Venture Academics

09/30/2026

Our Venture Government students recently met with Marion City Manager, Ryan Waller, to learn more about city budgets, property taxes, and some of the terminology that can be confusing for community members. Students are creating an educational video explaining key terms to help make these topics easier to understand, which will be shared at an upcoming town hall.

Later this year, students will take on a similar project with school board member Brittania Morey, (also pictured) focusing on school budgeting and how property taxes are used.

09/17/2026

Venture Biology students visit Indian Creek Nature Center to explore prairie and woodland ecosystems and learn how these habitats support pollinators. Students connected what they saw in the field to the important role pollinators play in healthy ecosystems, biodiversity, and agriculture.

09/03/2026

This week, we officially launched Early Explorers, bringing together our Venture Exploring Education, students and three-year-old learners. Our high school students are getting to experience what it’s like to plan lessons, teach, observe, and build relationships with young learners while being mentored by a veteran educator who has 20+ years of classroom experience in early childhood education.

08/31/2026

Lacey Schroeder, Director of Uptown Marion, and Judy Bushlack from Friends of Oak Shade Cemetery shared a unique project idea with Venture Creative Writing students: research the lives of those buried at Oak Shade Cemetery and write their stories. Linn-Mar Thespian students will bring those stories to life by portraying the individuals during a historical cemetery walk-through in October.

06/26/2026

New this year; Venture Early Explorers is expanding to a full school-year program, running September–May.

Our Venture Early Explorers program connects three-year-old children with Linn‑Mar High School students in a fully supervised, hands-on learning environment. All sessions take place at Linn-Mar's Academic Excellence Center in a bright, welcoming space created for early childhood learning, with staff present to guide and support every interaction.

This free program is open to families both inside and outside of Linn‑Mar with limited space availability. Visit our webpage to learn more and register your child: https://www.linnmar.k12.ia.us/news/venture-early-explorers-class-information-and-registration/

06/01/2026

Linn-Mar High School students earned state recognition for their leadership in civic engagement after helping register more than 240 classmates to vote. Through outreach and peer support, students made a real-world impact on their school community. Read more here: https://www.linnmar.k12.ia.us/news/venture-academics-students-earn-capitol-award-for-voter-registration-efforts/

05/29/2026

Venture Biology students traded the classroom for the outdoors during a recent visit to F.W. Kent Park. After researching the park and the lake restoration project in class, students explored the lake by kayak, spent time fishing, and learned about conservation staff’s efforts to reduce algae blues caused by excess phosphorus and nitrates. A great hands-on opportunity for students to better understand the connection between water, quality, agriculture, and the importance of protecting Iowa‘s natural resources.

05/29/2026

Venture Biology students traded the classroom for the outdoors during a recent visit to F.W. Kent Park. After researching the park’s lake restoration project in class, students explored the lake by kayak, spent time fishing, and learned about conservation staff’s efforts aimed at reducing algae blooms caused by excess phosphorus and nitrates. It was a great hands-on opportunity for students to better understand the connection between water, quality, agriculture, and the importance of protecting Iowa’s natural resources.

05/23/2026

05/18/2026

Venture Biology students hear from Frances Owen of Johnson County Conservation. Frances shared about the important role that native prairies and pollinators play in Iowa’s environment, including their impact on biodiversity, water, quality, and healthy ecosystems.