Congratulations to Paige Taylor, Zion Lutheran School whose design (left) won the 2016 Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Programs contest. Her design will appear on hundreds of T-shirts for the Aug. 6 Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run to support the new Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Trail at Sugar Creek Park!
Keeping it in the Taylor family, second place design goes to both Kate Taylor and Danielle Taylor, both Zion Lutheran students.
Register HERE to purchase your shirt and register for the walk/run!
Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Programs and New Palestine High School teacher Brittany Bennett and her students hosted ECOFEST 2016 April 15, celebrating bringing innovative STEM education activities to Southern Hancock students. Students, parents and grandparents took the challenge and enjoyed bubbles, gliders and saw the liftoff of a solar balloon thanks to NPHS student volunteers at the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School.
Ana Ostendorf and Allison Norman gave students in attendance a sneak peak at the ECOFEST solar energy lesson. All those in attendance saw solar in action thanks to David Griffin and learned how this renewable energy works in a video produced by our Dani’s Dreams reporters Sarah and Emily Adam.
NPHS Alumnus Ryan Schroeder tested ECOFEST participants’ knowledge of invasive species with his “Friends or Foes” game. Schroeder is the president of the Purdue University Environmental Science Club. DNR Project Learning Tree Coordinator Donna Rogler shared her extensive knowledge and seedlings to take home. Willing Hands Entertainment provided free facepainting for all kids!
Because of the great response to ECOFEST Lessons and the festival, Dani’s Dreams is extending the deadline for the Southern Hancock T-shirt Wars to sign up for membership and help your favorite elementary school win a $300 grant! Sign up by May 6 online here to become a Dani’s Dreams Team member and get your favorite kid a free T-shirt, wristband, certificate and exciting and fun activities and information they can use all year to “Change the World!”
The Go Green Discovery Center at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School is now solar-powered!
Classes, Scouts, Daycares, Preschools and other groups can visit the Go Green Center, learn more about how solar energy works with our Dani’s Dreams video report and create a solar craft!
With each membership, one Southern Hancock elementary school could win a $300 grant for the school, and every child gets a free specially designed T-shirt, wristband, certificate, special e-newsmat and loads of fun educational activities for only $25 a year! All proceeds go right back to Southern Hancock schools to support environmental education!
Drawing by Sarah Adam, 7th grade, Doe Creek Middle School
By Christina Harkleroad, intern coordinator
Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center
Now in the midst of winter, some animals are in a stage called hibernation. This is a state of inactivity where their body temperature decreases and their heartbeat and breathing slow down. Their bodies go through this to conserve energy that the animals spent all fall saving up. During fall time, the animals eat an increased amount of food to increase their overall body fat. This allows them to be insulated and they will use it throughout their hibernation period for energy.
Many animals hibernate. Some animals in our area that hibernate are skunks, chipmunks, some squirrels, and some bats. Also, bears hibernate but those are not in our area. They are mainly in mountain regions to our south and east. These animals hibernate to conserve energy in the winter months when food is hard to find. As animals prepare for hibernation, they eat enough food to last them through the upcoming winter months. Their bodies produce special fat tissues around their brain, heart, and lungs to provide extra insulation in those areas.
Animals who use lots of energy throughout the winter days, but do not hibernate, become dormant during parts of the day. This is similar to hibernating however instead of sleeping throughout winter, they sleep for a major part of the day in order to conserve energy. Hummingbirds and some small bats are examples of animals that are dormant for parts of winter.
During winter you see less squirrels, chipmunks, and skunks, now you know that they’re just in hibernation and once spring rolls around, they’ll be back to their playful ways. In my next column, I will be exploring what germination is as spring time grows closer and the flowers begin to bloom.
Check out the Dani’s Dreams Facebook Page to see the Top 10 Coolest Hibernators! Become a Dani’s Dreams Team Member here and find out how to track animals with our winter newsmat! You’ll get a wristband and a certificate, too!
Southern Hancock families enjoyed going with the flow at Children’s Museum Night, Feb. 3 in the Zion Lutheran Gym, sponsored by Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Programs. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis traveled to New Palestine, bringing hands-on activities, conservation information and lots of fun facts, including the fact that we use 360 million gallons of water a day in the United States!
During the activities, families learned about the different properties of water, watersheds and how pollution affects the water supply; they made water cycle bracelets, participated in a low-flow shower demonstration, watched water filtration in action, and created oil-and-water drawings.
Children’s Museum Night kicked off the year’s activities at Hancock County’s only Outdoor Education Center! Support STEM and environmental education in Hancock County and receive a membership kit TODAY for your child to “Change the World!”
Don’t miss out on your chance to plant the seeds of innovative education opportunities for New Palestine area children – Join Dani’s Dreams Team and become a yearly member for as little as $25 per individual or $50 for everyone in your household! Each child who joins Dani’s Dreams team will receive a membership certificate, wristband, a seasonal e-newsmat and admission to all Dani’s Dreams events during the year.
Businesses can sponsor Dani’s Dreams environmental education lessons for a Southern Hancock or Zion Lutheran classroom for $100!
Call 317-640-4430 or email dgriffins96@gmail.com for marketing, promotional and sponsorship opportunities for your business with Dani’s Dreams community facilities and events!
Southern Hancock Families – join Dani’s Dreams at Zion Lutheran School Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m. for the annual Children’s Museum Night with hands-on family activities focusing on “Our Water, Our World.”
Children’s Museum Night marks the beginning of a special year at Hancock County’s ONLY Outdoor Education Center, which is “Spreading Our Wings” to Sugar Creek Township Park and to Southern Hancock Schools with ECOFEST lessons and projects.
We are also kicking off our first annual MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN! Don’t miss out on your chance to plant the seeds of innovative education opportunities for New Palestine area children – Join Dani’s Dreams Team and become a yearly member for as little as $25 per individual or $50 for everyone in your household! Each child who joins Dani’s Dreams team will receive a membership certificate, wristband, a seasonal e-newsmat and admission to all Dani’s Dreams events during the year.
Businesses can sponsor Dani’s Dreams environmental education lessons for a Southern Hancock or Zion Lutheran classroom for $100!
Call 317-640-4430 or email dgriffins96@gmail.com for marketing, promotional and sponsorship opportunities for your business with Dani’s Dreams community facilities and events!
Congratulations to Paige Taylor, Zion Lutheran School whose design (left) won the 2016 Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Programs contest. Her design will appear on hundreds of T-shirts for the Aug. 6 Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run to support the new Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Trail at Sugar Creek Park!
Keeping it in the Taylor family, second place design goes to both Kate Taylor and Danielle Taylor, both Zion Lutheran students.
Dani's Dreams Outdoor Education Programs 