Best Summer Ever registration opens June 4th.
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, Missy Hansen, Kelly O'Brien
Join other kids as you Love This City through a variety of service projects (including a lemonade stand and manna market activities).
Sprinklers, Scriptures, and Snacks
Varied Dates
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: 2-2nd grade
Leaders: Rosie Olson, Jordyn Kellerman, Esther Davis
Fun in the sun running through sprinklers and splashing in water tables with friends. Share a snack while talking about Jesus and memorizing a scripture. Drop off for 5 and up only.
WAITLIST ONLY
Kids Bake!
Every Other Week
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: 6-12
Leaders: Marla Carlson, Jackie Bayer
During "BSE Kids Bake!", your child will make and bake a recipe, participate in a craft or baking lesson, and pray as a group. Please note, this class is peanut, tree nut, soy and sesame free. We WILL be using ingredients that contain wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy and strawberries.
Mommy and Me
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
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.
Princess Storytime
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Girls, 3-5
Leaders: Janessa DeJong, Sam Goetze, Jess Marchiafava, Angie King
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.
KIDS Create Theater
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Grades 3-5
Leaders: Kendra Ganucci, Whitney Dauer
Kids will create a play from scratch and perform it for parents at the end of the summer.
LEGO Treasures
Varied Dates
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Girls, K-3
Leaders: Jonna Meidal, Angie King
Together we will read the book The Treasure Tree - a book about building good friendships based on our unique personalities! After we read a chapter, girls will build LEGOS (or draw pictures) about what they learned that day. It's going to be super fun!!
WAITLIST ONLY
Doro's Dopest DJs
Every Other Week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Grades 3-5
Leaders: Dorothea Olson
Want to learn how to mix like our DJ's in the lobby? Come join us and learn the basics in DJ'ing!
Freedom Kids
Weekly
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Grades 4-5
Leaders: Grace Melander, Angela Larson, Tami Glendenning, Linda Shepp, and Sam Kukachka
Help kids remove anything that could be hindering them from fully loving God, themselves, or others.
Lego Master - Boys
Every Other Week
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Boys Grades 3-5
Leaders: Angie King, Colleen Labelle
Come and build legos together with other boys who love legos as much as you do! Have fun and learn from each other while building with legos!
Mini Music & Storytime
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 1-3
Leaders: Janna Cuevas, Jana Dinesen
For ages 4 & under with grownup. 20 minutes of stories and songs followed by free play.
There Ain't No Junior Holy Spirit
Every Other Week
10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: Grades 3-5
Leaders: Kasha Jankowski
Come learn more about how to hear and be led by the Holy Spirit.
Water Wars
Weekly
11:15am - 12pm
Ages: Grades 2-5
Leaders: Jonna Meidal
We will play a variety of water games so come ready to have fun and get wet!!
Dodgeball
Weekly
11:15am - 12pm
Ages: Grades 2-5
Leaders: Frankie Ramos, Riley Kapusta
Come hang out, make friends and play dodge ball (and other fun games you can play with a ball!)
WAITLIST ONLY
A Time to Dance - Ballet / Lyrical
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 3-2nd Grade
Leaders: Ali Hiller, Sharna Pederson
This will be a wonderful opportunity for your kids to learn ballet and proper technique, while still having fun, socializing, and praising Jesus. Come follow Jesus through mind, body, and Spirit as we dance through summer!
A Time to Dance - Hip Hop
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Grades 3-5
Leaders: Ali Hiller, Sharna Pederson
If your kiddos have ever been interested in Hip Hop and want an opportunity to get introduced to this fun, expressive style of dance, now is their chance! We can't wait to get moving this summer and look forward to having fun and showing how Jesus and Hip Hop totally go together.
Games/Board Games
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: Grades K-5
Leaders: Lissa Flaaten, Shelly Van Eps
Join us to learn and play fun board and card games that you can also play at home with your family!
KIDS Create Art (Ages 3-5)
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 3-5
Leaders: Katie Waters, Molly Born
In this group it's all about the process of exploring and creating art using various mediums.
KIDS Create Art (Grades K-2)
Weekly
11:15am - 12:00pm
Ages: Grades K-2
Leaders: Katie Waters, Emma Davison
In this group it's all about the process of exploring and creating art using various mediums.
Ninja KIDS
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 4-8
Leaders: Jade King and Jersi Dahl
Become a master ninja through obstacle course challenges and ninja skill training!
KIDS Playgroup
Weekly
10:00am - 10:45am
Ages: 3-5
Leaders: Karin Jensen, Melissa Cotch
Join us as we explore themed open play stations for a fun-filled 45 minute session. Themed weeks include fort-building, construction zone, superheros, dinosaurs, animals and more!
Substance Ski Camp (Coon Rapids)
Monthly
Mondays 10:00am - 2:00pm
Ages: Grades 3-5
Leaders: Dan & Melissa Laughlin
A place for kids to grow in their friendships and as disciples through learning how to ski, wakeboard, kneeboard, etc.
Beach Meet-Up (Varied Locations)
Weekly
Wednesdays 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Ages: K-5th Grade
Leaders: Amanda Wahlund, Danielle Miller
Regular meet-up at local beaches on Wednesday afternoons
Substance KIDS Soccer Club (Spring Lake Park)
Weekly
Mondays 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Ages: K-5th Grade
Leaders: Lora Chapman, Kassy Peterson
Come have fun as we learn soccer fundamentals, practice drills, and play soccer on the Substance Northtown campus lawn. Wear your best summer ever t-shirt and bring your own soccer ball and water bottle. Adult present! Wear shin pads & size 4 Soccer ball
Family Kickball Night (New Brighton)
Every Other Week
Mondays 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Ages: All
Leaders: Esther Davis
Substance families! Join us this summer for some family fun. Play some family friendly kickball and stay after for popsicles and encouragement to stay connected to God. All ages welcome.
Westside Park Playdate (Maple Grove)
Every Other Week
Tuesdays 10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: All
Leaders: Joni Ostrem, Amee Gallagher
Join other Westside families at Elm Creek playground!
FAQs
Registration will be available on this page starting Sunday June 4th at 8:30am. There will be registration tables in the lobby at all campuses to assist with any questions. Your child can pick up their t-shirts for the summer at the registration table as well.
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.