The Community Academy

28/04/2026

Be a part of the change! Join TCA Youth Ambassadors and make your voice heard!

Join a Community Partner Meeting in May to kickstart your summer: May 4th, 13th, and 19th!

https://conta.cc/42zmrBO

Email from The Community Academy Updated Meeting Dates and Locations. Let Your Voice Be Heard! TCA Youth Ambassadors 2026   Be A Decision Maker! TCA is seeking youth who are interested in developing t

10/07/2025

“Help us reach more kids and make more impact in our community - Donate Today!”

🌱 “We don’t have to wait for other people to do it.”

At The Community Academy, students like Alyosha are learning that real change starts with connection, community, and action. With support from United Way of Story County, hands-on summer learning is helping young people grow into confident, service-minded leaders.

🔗Read more: uwstory.org/news/summer-growth-connection-and-possibility

31/05/2025

TODAY! TCA Native Plant Sale!
Saturday, May 31st: 8 AM to 11 AM
ISU Plant Pathology Greenhouse Parking Lot 41
935 N. University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011

Transform your yard to have a positive impact on our world: add a few native plants to your existing landscape, put in a pollinator garden, or convert a larger section to native plants. Most wildlife depend on insects for a major part of their food supply and 90% of insects that eat plants require native plants for their food.

These are very deep rooted, perennial, native plants grown in 5" conetainers that we reuse each year for growing our plants. Plants are $4 each and many will flower this year.

24/05/2025

TCA Native Plant Sale!
Saturday, May 31st: 8 AM to 11 AM
ISU Plant Pathology Greenhouse Parking Lot 41
935 N. University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011

Transform your yard to have a positive impact on our world: add a few native plants to your existing landscape, put in a pollinator garden, or convert a larger section to native plants. Most wildlife depend on insects for a major part of their food supply and 90% of insects that eat plants require native plants for their food.

These are very deep rooted, perennial, native plants grown in 5" conetainers that we reuse each year for growing our plants. Plants are $4 each and many will flower this year.

08/04/2025

ISU’s Pay It Forward volunteer group came over today and helped out with our native plant project for a couple of hours. What a huge help! Thank you all for helping our community projects! We’ll be out with kids planting 1000’s of native plants in a couple months!

04/04/2025

We are so grateful for this amazing show of support for youth and our community from all the residents of Northcrest Community Ames - this is a transformational gift for our organization!

07/03/2025

It’s going to be another impactful summer at The Community Academy! We’ll be at Ames High School again and growing a lot of food in the greenhouse and garden to get out to the hungry.

The Community Academy contributed over $16,000 in in-kind donations to this STEM BEST grant application (a 50% match was required) and our summer participation more than doubled the number of students engaged with the project. With The Community Academy’s support our local high school received this amazing equipment to impact future generations of kids and our community!

An Ames High science teacher has been awarded a 2025-26 STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program grant from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Department of Education. This funding will support the launch of a groundbreaking new course that integrates hands-on learning, scientific inquiry, and community engagement to address real-world issues surrounding food insecurity and sustainability. Learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/43qreqU

12/02/2025

TCA is not your average summer camp! Make this summer a summer of fun and purpose!

Sign up TODAY on our website.

30/12/2024

Help us serve more low-income kids this summer! Donate now to make a difference!

03/12/2024

Join our End of Year Giving Campaign! Help us uplift local youth!