Paleontologists are scientists who study ancient plants, animals, such as dinosaurs, and the climate of the prehistoric past, search the Earth for fossils and other evidence of ancient life.
Don’t forget to come to Dani’s Dreams Sept. 23, 3:30-5 p.m. and join us on a special dig to find a fossil you will be able to take home!
In the early 1800s, when scientists first discovered Iguanodon bones, they thought the fossils were the remains of a super-sized lizard. But lizards, snakes and turtles are not that closely related to dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are a very distinct group of animals, even though they had scales and backbones like other reptiles.
Find out more facts about dinosaurs and go on a dig for fossils Sept. 23, 3:30-5 p.m. at Dani’s Dreams!
Dinosaur Quiz, Day 1:
Brachiosaurus was a gigantic dinosaur. Scientists have estimated its weight at more than 28 tons (25 metric tons). Its neck and head stood up more than 40 feet (12 meters) in the air. The most complete skeletons found belong to animals not yet fully grown. So Brachiosaurus probably grew even longer and taller than we know. Source National Geographic Kids
Don’t forget to bring your answers to Dig It Day, Sept 23, 3:30-5 p.m. at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center!
Discovery, learning, growing and hands-on activities were the order of the day at the sixth annual Dani’s Dreams Earth Day Dedication Event April 10 at the outdoor education center at Zion Lutheran School in New Palestine.
The warmest day of the year so far was prime time for children and their parents and grandparents to enjoy several outdoor activities and each other’s company, including:
1) A Nature Detective hunt, where children gathered information on butterflies, birds, dinosaurs, weather and photosynthesis. All winning names were placed in a random drawing for an I Spy birdhouse. The Day family won the birdhouse! Watch for future reports on Dani’s Dreams website and Facebook page from the Day birdhouse.
2) Mini Greenhouses – kids and their grandparents took home dirt and seeds and will now get to “Watch ‘Em Grow!”
3) Thanks to the participating families who planted bulbs, one of the gardens at Dani’s Dreams will bloom this summer with colorful gladiolus flowers! Check out the plants’ progress over the summer on the website and Facebook page.
The first round of voting took place for this year’s T-shirt design and essay contest for the Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run Aug. 2, 8 a.m. at New Palestine High School. Finalists will be chosen and placed online where everyone can vote for their favorite!
Kids, don’t forget to talk to your grandparents and get their stories for our “Remember Our Roots” memory book. We are compiling childhood memories and stories over this year. Send them to Zion Lutheran School, in c/o Dani’s Dreams or post them online at the Remember Our Roots at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s Facebook Page.
Remember Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School is open every day to spend some quality outdoor time with your family!
Scientists and researchers will tell you that children who have hands-on, real-world activities better understand concepts and processes. At Dani’s Dreams empowering children and giving them innovative opportunities to grow, to explore and to discover is the heart of our mission.
This Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. children will be learning, growing, running, laughing and sharing those experiences with the most important people in their lives, parents and grandparents – simple basic enjoyment of the wonders of God’s creation.
Share your childhood story.
Plant a seed together and watch it grow over time.
Listen to the birds.
Feel the breeze.
Remember your roots.
All those families who complete the Nature Detective Quiz will be in a drawing to win an I Spy birdhouse. They can watch the birds in their backyard and also make reports on their activities and share that with others on Dani’s Dreams website and Facebook page.
Dani’s Dreams will sponsor free family activities that celebrate the roots of our lives – grandparents from 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday April 10.
Grandparents, parents and kids can share their stories, plant bulbs, start a mini-greenhouse, learn about seeds, roots and have a chance to win a special nature prize! Celebrate and learn about God’s wonderful creation and the people in our lives that ground us and give us the strength to reach for our dreams.
During this week, Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center will post activities and information for families. Come to the Earth Day Event April 10 and each family will receive a mini-greenhouse to get their seeds started and watch them grow!
Dani’s Dreams hosted so many memorable moments in 2013…check out these last five of our Top 10:
Teachers, Scout Leaders, and other community groups, contact Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center to schedule your specially designed educational opportunity. We’ll tailor your experience to your needs at NO CHARGE. Contact Donna Griffin, director, at dgriffins@netzero.com or 317-640-4430.
6. Celebrating Our Farmers
Southern Hancock students jumped on the haywagon when Dani’s Dreams honored the contributions of farmers Sept. 19. Nearly 40 children of all ages descended on Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center to “Celebrate Our Farmers.” Local farmer Brian Kleiman talked about the technology and science of farming and answered questions from the students. The competition began soon after and teams took off on a Nature Scavenger Hunt, returning with fuzzy wooly worms, sticks, leaves and lots of beautiful things. After a bountiful harvest of farmer’s market snacks, the afternoon event ended with a haywagon ride generously provided by local farmer Doug Schildmier.
7. Peace Bear Building
Dani’s Dreams Club members partnered with New Palestine Elementary fourth grader Emma Mann to build a dozen bears for her Peace Bear Project Fri. Oct 11 at the Castleton Build A Bear Workshop. Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center received a grant from the Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation to purchase the bears that will be given to patients at the new Hancock Regional Cancer Center. Build A Bear also donated 10 Peace Bears to be distributed at the Hancock Regional Cancer Center. In addition to building the white Peace Bears, the students, from Sugar Creek and New Palestine elementary schools, including Emma, her sister Kendall, brother Cameron, friends Sadie Miller and McKaylah Flagle, and Dani’s Dreams Club members Sarah, Emily and Sam Adam wrote letters to the patients and will be delivering the bears personally.
8. Trunk or Treat
Despite chilly autumn weather, Dani’s Dreams warmed up those who attended Zion Lutheran School PTL’s Trunk or Treat Oct. 26 with make-your-own smores, complete with a fire to roast marshmallows. Director Donna Griffin also treated the children to a storytime rendition of, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.
9. Dig It!
Discovery was the name of the day Nov. 25 when Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center took Zion Lutheran preschoolers on a special “Dig It” expedition. About 80 preschoolers became archaeologists and found “treasures” of the earth – rocks and minerals, gemstones, fossils and arrowheads. They then filed their collection reports and took home a favorite item to show their parents.
10. Get Ready for Winter
Ol’ Man Winter paid an early visit to Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center, arriving just in time for the “Get Ready for Winter” event Dec. 5 at Zion Lutheran School. Children of all ages made ornaments, strung popcorn, painted bird houses and enjoyed dessert pizza from Mama Nitas and hot chocolate before venturing outside to decorate the trees and fill bird feeders in the snow. These activities were the last of a busy 2013 for Dani’s Dreams.
Coming UP After our two month “hibernation,” an exciting year begins. . . Mark your calendars for Feb. 26, 6-8 p.m. – the annual Children’s Museum Night with this year’s theme, “National Geographic Treasures of the Earth.”
“No dream is too big, no dreamer too small,” says the movie, “Turbo.” At Dani’ Dreams, a lot of little hands plant the seeds of big dreams through innovative activities and events each year at Hancock County’s only outdoor education center.
Teachers, Scout Leaders, and other community groups, contact Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center to schedule your specially designed educational opportunity. We’ll tailor your experience to your needs at NO CHARGE. Contact Donna Griffin, director, at dgriffins@netzero.com or 317-640-4430.
Check out the first five of the Top 10 Dani’s Dreams memorable moments in 2013 (in chronological order):
1. April 12 Earth Day Dedication Event
The highlight of Dani’s Dreams Earth Day Event was a special presentation by Mrs. Deb Weiler’s fourth grade students at Sugar Creek Elementary in New Palestine. They are partnering with Dani’s Dreams on a composting project and are the perfect example of how young people can truly “Dream It – Do It” and share that knowledge with others. Thanks so much Mrs. Weiler and her smart and caring students – Sarah Adam, Sierra Patrick, Madison Schmitt, Mia Thomas, and Laney Scott.
2. Opening of Go Green Center
Dani’s Dreams is all about growing, discovering, becoming – little seeds are planted, take root and reach toward the sky. The Go Green Discovery Center opened April 12, 2013, is in the seedling stage, changing and morphing to meet the needs of Hancock County schoolchildren. Now it is the site of meaningful, environmental activities, crafts and demonstrations for all students in Hancock County. Watch it Grow!
3. Dream It – Do It! T-shirt Design and Essay Contest Winners Chosen
Hancock County students put their talents and creativity on display for the annual Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center T-shirt design and essay contest for 2013. Ali Kinder, a student at Zion Lutheran School is the winner of the T-shirt design contest. Kinder’s design was featured on T-shirts for the event. Second place went to Katie Taylor, a fifth grader at Zion Lutheran School and third place winner was Rylee Morris, sixth grader at Zion Lutheran School. The students’ interpretations of the “Dream It – Do It!” theme brought color and life to race T-shirts and even jump started a new organization that brought peace, comfort and hope to others – Emma Mann’s Peace Bear Project. Emma is the 2013 Essay Contest winner. Brock Turner, 2013 Lutheran High School graduate received the Dani Griffin Innovation in Education Memorial Scholarship.
4. Northern Night Concert kicks off Sixth Annual Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run
Up-and-coming band, Northern Nights set the stage Aug. 2 with a benefit concert at Zion Lutheran School. The next morning, more than 100 runners/walkers braved a damp summer morning to race/exercise on the cross country course and stadium track at New Palestine High School to raise funds for environmental education in Hancock County.
5. Dani’s Dreams Club Activities
Dani’s Dreams Club took root in 2013, as members filmed an informational video and environmental reports, planted and tended vegetables and flowers in the Community Garden and went on a bug expedition. Join Dani’s Dreams Club when it expands this year to include an online component as well as the popular after school events and activities. Be a part of our reporting team, which will be covering environmental issues in videos to be aired in the Go Green Center and also creating an online newsletter.
Check out the next post for the other five Top Memorable Moments at Dani’s Dreams in 2013!
TODAY IS the last event of this busy year at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center, from 3:30-5 p.m. We will be getting ready for winter – planting fall bulbs, making bird feeders, painting bird houses, and talking about migration and hibernation. We’ll also be decorating for the holidays, making and hanging ornaments, and stringing popcorn. Make an ornament to take home for your tree! Hot chocolate and Mama Nita’s special cinnamon pizza will be keep everyone warm and fed.
All children in Southern Hancock are invited – Dream It – Do It!
Find out what will happen this winter and how God’s creatures and our environment adapt and change. Dream It, Do It! You can make a difference in your world. Join us after school at 3:30 at Dani’s Dreams, 6513 W. 300S, New Palestine.
How Does A Bulb Grow?
The last event of this busy year at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center will be this Thursday, December 5, 3:30-5 p.m. We will be getting ready for winter – planting fall bulbs, making bird feeders, painting bird houses, and talking about migration and hibernation. We’ll also be decorating for the holidays, making and hanging ornaments, and stringing popcorn. Make an ornament to take home for your tree! Hot chocolate and Mama Nita’s special cinnamon pizza will be keep everyone warm and fed. All children in Southern Hancock are invited – Dream It – Do It!
Planting bulbs in the fall is the most effective time to plant because they blossom just in time for spring.
• Choose a healthy bulb.
• Choose a good location. The location needs to have good drainage and exposure to the sun every day.
• Plant the bulb with the pointed side up.
• Plant the bulb three times as deep as their width.
• Replace the soil on top of the bulb and water.
• Water your bulb throughout the fall and winter especially if it is dry.
• Enjoy your new flower!
Kids, we’ll not only be decorating for Christmas but for spring as well as we will be planting bulbs in the newly named Grandparents Garden in our Dreaming Tree Place. Plant and dream and hope for a colorful garden after winter’s cold and snow.
See you Thursday, Dec. 5, 3:30-5 p.m. at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center – Get Ready for Winter!
Dani's Dreams Outdoor Education Programs 