Match Activities

Upcoming Match Activities Match Activities are low-cost to free events organized by the Match Activities Committee. These events provide Bigs and Littles the opportunity to meet and interact with other Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSIA) matches.  

• Aroma & Art Party: Back 2 School Edition

  • Friday, August 22nd from 5:00 –8:00 pm | Holiday Inn Northwest (4800 Merle Hey RD, Des Moines, IA)

  • Get ready for candle making with Ladie Lex Scented Candles and canvas painting with Shay Design Studio. Please click here to sign up. This event includes hands on candle making and a live demonstration of canvas painting techniques. This event is free to the first 10 matches that sign up.

• Just for Bigs: The Big Meetup

  • Tuesday, September 9th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm @ BBBSIA Youth Mentoring Center (2130 Grand Ave., Des Moines IA)

  • Join fellow Bigs to connect, learn, and support each other on this mentoring journey. This month's discussion will focus on connecting with your Little and other topics of interest attendees may have. Please click here to sign up.

    • Do you have a great connection with your Little? Come to share your experience!

    • Are you a new Big? Come to learn from others!

    • Do you know someone thinking about becoming a Big? Invite them to attend with you!
      

• Iowa PBS Tour

  • Tuesday, September 16th from 4:00-5:30 pm @ Iowa PBS studios (6450 Corporate Drive, Johnston)

  • Bigs and Littles can learn what it's like to work at a television network with this tour of the Iowa PBS studios. Matches will go on an interactive tour with Iowa PBS outreach and production staff, have some time for Q&A, and engage in a fun craft or STEAM activity! Please click here to sign up. The first 12 Matches to sign up will be confirmed and others will be added to a wait list.
    

• BBBSIA Fall Fiesta Picnic

  • Saturday, September 27th from 12:00 –3:00 pm @ Birdland/ Ding Darling Park (2100 Saylor Rd, Des Moines, IA 50313)

  • Bigs and Littles, join us for our Fall Fiesta Picnic! Enjoy an afternoon of delicious Mexican food, fun games, and great company with Littles, Bigs, and BBBSIA staff. Please click here to sign up.

  • This free event is open to all Littles and Bigs—just be sure to register so we can plan for everyone. Lunch will be provided. Feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket and get ready for a relaxed, fun-filled afternoon! Thank you to our sponsors, Goliath Gutters and Venerable.
    

• Art Classes at Hoyt Sherman this Fall

  • We have a several opportunities for Matches to attend art classes at Hoyt Sherman (1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines) but space is limited for each class. First priority will be provided to matches where Bigs and Littles can attend together. Parents/guardians may register their child for the wait list if space is available. Please click here to sign up.

    
    

    We will send an email approx. 2 weeks prior to the event confirming if you are registered or on the wait list. You will receive an email from Hoyt Sherman approx. one week before the class with important details on location. It's very important to communicate to BBBSIA in advance if you sign up and cannot attend.
    

  • Classes include (click here for class descriptions and to sign up):

    • Calligraphy (AGE 12+): Saturday, September 13th from 12:00-1:45 pm

    • Acrylic Landscapes & Animals (AGE 10-17): Saturday, September 13th 2:00-4:00 pm

    • Inktober Drawing (AGE 10+): Tuesday, October 7th from 6:30-7:30 pm

    • Drawing Basic Shapes on the Plane-Cube, Sphere, Cylinder (AGE 10+): Wednesday, October 22nd from 5:00-8:00 pm

    • Abstract Collage (AGE 13+): Saturday, November 1st from 2:00-4:00 pm

    • Cozy Autumn Painting in Acrylics (AGE 13+): Tuesday, November 18th from 5:30-7:30 pm

• Free Tickets to the Des Moines Symphony and Civic Music Association Performances

  Experience the magic of live music alongside your Little by attending any performance by the Des Moines Symphony and Civic Music Association. To claim your tickets, please email Ajia at ajia@civicmusic.org or Calla at calla@dmsymphony.org.
  

• Game Day Play Cards: We still have cards that can be used for 1 hour of video game play at Game Day in Merle Hay Mall. Please note, this is limited to ONE card per Match and cards must be picked up in the BBBSIA office (2130 Grand Avenue in Des Moines). Please contact your Match Support Specialist if you would like one.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES:

• BBBSIA Library is Open!

  • Matches, stop by the BBBSIA library at our office (2130 Grand Avenue in Des Moines) and browse our collection of books. Matches are able to check out books- we ask that you return them when finished reading so others can use them. The library is open during our office hours, Monday-Thursday from 8am to 6pm and Friday from 8am to 5pm. 

    
    

• YMCA: Free admission (with your Little) to any location in Greater Des Moines except the Healthy Living Center. Just show your Big ID card! 

  
  

• Attend the Science Center of Iowa for Free!

  • To attend the Science Center of Iowa for free, please contact your Match Support Specialist, and they will help get you signed up.

    
    

• Attend the Blank Park Zoo for Free!

  • BBBSIA is now a member of the Blank Park Zoo. This is a great opportunity for you and your Little as you will be able to attend the Zoo for FREE. If you would like to go to the Zoo, contact your Match Support Specialist or stop by the BBBSIA office (2130 Grand Avenue in Des Moines) to check out one of our 4 membership cards. Please arrange to return the card to our office within 2 business days of when you attend the Zoo so that other matches will be able to use it. Also, if a match would happen to lose a membership card, the Big would be responsible for paying to replace it. Please contact your Match Support Specialist with any additional questions.

    
    

• Attend the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden for Free!

  • BBBSIA is now a member of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. This is a great opportunity for you and your Little as you will be able to attend the Botanical Garden for FREE. If you would like to go, contact your Match Support Specialist or stop by the BBBSIA office (2130 Grand Avenue in Des Moines) to check out one of our 4 membership cards. Please arrange to return the card to our office within 2 business days of when you attend the Botanical Garden so that other matches will be able to use it. Also, if a match would happen to lose a membership card, the Big would be responsible for paying to replace it. Please contact your Match Support Specialist with any additional questions.

  
  

• Attend Living History Farms for Free!

  • BBBSIA is now a member of Living History Farms. This is a great opportunity for you and your Little as you will be able to attend Living History Farms for FREE. If you would like to go, contact your Match Support Specialist to check out a digital pass. Please contact your Match Support Specialist with any additional questions.