Quick Facts

Who

High School
Journalism Students (entering 9th - graduating 12th) and Advisers; staffs and individuals

What

Four-Day Overnight Camp
to Improve Your Journalism Skills in a Hands-on, Active Learning Environment; Field Trips and Fieldwork are topped with a ton of fun, prizes and t-shirts!

When & Where

Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa
Campus Map › 

Monday – Thursday
July 7-10, 2025

Pricing

Coming soon for 2025

Pricing

Registration Pricing

Registration Includes Food + Housing

Early Bird

$460
CLOSED

Regular

$575
CLOSED

Late

$650
CLOSED

Schedule

Here's a sample of what the days will look like. There are field trips worked in throughout where students will be taken by bus to local news organizations such as the Des Moines Register and Dotdash Meredith Publishing, as well as the Iowa Cubs minor league stadium at Principal Park and the Historic East Village where students can do hands-on storytelling.

DAY 1 ·
Monday, July 7

2:30pm – 3:45pm All Camper Check-in
3:00pm - Bus from STL Arrives
3:45pm - Walk from Dorms to Opening
4:01pm Opening, Keynote
5:00pm Class Meet-Ups
5:30pm Dinner
6:30pm Classroom sessions
8:00pm Large Group Activity
9:30pm Free Time at Dorms
11:00pm Dorm Room Check

DAY 2 ·
Tuesday, July 8

7:30am Breakfast for On-Campus
8:30am Opening
9:15 am Classroom sessions
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Classroom sessions
5:00pm Brain Break (Optional)
5:30pm Dinner
6:30pm Classroom Session
8:00pm Large Group Activity
8:30pm Photo Walk
9:30pm Free Time in Dorms
11:00pm Dorm Room Check

DAY 3 ·
Wednesday, July 9

7:30 – 8:20am Breakfast for On-Campus
8:30 – 9:15am Opening
9:15 – 11:45am Classroom sessions
12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00 – 4:30pm Classroom sessions
5:00 – 5:30pm Brain Break (Optional)
5:30 – 6:25pm Dinner
6:30 – 7:50pm Classroom Session
8:00 – 9:30pm Large Group Activity
9:30pm Free Time in Dorms
11:00pm Dorm Room Check

DAY 4 ·
Thursday, July 10

7:30 – 8:20am Breakfast for On-Campus
8:30 – 10:00am Classrooms for final presentations
10:00 – 10:15am Camp Feedback Forms
10:30am Awards Ceremony
Noon Camp Ends (No Lunch)
12:45pm Check out Complete from Dorms
1:00pm Bus to STL Departs

Housing & Overnight

There will be two people sharing one room with shared shower rooms on each floor. Each room has two beds (one bed for each person), desks and closet space. The lounges have wifi and comfy furniture. Your room will have wifi as well. Your breakfast (along with lunch and dinner) will be at a campus dining hall. Your camp name tag gets you in. The only meal NOT included is lunch after the awards ceremony on the final day.

Some campers like to order food at night during their free time in the dorms between 9:30 - 11:00 p.m. Campers can bring their own or order for delivery, but no campers are allowed to leave campus at any time.

Check-in
Dorm check-in is from 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. at Carpenter Hall. Opening Session begins at 4:01 p.m. Students will walk as a group from the dorms to the opening at 3:45 p.m.

Check-out
Dorm check out begins at noon on the last day of camp. The final check out of dorms is at 12:45 p.m. Camp sessions conclude before noon that day. Lunch is not provided.

P1190517

Nightly Large Group Activity Time

We have additional activities planned each evening. All campers will walk with their class to the night activity and then be released to the dorms thereafter. They will receive detail at check-in each night as to where and what they need for activity time. Campers are not allowed to walk around campus at night (or day for that matter). All campers will be at the closing large group and then walk to the dorms where they can hang out in the common areas within the dorm. All campers are checked back into their own rooms by 11 p.m. We have 24-hour residence hall desk service to assist our campers as well.

What to Bring

Packing list for the Dorms

  • Bedding (twin sheet, blanket and pillow)
  • Personal toiletries
  • Linens (Towels, etc)
  • Casual clothes including comfortable walking shoes
  • Laptops (if available)
  • Cameras (if available)
  • Cell Phones
  • Charging Cables
  • Medicines/Prescriptions
  • Headphones

Transportation

Bus Transportation

Need a ride? Round Trip Bus Ride from STL to DSM

We offer round-trip charter bus transportation from St. Louis, Missouri, to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. We will have one pick-up location in St. Louis. If you can get yourself to our pick-up location at Mid Rivers Mall parking lot, we’ll get you to Drake University – and back!

A round-trip ticket is $65 and includes one meal on each leg of the trip. This bus sign-up is part of your camp registration.

If you have any questions about the bus, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call/text 636-778-8501.

Need a bus from Omaha or Chicago? Check the MegaBus to book your ride independently HERE.

Departure from Mid Rivers Mall (Macy's Entrance)
in St. Peters, MO
7:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. Load In
8:20 a.m. Departure, Monday, July 8

Arrival on Drake Campus
3:00 p.m. for Dorm Check-In

Departure from Drake Campus:
1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 11

Arrival at Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters, MO:
around 7:00 p.m. (students to update parents with ETA along the way)

Airport Transportation

Flying in? We can help.

If you're planning to fly into the Des Moines Airport, you can either arrange a ride share (Lyft or Uber) or let our team know. We can arrange a single pick-up time at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 10. Our team arrives in Media Now or Drake University shirt and/or sign to then take you to campus. A similar drop-off will happen at the end of camp with a 12:30 p.m. departure from campus.

If you have any questions about airport transportation, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call/text 636-778-8501.

Use a ride share app.
This option allows you to arrange pick-up, drop-off times on your own, along with the expense.

Arrange a ride with Media Now*
2:30 p.m. pick up at the DSM Airport, July 8

1:00 p.m. drop-off at the DSM Airport, July 11

*This must be communicated with the Media Now staff in order to reserve your spot.

Scholarships

 Scholarships are currently closed for the 2024 Season.

Students have the opportunity to apply for a full-ride scholarship to attend Media Now camp this summer by writing a 250 – 300 word essay explaining how the skills they hope to acquire from attending Media Now will further their current high school publication staff experience, why the scholarship is needed and how they may use these skills in the future, journalism or non. The essay should also include how your financial needs may keep you from participating. Up to six scholarships will be awarded as selected by the University advisory panel and INF sponsors. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

frequently asked questions
What You Want to Know