Substance KIDS is so excited to kick off another BEST SUMMER EVER! All summer long there will be opportunities for your kids to join small groups where they will build friendships and have fun! From sports groups to devotional groups and crafting groups, there will be something for every kid. Our hope is that this summer will truly be your family’s Best Summer Ever!
Best Summer Ever Small Groups
KIDS: Love This City
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Entering K-5th Grade
Leaders: Katie Hinz, Leanne Dolezal, Ashley Rode
Join other kids as you Love This City through a variety of service projects (including a lemonade stand and manna market activities).
GROUP FULL
A Time To Dance
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 3-8
Leaders: Ali Hiller, Jovyel Grant
Ballet/Lyrical Dance ages 3-8, This will be a wonderful opportunity for your littles to get a strong foundation in dance and learn proper technique, while still having fun, socializing, and praising Jesus.
GROUP FULL
PreK Craft Time
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 3-5
Leaders: Rachel Kirby, Annie Lee
Come join us for crafts, creativity, and community!
Camp Games Galore!
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Entering K-2nd Grade
Leaders: Erica Kube, Cynthia Garcia
Come join us as for a weekly "camp" experience with fun games, friends and a weekly bible lesson.
GROUP FULL
Kingdom Builders
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Entering 2nd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Frankie Ramos, True Hass
If your child loves hands on projects and getting creative, this is the group for them. Joins us as we build and create projects together like birdhouse, derby cars, planter boxes and more.
GROUP FULL
Dopest DJs Ever
Every other week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Ages 10 and up
Leaders: DJ Kirk
Come learn from the best how to be the next Substance DJ
Stretch & Pray
Every other week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Entering K-5th Grade
Leaders: Brianna Bruzer
Come join us as we meditate on God's Word and stretch our bodies to glorify God.
GROUP FULL
Boys Lego Group
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering K-5th Grade
Leaders: Angie King, Colleen Labelle
Directed Lego group for boys - we'll have a "theme" each week and end with a Lego celebration
Girls Lego Group
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering 3rd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Nicole Klussman, Alicia Fisk
Directed Lego group for girls - we'll have a "theme" each week and end with a Lego celebration
Spanish
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering 1st-3rd Grade
Leaders: Cait Reyes, Janna Cuevas
¡Feliz verano! Janna & Cait cannot wait to have you in class! They are Spanish immersion teachers who will create a dynamic Spanish learning experience through games, songs and read-alouds.
Worship Warriors
Every other week
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering 3rd-5th Grade
Leaders: Max & Rachel Nygren
Does your child have a heart for worship?! Come join us as we learn what it means to be a worshipper! Learn the ins and outs of worship leading in a hands-on way as we praise God through song!
Substance Art Studio
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Entering 3rd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Jess Puccini, Tami Glendenning
Calling all creative kids! Join us this summer as we design a gallery wall of art for our KIDS ministry spaces. Each week we will work with recycled materials to create beautiful piecs of art showing God's creation.
GROUP FULL
Outdoor Painting Class
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Entering PreK-2nd Grade
Leaders: Dara Hartzler
We will be doing outdoor painting with different mediums each week!
GROUP FULL
Princess Storytime
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Girls ages 3-5
Leaders: Janessa DeJong, Joni Ostrem, Sam Goetze
Get ready for sparkles, twirling and all things princess! We will going through the Princess Parables series as we learn how to be daughters of the King. Dress up clothes are welcome each week.
Dolled Up Girls - Older
Every other week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Girls Ages 8-12
Leaders: Jersi Dahl, Joelle Tavernier
Come learn all things hair! This group will be cover all everyday hairstyles for girls: learning braiding, curling, straightening, etc.
Dolled Up Girls - Younger
Every other week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Girls Ages 5-7
Leaders: Jersi Dahl, Joelle Tavernier
Come learn all things hair! This group will be cover all everyday hairstyles for girls: learning braiding, curling, straightening, etc.
Mommy & Me Toddler Time
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Ages 2-3
Leaders: Kellie Jones
Grown ups and toddlers (ages 2-3) are welcome to join us for a fun circle time with organized crafts and open play. Parents are asked to stay with their toddlers for this group.
GROUP FULL
Whisked With Love
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Entering 3rd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Jess Puccini, Faith Schloneger, Sam Kukachka
Each week we will be learning and practicing our baking and dessert making skills. Come ready to get messy in the kitchen!
Arts & Crafts
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Entering 3rd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Nicole & Jessica Fischer
Do you enjoy arts and crafts? How about making new friends? If so then this group is perfect for you! Come hang out and get messy with us!
Crazy About Science
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Entering 3rd-5th Grade
Leaders: Angela Larson, Alicia Fisk Katie Cleary
Come join us to create and explore new ideas with science! Each week we will adventure together in a new crazy science experiment.
GROUP FULL
Playgroup (3-5)
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 3-5
Leaders: Kendra Gannucci, April Hodget, Kelly Sisterman, Mans King, Vanessa Sevlie, Karrin Jensen
Let's play! We bring the materials, your kids bring the creativity. Let's explore art, building, light, shadow, movement, and messy play. This group focuses on unstructured playtime with open ended materials.
GROUP FULL
Playgroup (6-9)
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: 6-9
Leaders: Kendra Gannucci, Esther Rhoades, Melissa Cotch, Lijah Haas
Let's play! We bring the materials, your kids bring the creativity. Let's explore art, building, light, shadow, movement, and messy play. This group focuses on unstructured playtime with open ended materials.
Mini Music & Story Time
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Ages 3 & under
Leaders: Jana Dinesen, Emma Jansson
Join us for music, storytime fun, followed by some independent play. Parents are asked to stay with their children for this group.
Treasured Girls
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering 4th & 5th Grade
Leaders: Jonna Meidal
Come join us for a study for moms and daughters about issues they care about: Identity, Body, Emotions, Friendships, Technology, and Faith. Group will include a craft, video lessons, discussion and prayer.
Book Club
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering 3rd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Kirsten Okimosh
Calling all book lovers! Join us as we read Escape from Mr Lemoncello’s Library together. Out loud reading is not required, we will be listening and each child will read along individually.
GROUP FULL
Summer Sports Group
Every other week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Entering K - 5th Grade
Leaders: Luke Erickson, Mike Olson
We will have a BALL each week as we get together to play a variety of outdoor sports!
Learning to Hear God's Voice
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Entering 3rd - 5th Grade
Leaders: Kasha Jankowski, Emma Jansson
We'll explore various ways God speaks to us and communicates with us. We'll listen to music, do some light art, we'll take a walk out side and even practice rest. Journal and a Bible will come handy during this class.
GROUP FULL
Sprinkler, Snacks, & Scripture
Bi-weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: 18 months - 6 years
Leaders: Rosie Olson, Jordyn Kelderman
Come have fun in the sun with us as we run through sprinklers, take a snack break together, and memorize scripture! Parents are required to stay for children ages 4 and under.
Substance Ski Kids
Every other week
Tuesdays 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Ages: Entering 3rd - 6th Grade
Leaders: Dan & Melissa Laughlin
We want to use our passion for water skiing as a fun way to pour into the next generation of Kingdom builders! A place for kids to grow in their friendships and as disciples through learning how to ski, wakeboard, kneeboard, etc.
GROUP FULL
Creative Crew: Art + The Action Storybook Bible
Weekly
Tuesdays 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Ages: Entering K-5th Grade
Leaders: Julie Clark, Bethany Aguirre
Come hang out with friends and make new ones! We will eat dinner together and play games. Then kids will rotate between making art and reading The Action Storybook Bible.
Park Hang Out
Weekly
Tuesdays 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Ages: Entering K-5th Grade
Leaders: Amanda Wahland, Kari Brookins
Join us each week at a different park around the city. Siblings are welcome to attend and parents are asked to stay with their children. We will take a break midway through for community and devotional time. Bring a water bottle and come ready to play!
Friday Bonfires
Every Other Week
Fridays 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Ages: Entering 3rd-6th Grade
Leaders: Jessica Staads, Georgie Ford
Please join us this summer in a minnesota tradition. Twice a month bonfire, complete with s’mores, snacks, trampolines and laughter! Parents are asked to stay and enjoys the fire as well as games and more. Can’t wait to build community with our 3rd - 6th graders.
FAQs
Registration will open at our Best Summer Ever Kick Off Event on June 5th from 4-7pm at the Northtown Campus. If you are unable to attend, you will still be able to register online. Registration will be available on this page.
No! Best Summer Ever is FREE! Your child’s leader will let you know what supplies are needed each week (water bottles, certain clothes, etc)
The majority of our BSE groups take place at Northtown on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings between 10-12pm. Please refer to each group description to confirm day, time, location, and frequency!
Parents/guardians are welcome to hang out in the lobby, run over to Hy-Vee and grab a coffee from Starbucks, walk around the block, or join your child in their group (if okayed by the leader). We just ask that you return by the time your child’s group ends to promptly pick them up!
Our goal is to try to get every child in their top choice of group. On our registration form you will be able to indicate if there are additional groups your child would like to join and we will accommodate those requests to the best of our ability based on group capacity.
If your child’s first choice of group is unavailable, please register them for their second choice. On the sign up form, please indicate your child’s additional choices in the designated field. Our team will follow up with you based on the group's availability.
There are a variety of groups for kids ranging from babies and toddlers to elementary ages. Please refer to the groups page to see what groups are available for your child.
For the safety purposes, we will be utilizing a name tag system for drop off and pick up. Head to KIDS check in to pick up your name tags (one per child) and a parent pick tag. There will be a unique alphanumeric code on your tags. At pick up, you will show your pick up tag to the small group leaders, and they will match the alphanumeric code on your child’s tag. If a different adult is picking up your child you can hand off the pick up tag, or send the trusted adult a picture of the tag as well.
We will continue to follow our safe drop off and pick up procedures and will not release children of any age without a designated pick up person present.
Separate childcare will not be provided for children who are not attending small groups. You and your child are welcomed to hang out in the lobby with other families, walk to Hy-Vee for a snack or beverage, or play in the playland (open from 9:30-12:30 with parent supervision).
If you are interested in leading a Best Summer Ever small group, sign up here.