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Category Archives: Special program
Butterflies UPCLOSE – The Sequel
Zion Lutheran second and sixth graders led the way Sept. 28 as area children enjoyed the chance to get UPCLOSE with Monarch butterflies at the second Butterflies UPCLOSE event sponsored by Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Programs.
Directed by Dani’s Dreams Outreach Coordinator Christina Harkleroad, in collaboration with Zion teachers Brenda Kreutz and Susan Seying, the activities were the culmination of several weeks of research, observation and care of Monarchs, donated by Betty Bemis of Backyard Butterflies, from caterpillars to butterflies.
Children of all ages were able to observe the butterflies, create crafts, and an edible butterfly life cycle craft, compete in quizzes and listen to the authors of the Butterflies UPCLOSE book produced by in 2015 by 14 then-second graders at Zion Lutheran School.
Butterflies UPCLOSE is one of the unique, STEM oriented activities offered by Dani’s Dreams Innovation in Education Corp.
If you would like Dani’s Dreams to work with your class, Scout troop, daycare or preschool to create a hands-on Outdoor Education or Language Arts activity, contact, President and CEO Donna Griffin at 317-640-4430 or dgriffins96@gmail.com.
‘Spread Your Wings’ and join Dani’s Dreams’ Walk/Run Aug. 6!
Join Dani’s Dreams as we “Spread Our Wings” with the 9th annual Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 6, 8 a.m. at New Palestine High School.
Registration is only $25 for an individual and a family of 4 is only $50! Groups of 10 or more can register for only $10 each. With each registration, you also get the Coolest T-shirt on the Planet! See the design above.)
SIGN UP HERE TODAY! T-shirts are not guaranteed the day of the event
Proceeds will go to fund the development of the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Trail at Sugar Creek Park and ECOFEST Lessons for Southern Hancock County students.
The walk/run is Dani’s Dreams major fundraiser and your registration or donation can give our children a chance to gain valuable reading, writing, science and technology skills and provide paid internships for high school and college students to be leaders in their communities. If you can’t come, you can still donate and receive a T-shirt!
Dani’s Dreams Innovation in Education Corp. is now a full-fledged 501c3 tax exempt organization with a mission to provide innovative, hands-on STEM and Literacy education activities for schools and organizations throughout Central Indiana.
Want to join our team as we “Change the World”? Contact President and CEO Donna Griffin at dgriffins96@gmail.com or 317-640-4430.
New authors spread their wings with book project
They flitted, they flew, and they soared – Monarchs and kids alike – at the Butterflies UPCLOSE event at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School. More than 100 kids, parents and butterflies celebrated the joy of nature and God’s creation, led by teacher Brenda Kreutz and her second graders who were the tour guides for the butterfly pavilion. The 14 students spent six weeks learning about the life cycle of a Monarch by growing close to 30-40 caterpillars, observing and recording the process in reports they shared with those in attendance. They worked with Betty Bemis of Backyard Butterflies who provided the caterpillars and her expert advice.
Dani’s Dreams took their work and published it into a one-of-a-kind booklet with drawings and information compiled by the students. In late May the students held a signing party, receiving their copies and donating one to the Zion Lutheran School library.
The books are now on sale for $10 online HERE or copies will be available at the Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 6 at New Palestine High School.
Join Dani’s Dreams Team and get a FREE ECOFEST T-shirt!
Southern Hancock kids, parents and community members can Change the World by supporting Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Programs and sponsoring ECOFEST lessons in our elementary schools.
SIGN UP TODAY to become a Dani’s Dreams Team member and get a specially designed T-shirt for your elementary school. Members can pick up your T-shirt at the ECOFEST Earth Day Festival April 15 at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School, New Palestine.
The school with the most memberships by the ECOFEST Earth Day Festival April 15 will win a $300 grant for your school! Proceeds from the memberships go to support the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Trail at Sugar Creek Township Park coming in 2016!
Exploring Our Water, Our World at Children’s Museum Night
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!
Join Dani’s Dreams Team Today! Celebrate “Our Water, Our World” at Children’s Museum Night Feb. 3
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!
Stepping up to the challenge…
Click here to join the Dani’s Dreams Team and be a part of innovative education activities for our children. Your membership fees support area students and classroom teachers in their quest to think outside the classroom and “Change the World!”
Come to ECOFEST, “Spread Your Wings” and enjoy the fun family activities, crafts and snacks on April 15, 4-5:30 at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School.
Taking care of ‘Our Common Ground’ – Dani’s Dreams coming to Sugar Creek Park
Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center is joining forces with the Sugar Creek Township Park Board, New Palestine High School teacher Brittany Bennett and her AP Environmental Science class and Donna Rogler, Indiana DNR Project Learning Tree specialist, to develop a second education trail/activities for Southern Hancock students, teachers, families and community members, to be named, Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Trail at Sugar Creek Park.
NPHS AP environmental science (APES) students under the direction of Ms. Bennett will research, write and design signage as well as plan and lead activities for the trail. Ms. Rogler will provide curriculum, training and activities through Project Learning Tree.
Initial plans were announced Nov. 4 at the Dani’s Dreams Family Tree Day event at Sugar Creek Park (photo gallery above).
“The trail would have an overall theme of sustainability and should be a place the whole community can enjoy at any time to learn about the nature around them,” said Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center director Donna Griffin.
Dani’s Dreams has been working with New Palestine High’s APES students on the plan for the trail. Four stations are under development, focusing on:
Sustainability
Native trees/plants
Wildlife
Water/Hoosier Riverwatch.
Bennett and her students will be the leaders for the development and implementation of the trail, integrating their work into the APES curriculum and Dani’s Dreams mission to encourage and support teachers in use of creativity in the classroom, to foster an interest in science and discovery with projects designed to develop an appreciation, responsibility and concern for the natural world.
“Dani’s Dreams Nature Education Trail at Sugar Creek Township Park will build the next generation of committed invested citizens of New Palestine,” Griffin said. “This will empower the youth in this community to be leaders in their community and school and active participants in their education. The education value of this project is more than doubled with high school students teaching and mentoring elementary and middle school students and sharing their knowledge with the community.”
Community businesses, organizations, families and individuals who want to be involved in this innovative STEM education project, can contact Donna Griffin, dgriffins96@gmail.com or Brittany Bennett, brittanybennett@cscshc.org.
“Community-based environmental education can also support opportunities for intergenerational learning. With these kinds of approaches, community residents from young to old can learn from each other.” – National Environmental Education Foundation Environmental Literacy Report, 2015.
Monarch Migration Update
Listen to a first-hand account of the upcoming Monarch Migration from a local girl, Estela, who lives in Angangueo, Mexico. Keep track by checking back on Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s website in the coming weeks!
Dani's Dreams Outdoor Education Programs 