Explore, Grow, and Become at UD for Kids

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Future actors, chefs, pilots, robotics engineers, nurses, scientists, and more can explore their interests at UD for Kids - a vibrant summer enrichment opportunity offered by the University of Dubuque.

In its 34th year, UD for Kids is open to all students who will have completed first through seventh grades during the 2025-2026 academic year. Thousands of tri-state area children have built reading and math skills over the years while attending classes on UD's campus and Babka Aviation Learning Center.

"Participants in UD for Kids grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally," said Peggy Driscoll, director of UD for Kids. "Students are challenged to expand their current knowledge through interactive class activities. They also make friends and connections that may extend well beyond their time at UD for Kids."

Experiences gained from classes in the areas of aviation, culinary arts, engineering, math, science, technology, and visual and performing arts last a lifetime.

"UD for Kids is a long-running camp offering a great variety in classes," Driscoll said.

Popular classes include:

• Adventures in Nursing - An exploration of the basic skills needed in pediatric, emergency, and operating room nursing with a tour of a local hospital.
• RoboCoders - A hands-on experience building, coding, and operating robots.
• Beginning Aviation - A journey into the thrill of flying with an optional 30-minute orientation flight.
• Acting: On Stage and Off - A voyage in the fundamentals of theatre acting with a performance for invited guests.
• Pasta Perfection - A culinary experiment in flavors, textures, and preparation techniques.
• 3-2-1 Lift Off - A discovery into the world of rocket science.

New classes this summer include:

• RoboCoders (I) and RoboCoders (II) - A chance for younger campers to experience robotics.
• Nature Explorers - An opportunity to explore nature with creativity and curiosity.
• Mystery Makers - A time to find magic in everyday objects with an experienced magician.

Lizzie Schwartz (C'24), who was a UD for Kids assistant before graduating from UD, teaches Science Olympiad for first through fourth graders and Virtual World Design for fifth through seventh graders.

"Working for UD for Kids has been such a great experience! I started as an assistant thinking it would be a fun summer job. It has turned into so much more! I was an elementary education student at the University of Dubuque when I started as an assistant and did that for three years. I worked with some amazing teachers who I learned so much from," Schwartz said. "I am now an instructor for UD for Kids, and it is so much fun being able to plan my own activities for the kids. I have learned so much and gotten so many cool ideas from past teachers that I worked with as an assistant, which I now get to implement in my own way in the classes I teach. This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer, and I am really looking forward to another great experience teaching this year."

Thirty-five classes will be offered over three weeks. Week One (June 15-19) is dedicated to first through second graders, while Week Two (June 22-26) is for third through fourth graders. Students will take two courses. Week Three (July 13-17) is all about fifth through seventh graders. They will attend one course. Aviation courses are unique as they are held each week for the older students.

"It is so fun to see all the kids show up and meet new people each week," Schwartz said. "We have such a great time getting to know each other through shared interests and activities."

Online registration for UD for Kids begins Saturday, April 11,2026. To learn more about UD for Kids and the registration process, please visit https://www.dbq.edu/udforkids.