend the beginning of the 9:00am contemporary worship services with their parents/guardians. Children are dismissed to their classrooms following the Children’s Time. Parents are asked to sign-in their kids for Sunday School at the attendance tables before the start of the worship services. The CLC also has a nursery, located near the building entry, where well-trained staff provide childcare during the two worship services.

Faith Chapel - Sunday School is offered at the 10:30am worship service for children, ages five years - 7th grade, in the lower level near the Fellowship Hall. Faith Chapel also provides a nursery for children (under five years old) for both the 9:00am and 10:30am worship services.

Ages: Children 4th grade and under

Each year, Ankeny First hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for the community on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The Easter Bunny always attends and is a popular attraction with the children. This event is only made possible through the volunteers and donations from the congregation. So keep this in mind as a fun service project for 2021! Don't forget to bring your Easter basket!

We also provide a Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt at the Ankeny Aquatics Center Wading Area. Special beeping and magnetic eggs will be provided with prizes. The Ankeny Aquatics Center Wading Area is wheelchair and handicap accessible.

Vacation Bible School is a fun week of worship, crafts, skits, music, outdoor activies, and more. Your kids won't want to miss it! VBS is open for children ages 3 years (as of September 15 of the previous year) to 4th grade.

Volunteers make this fun week happen. We will be looking for energetic and fun volunteers, who have a passion for children's ministry - people like you! We will have openings for Bible story tellers, crew leaders, craft and snack crews, and recreation staff. Please prayfully consider being a volunteer. 

Current 5th-6th graders are invited to spend a week in mission - filled with fun, friends, and plenty of service projects to help “make a difference” in the lives of children, animals, and senior adults. Mission projects may include Trinity UMC, Bidwell Riverside Center, DMARC Food Pantry, Meals from the Heartland…and more! VBS Mini-Mission Trip needs crew leaders and drivers to travel to our missions. Please prayerfully consider volunteering.

All current 3rd -6th graders are invited to a special day trip camp at Springbrook State Park each summer. It is a great time to enjoy the out-of-doors and learning about God’s wonderful world, hiking, swimming, kayaking, and much more. Cost for the camp is $10 which includes lunch and an evening meal and all activities.

Super Summer Daze are special events for children that have completed grades K - 5. In most cases, younger children may attend with a parent or guardian. It's a fun opportunity for children to spend time with their church friends during the summer. Parents are welcome to join in the fun!

Date: TBD
Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Christian Life Center

Bring your ghosts and goblins to our Ankeny First Trunk-or-Treat!! Not only will your children enjoy "trunk-or-treating" from car-to-car but the afternoon also includes free hot dogs, chips, bottled water, sugar cookies, and games! You won’t want to miss it! Volunteers are needed to decorate their trunks and hand out candy! 

Child Safety Training Required to Work with Children

In order to work with the children of our congregation, you must complete the Child & Youth Safety Form below and review our online training program.

Download the Child and Youth Safety Policy Form and Training. These forms should be turned in to the CLC or Uptown offices prior to volunteering.