What age is Menace Camp for?
Menace Camp is geared toward children ages 5 to 14. The camp is for boys and girls of all soccer abilities, from the beginner to the advanced player. Campers are divided into smaller groups based on age and ability.
"Menace Elite Camp" is for more serious soccer players entering the sixth through 12th grades.
With the exception of the "Menace Just for Girls Camp" (new in 2012), all Menace camps are coed.
Who are the camp coaches?
Menace players and coaches lead a fun camp experience. Campers get hands-on direction from members of the Des Moines Menace, Iowa’s Premier Soccer Team.
When is Menace Camp?
Camps run Monday through Thursday. While we offer a few camps at night, most camps run from 9 a.m. until noon each day. For these camps, participants may be dropped off as early as 8:45 each morning, and they need to be picked up by 12:15 p.m. each day. Check-in will run from 8:30 until 9 on the first day of camp.
Night camps go from 5:45 until 8:45 each evening. For night camps, participants may be dropped off as early as 5:30 each evening, and they need to be picked up by 9 p.m. each day. Check-in will run from 5:15 until 5:45 on the first evening of camp.
Where is Menace Camp?
Please click here for a list of the camp sites.
What's the cost? What comes with registration?
Registration for Menace Camp is $110. In addition to a fun camp experience, each participant receives a Menace soccer ball, a camp t-shirt, and a ticket to see the Des Moines Menace in action at Valley Stadium. Friends and family may also purchase discounted tickets for Menace games. These discounted tickets are available on the first and the last days of the camp.
Are there any discounts for camp registration?
Yes! When you register by June 1, you can take advantage of the $25 early-bird discount. After June 1, we offer a sibling discount for families who sign up more than one child for a given camp. After you pay full price for the first child, each sibling is just $85 (a $25 savings for each additional child).
How do I sign up for Menace camp?
Please visit this site for online and mail-in registration.
What do campers need to wear?
In addition to shorts and a t-shirt or jersey, we encourage campers to wear shin guards, soccer socks, and cleats or comfortable shoes.
What else should campers bring?
It is important that each player stays hydrated and nourished, especially during the summer months. Each day, campers should come with water or something to drink, as well as a healthy snack. Drink breaks and a snack break will be part of each day at camp.
What if the weather doesn’t cooperate?
In the event of inclement or unsafe weather, camp will be cancelled for that day. We will try to not cancel a day of camp, but sometimes have to due to excessive rainfall, poor field conditions, or lightning. If you are not sure if there will be camp on a given day, please call the Menace weather hotline at (515) 457-6378, or show up at the camp site to confirm.
If a day of camp is cancelled, we will hold a make-up session on the Friday morning of your camp’s week.
What can campers and their families expect?
We strive to provide the best soccer-camp experience in our community, promoting a healthy, active lifestyle while encouraging the children’s enjoyment of the game. We also want to help the campers reach their potential as soccer players, through a variety of activities, including individual and group drills that focus on developing technical skills, as well as games that allow the players to use their soccer skills in a fun setting.
If Menace Camp isn’t scheduled to come to our community, how can we make this happen?
We would love to bring Menace Camp to your town! To learn more about hosting a Menace Camp, please contact Adam Small. This is a fundraising opportunity for your organization, and all we ask for is a safe place to play soccer, and help in promoting the camp so that we can have at least 20 participants. Thank you for your support of youth soccer!
Questions or concerns about Menace Camp? Call or email Adam Small: (515) 457-6365 or ajs@MenaceSoccer.com.
