Category Archives: Special Events

Building Peace Bear Dreams with Emma

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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 in the coming weeks.

Emma is the winner of this year’s Dani’s Dreams Essay Contest with the theme, “Dream It – Do It!” The Peace Bear Project is her dream and here is how it began in her own words:

“My name is Emma Mann and I am 9 years old. Two years ago my Aunt Julie got colon cancer. As she got sicker and sicker I gave her my bear from Build-A-Bear that was blue and had different colored peace signs on it. I gave it to her because she was going to have surgery. I gave that bear to her because it had peace signs on it so she could have peace in her surgery. Julie said the bear made her smile even though it didn’t cure her.

About a month after surgery she passed away and I got the bear back. I then found out one of my teachers got cancer, so I sent the bear to her. My teacher loved it too. So now I am trying to find other people with cancer so I can give them bears too.

I think this is a good idea because it helps people with cancer smile even on a bad day.”

 

Farmer Fun at Dani’s Dreams

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With fall and harvest approaching, nearly 40 children of all ages descended on Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center Sept. 19 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.

Thanks so much to Mr. Kleiman and Mr. Schildmier, men who contribute so much to our community! Dani’s Dreams thanks our farmers for all they do!

Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon…

The FarmSuper-Harvest-Mooner’s Almanac says…

FULL HARVEST
MOON
September 19, 7:13 A.M. (Eastern Time)

The Harvest Moon is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. At this time, crops such as corn, pumpkins, squash, and wild rice are ready for gathering.

Today from 3:30-5 p.m., Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center will be celebrating the harvest moon and the people who make the harvest happen – our farmers.

Local farmer Brian Kleiman will talk with the children about his career, haywagon rides, Farmer’s Market snacks and Farmer’s Almanac activities are planned.

The first 20 students will receive a FREE Dani’s Dreams T-shirt. A limited number of Dani’s Dreams Dream It-Do It race T-shirts will be available at half price – $5. The class with the most participants (at least 5 people) who attend and sign in will receive a $50 classroom grant.

Email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

High Noon – Fall’s on It’s Way!

september-equinoxFARMER’S ALMANAC – FASCINATING FACT

At the September equinox: * Autumn starts in the Northern Hemisphere, and spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere. * The Sun is directly over the equator at local noon.

The autumnal equinox brings fall at 4:44 P.M. this SUNDAY, SEPT 22.

Look up to the sky and marvel at God’s majestic creation!

Come to Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19  and Celebrate Our Farmers. Find out about farming, enjoy farmer’s market snacks, haywagon rides and Farmer’s Almanac activities.

Email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

Celebrate Our Farmers…

Celebrate Farmers at Dani’s Dreams

Farmersfarmer-clip-art-4-1 feed us, grow with us, and care for our land. Thursday, Sept. 19 from 3:30-5 p.m., Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center will host special activities to celebrate these important people in our community. Local farmer Brian Kleiman will talk with the children about his career, haywagon rides, Farmer’s Market snacks and Farmer’s Almanac activities are planned.

The first 20 students will receive a FREE Dani’s Dreams T-shirt. A limited number of Dani’s Dreams Dream It-Do It race T-shirts will be available at half price – $5. The class with the most participants (at least 5 people) who attend and sign in will receive a $50 classroom grant.

Email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

 

 

Planting for the Future at Dani’s Dreams

product_204Plant for the future at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center….we need your help! Brighten your spring with these beautiful fall bulbs and make a difference for science education in Hancock County. Your order is shipped directly to you. Order now and get a free gift!

Order your FALL BULBS HERE

All ‘Bout Bugs at Dani’s Dreams….

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Children at Zion Lutheran Daycare emerged victorious from their expedition to explore Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center in search of the littlest creatures. They took off in teams for a bug catching competition July 26 and celebrated with a popsicle picnic on Dreaming Tree Hill. Special experiences like theirs are made possible by your support of the upcoming Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 3, 8 a.m. at New Palestine High School. Register online now or come to the Northern Nights Concert Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m. and get your specially designed race T-shirts to wear for the big event!

Northern Nights coming to Dani’s Dreams for FREE concert!

northern nights posterBreaking news — Northern Nights is coming to Zion Lutheran Church for a free kickoff concert to benefit Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m. Register for Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run the next morning, Aug. 3, 8 a.m. and get your race T-shirts early. Come for the music and to see what Dani’s Dreams is all about. Thanks so much to Thomas Finchum and Northern Nights for making this special event happen!
You’re all invited!

NOW you kNOW…How seeds grow

 

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Diagram courtesy hubpages.com.

If Plants Get:

Sun,

Air (CO2 carbon dioxide)

Water

Soil (nutrients)

Then they make energy that helps them grow

And then they give us:

Oxygen we need to breathe and

Food for animals and people (like Dani’s Dreams green beans, corn and pumpkins)

It’s all part of God’s wonderful plan!

Let us know how your garden is growing… Post your pictures and comments here or on the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s Facebook page.

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The first 10 kids to post a photo of them in their garden will receive a free Dani’s Dreams T-shirt!

So Grow and Do It…

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At Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center, we’re growing vegetables and flowers. Volunteers are weeding, watering and watching the plants grow.

Thanks to rain barrels donated by the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District, watering is easier. Zion Lutheran Daycare children gave the green bean, pumpkin and corn seeds their first drink with water from the rain barrels – conservation in action!

You can grow your own green beans:

Use a container filled with dirt or find a spot for a garden in your backyard.

Get some green bean seeds, (Bush beans are easier to grow than pole beans.)

Dig a hole about half a finger deep and drop in two or three seeds every four inches.

Cover them up lightly with dirt.

Watch, water and weed  – you should see a sprout in about a week.

In about 55 days, you will have green beans to pick just like at Dani’s Dreams!

If you want to be a part of Watching ‘Em Grow in our Community Garden, email dgriffins@netzero.com or call 317-640-4430.

Let us know how your garden is growing… Post your pictures and comments here or on the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s Facebook page.