Have questions about IBCD? Find answers to some of our most common questions below.
Yes! IBCD is completely free for campers. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors and community partners, families are not charged a registration fee to attend camp.
Any children who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing between the ages of 7 through 14 are eligible for the camp.
They must be age appropriate prior to arriving to the 1st day of camp. If a child turns 15 years old during the camp week, then that is acceptable. However, a camper cannot turn 7 during the week.
We also accept out-of-state kids!
The camp begins at 8:15 am and lasts until 12:30 pm. Lunch will start serving at 12:00 pm.
The drop-off period is between 8:00 – 8:15 am. Please pick up your child by 12:30 pm.
We recommend that the campers show up a little earlier on Monday morning to allow time for them to change into their uniforms.
Campers receive an IBCD jersey and cap to wear throughout camp week, and keep afterward!
On the first day of the camp, the campers will receive their uniforms and change into it in a nearby bathroom. At the end of the day, they can wear it home, and then wear it again to camp the next morning. It is at the discretion of the parents how often to wash the uniforms. We recommend every night; due to the amount of dirt and sweat they encounter everyday.
Campers are required to bring their own baseball glove and athletic shoes. Molded cleats are allowed, but metal spikes are not. IBCD provides bats, helmets and baseballs.
Campers are welcome to bring their own additional baseball equipment. Please label all personal items with the camper’s name.
IBCD is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. These items includes, but not limited to: Cochlear implants, hearing aids, personal electronic devices (such as cell phones), baseball equipment.
If you lose an item, you may ask us if we know what happened to it, but we will not guarantee that the item will be returned to its owner.
Yes, we will! Every day we will provide lunch, snacks, water and Gatorade to the campers and the camp staff. All lunches will be catered from local restaurants.
We try to stay on schedule with the baseball activities as much as possible in times of rain. If the rain is too heavy, or if there is lightning/thunder nearby, we will gather at the shelter and wait out the weather. During the delay, coaches will provide some additional instructions, such as how to keep score or go over baseball rules.
A licensed nurse is on site throughout camp to evaluate injuries and provide care as needed. Parents will be notified of injuries and contacted immediately in the event of a serious injury or medical concern.
Please include any medical conditions, allergies or other health information we should know about when registering your camper.
When a camper registers for the camp, there will be a section on it to fill out if there are any special needs, such as food allergies, or medical conditions that we need to be aware of.
Please understand that this is a baseball camp for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing, not a “special needs” camp. The camp staff as a whole is not trained or equipped to handle kids with physical special needs.
The camper needs to acknowledge that they are able to, on their own, participate physically on a baseball field. This includes, but is not limited to running and walking on unleveled surfaces of dirt and grass, along with any baseball and physical activities.
The camper’s parents are responsible for making transportation arrangements each day for the camper to be dropped off and picked up. For out-of-town campers, consider coming into Des Moines with family for the week and making a vacation out of it. You will be responsible for making your own arrangements, whether staying with family and friends in the area, or getting a hotel or Airbnb. Although we do not endorse nor partner with any particular hotel, there are several hotels in the area near Johnston Little League. Please contact the hotels directly, or consider checking other options.
Johnston Little League is located inside Lew Clarkson Park, a public park where family and friends are welcome to stay and watch camp in action. While the park is open to the public, the baseball fields and the concession stand themselves are reserved for IBCD campers and staff.
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly ask that observers remain off the fields and allow the camp activities to run without interruption. While we love the support, we’re only able to provide food and supervision for registered campers and staff.
Families are welcome to enjoy the park while camp is in session, and we appreciate your cooperation in helping us create the best experience possible for our campers! And give them a cheering section too!
IBCD campers attend Iowa Cubs ASL Night at Principal Park during camp week, and each camper must have a responsible adult attend with them. Thanks to the Iowa Cubs, campers receive free admission, while discounted tickets are available for family and friends.
Visit our Iowa Cubs page for info on ASL Night activities, schedules, arrival information and other details.
We’re fortunate to have an incredible community of volunteers who return year after year. Because of the nature of camp and the number of volunteers we need, volunteer opportunities are limited and many roles are filled by returning members of our team.
Interested in getting involved? Contact us to introduce yourself. We’d love to hear from you!