Category Archives: Special Events
Dani’s Dreams Kids Share Tree Knowledge
Trees top the list of wonderful parts of God’s creation and Oct. 14, nearly 30 Southern Hancock students explored the wide variety of trees at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center. Randy Caster, owner of Hillcrest Tree Farm explained that trees are really the first solar energy machine, taking in sun, water and carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen and sugar for the tree’s food.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS: Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light —-> Sugar + Oxygen
Students divided into groups, and went on a tree exploration, compiling reports on how trees help humans and animals.
Thanks to Mr. Caster, each student took home their own Norway Spruce tree seedling for fall planting!
Dani’s Dreams reporter Anna Caster, Zion Lutheran student, gives you the fun facts about our towering tree friends.
By Anna Caster
Trees are very beautiful! There are many kinds of trees, such as Norway Spruce, White Pine, Juniper, Tulip Poplar, Maple and Cherry. Trees are useful for many different things in many different ways, such as shade, protection and shelter for animals, paper and wood products, and many other things.
Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Humans are the exact opposite, we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Trees are helpful in making gum, picnic tables, cutting boards, doors, and trees help keep the soil on the ground from having erosion. Trees are wonderful plants that God made for the enjoyment of humans and animals.
Trees can do so many different things in so many different ways. I love trees and you should too! Get a tree today! The best place to get any kind of tree is Hillcrest Tree Farm.
See you when you get there!
Fall Fun Tues. Oct. 14 at Dani’s Dreams
Hancock County kids are invited to Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School for fall food, fun, activities and crafts.
Dig It! – A Day of Discovery at Dani’s Dreams
It was boys versus girls Sept. 23 when kids grabbed their tools and headed for an expedition in the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s archaeological dig to find authentic fossils that are hundreds of years old. The children also filed their reports, identified the fossils they uncovered, and created informational booklets on dinosaurs for future Dani’s Dreams visitors.
Here are some of the fossils Dani’s Dreams Team members discovered on their expedition. Go on your own digital dig for information about these specimens. Send us a comment on what you found!
So, who won the Dig It! fossil finding competition? Check out Dani’s Dreams Facebook Page for the results and more pictures.
Dig It Today!
Head to Dani’s Dreams today, Sept. 23, 3:30-5 p.m. for an expedition dig and find an authentic fossil to take home!
Don’t forget to bring your quiz answers to share and place in the dinosaur story book.
Dig It! Quiz for Today – X Marks the Spot!
Scientists have discovered many fossils in Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Colorado. Two complete skulls of a new sauropod, the Abydosaurus, were recently discovered there. Other large plant eaters, such as Diplodocus, have been dug up there, as well as meat eaters that include Allosaurus.
Today’s Dig It Quiz Answer – The Job of a Paleontologist
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!
Today’s Dig It! Answer
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!
Remembering Our Roots and All Those Little Things…
Photos by Elyse Sombke, Lutheran High School
Dani’s Dreams is all about the little things – seeds, children and moments that remind us all what’s really important. Our run walk is unique – we really do have the “coolest T-shirts on the planet”, designed for the eighth year by a Zion Lutheran student, Audrey Poole, but the walk/run day is a family celebration as well as an athletic event. We’re celebrating how one person’s life and dreams can continue to have a positive impact even after she leaves this earthly world. Children learn how truly powerful they are and what they can accomplish – whether it’s running around the track just one more time, and crossing the finish line with their great grandfather, seeing hundreds of people wearing your design, knowing your drawing is on the door of an educational facility, and above all, discovering and appreciating your small role in God’s awesome creation.
We so grateful for the opportunity to share Dani’s Dreams with the Zion Lutheran Church and School she loved so much and all of the support over these last eight years. We really believe we are just beginning to take root, and are so grateful for the New Palestine community who supported Dani’s Dreams through either signing up and attending the Run/Walk, or donating and volunteering.
Thanks to all who signed up and came to walk, to run (even a few feet) to enjoy and to celebrate seeing children reach their dreams!
Ooey, gooey Oobleck!
Tonight Zion Lutheran students took a moment to get in the goo at the Dani’s Dreams table during registration. All those who participated got to take home a shell or starfish to celebrate this “Beach Day!” Check out the reaction to the “Ooey, Gooey Oobleck” experiment and don’t forget to support fun learning moments like this by registering or donating to Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run this Saturday morning at New Palestine High School.
Here’s the experiment:
(Source: Science Bob’s Blog)
Dani's Dreams Outdoor Education Programs 