Downtown Discovery!
Date: July 28-29, 2025 (Mon & Tue)
Times: 9am–4pm (Wraparound Care Available)
Ages: 1st-6th Graders
Instructors: GoldCap Team
Cost: $175 – Includes Yotopia & Mollys Visit
Location: MERGE: 136 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City
Join us for a two-day journey where curiosity meets community and every stop brings something fun and delicious! Searches & Sweets invites campers to become downtown detectives as they take on the popular “Search for Rusty” challenge, seeking out the hidden sloth mascot in locally owned Iowa City businesses. Alongside this exciting quest, campers will test their teamwork and observation skills during a classic downtown scavenger hunt, uncovering surprises and sights around every corner of the Ped Mall.
The adventure continues with a special visit to the Downtown History Museum, where they’ll meet the real Rusty and learn about the stories that make Iowa City such a unique place to explore. No discovery day would be complete without a little sweetness — so we’ll make stops at two beloved local spots, Yotopia and Molly’s Cupcakes, for refreshing froyo and cupcakes to celebrate all they’ve accomplished.
With a perfect mix of active play, community connections, and tasty treats, Searches & Sweets delivers downtown fun that campers will remember long after the hunt is over!
Early drop (8:30am) and late pickup (4:30pm) is available for $10.
GoldCap staff will meet parents outside of Merge to assist with pick-up and drop-off. Following registration, additional materials will be emailed to gather additional information about each student, and provide specific information about drop-off, pick-up and/or additional logsitics as needed.

Thank you for choosing GoldCap!
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