What is a Shell Ceremony? It is an American Pilgrims custom to confer a shell (symbol of Santiago) and traditional pilgrim’s blessing upon first-time pilgrims who will be walking or cycling the Camino in the coming months. All local pilgrims and pilgrims-to-be are welcome to join us for this gathering! This Shell Ceremony will take…

Walk with us along Central Iowa’s Chichaqua Trail to the small town of Santiago (Iowa)! We’ll meet at the NE 88th St trailhead parking lot north of Bondurant, IA. We plan to walk approximately 11 km (about 7 miles) round-trip to the Santiago United Methodist Church and back. Please bring water and, if you choose,…

Join our monthly virtual charla to hear the experience of some Pampered Pilgrims who opted to use a service or support system while on their Camino. They will share details of why they opted to use a service and what their experience was like. There will be substantial time for general discussion and your Camino-related…

Have you ever dreamed of living on the Camino de Santiago? Jason Noble and his family have done just that! Born and raised in central Iowa, the Noble family today live in Spain on the Camino near Muxia. Come hear about their adventure, what they do on the Camino, and what they’ve learned. Please rsvp…

Join our monthly virtual charla for a presentation on “Spanish Culture for the Camino: What to Know Before You Go”. You’ll learn about several common cultural norms that are useful for anyone planning to spend time in Spain. We invite your input, questions, and Camino-related questions. Please register to receive the zoom link: There is…

Join our monthly virtual charla for a presentation on “Spanish Culture for the Camino: What to Know Before You Go”. You’ll learn about several common cultural norms that are useful for anyone planning to spend time in Spain. We invite your input, questions, and Camino-related questions. There is so much wisdom and experience among our…

We will meet at the Beach area as there are non-modern restrooms there. There are over 8 miles of multi-use trails. We can decide how far we want to go. Bring snacks and water.

We will meet at the Jester Park Nature Center entrance. There are indoor restrooms there. Jester Park has several soft dirt trails and we should be able to do 5 miles. QUESTIONS? Please contact us at Iowa@americanpilgrims.org

Join our monthly virtual charla to hear the experience of some Pampered Pilgrims who opted to use a service or support system while on their Camino. They will share details of why they opted to use a service and what their experience was like. There will be substantial time for general discussion and your Camino-related…

Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames, IA is a popular recreational area located on Highway 69 on the north side of Ames. The park has a fishing lake, hiking & biking trails, a picnic shelter, and wetlands for bird-watching. We will meet at 10 AM in the north parking lot. The walk should take approximately…