BranchOut! Launches New Iowa Chapter with Summer of Service, STEM, and Community Leadership

BranchOut! is officially expanding its footprint with the launch of the new Iowa Chapter. Driven by a mission to foster youth leadership, civic engagement, and academic success, student leaders in the Iowa City area didn't just quietly debut this summer; they hit the ground running with an impressive lineup of cultural, athletic, academic, and civic initiatives. Here is a look at how the Iowa Chapter made an immediate impact across North Liberty, Coralville, and Iowa City.

Bringing Culture and Creative Leadership to North Liberty

The chapter kicked off its community outreach on June 24, 2026, at the North Liberty Library, partnering with the Midwest Chinese Academy Summer Camp. BranchOut! volunteers jumped into classroom lessons and interactive activities, helping more than 11 students expand their vocabulary and dive into hands-on learning. The day wasn't just academic; volunteers joined camp participants in practicing a traditional dragon dance and playing hula hoop games, building a welcoming environment focused on cultural exchange and teamwork.

The momentum carried directly into the next day, June 25, at the North Liberty Recreation Center’s Cardboard Boat Regatta. Team members designed and built two cardboard vessels over two days: Dragon Boat, built to celebrate Chinese culture, and BranchOut!, crafted to raise awareness for the chapter’s youth mentorship programs. The hard work paid off when Dragon Boat took home First Place in the Teen Division. Beyond the trophy, the event served as a profound leadership lesson for the youth volunteers. When their teammate Keddy's boat faced setbacks, the team rallied together. "Leadership is about more than achieving personal success," noted one of the youth leaders. "It means encouraging teammates when things do not go as planned and helping them stay motivated." You can check out photos from the exciting race on their Facebook Event Page.

Launching the Academic Success Program in Coralville

Education is at the core of the BranchOut! mission, and the Iowa Chapter successfully debuted its Free Math Tutoring Program at the Coralville Public Library. Driven by student tutors Kevin Wang and Lucius Coriglione, the program focuses on small tutor-to-student ratios to ensure individualized attention.

• June 26, 2026: The inaugural session welcomed 7 students for a deep dive into basic algebra concepts, utilizing custom-printed practice worksheets and interactive instruction to build confidence and problem-solving skills.

• July 27, 2026: The momentum continued into the chapter's third tutoring meeting, where tutors worked with local students on advanced foundational concepts like basic probability and combinatorics.

Mobilizing for Iowa City Civic Events

On June 27, 2026, chapter co-founders Ethan Tang and Kevin Wang led the official civic launch of the BranchOut! Iowa Chapter through a massive day of service. Partnering with the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD), youth volunteers spent their morning setting up tents, tables, recycling stations, and game areas to prepare downtown Iowa City for a major community festival.

The service didn't stop when the sun went down. That evening, volunteers transitioned to working with the Greater Iowa City organization, managing beverage stations and assisting event attendees late into the night. The day demonstrated the chapter’s long-term commitment to real-world teamwork and civic responsibility.

What’s Next for BranchOut! Iowa

The successful launch across these three local cities establishes a strong foundation for the chapter's future. With active partnerships already formed alongside the Midwest Chinese Academy, local libraries, and downtown civic organizations, BranchOut! Iowa is just getting started. The chapter's youth leaders are already mapping out future educational outreach programs, expanded tutoring schedules, and fundraising initiatives to empower the next generation of local leaders.

Are you a student in Iowa looking to build leadership skills, earn volunteer hours, or give back to your community? What kind of service projects or tutoring subjects would you like to see the Iowa Chapter tackle next? Join us and make a difference!