Dani's Dreams Club, Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Special Activities

Get Ready For Winter at Dani’s Dreams This Thursday!

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imagesThe 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 keep everyone warm and fed. All children in Southern Hancock are invited.

Dream It – Do It!

Tips on caring for our feathered friends:

• Provide the essentials to attract winter birds to your backyard:

• Birdhouses and piles of tree limbs give birds places to stay warm and avoid predators.

• Small fountains, with running water, won’t freeze over like birdbaths can in cold weather.

• Bird feeders will keep the birds coming back. Different types of food appeal to different species. Look at pet stores for suet, a solid cake made of lard,berries, seeds and nuts, and black oil sunflower seeds, which almost any bird will eat. Both are good high-fat energy sources for winter birds, according to Bird Watchers Digest.

All area children are invited this Thursday, 3:30 to 5 p.m. to Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center – Dream It – D0 It – make your own bird feeder, paint bird houses and fill bird feeders and string popcorn for old fashioned garland the birds love!

Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Special Activities

Dig It – Look What We Found!

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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.

Teachers, Scout Leaders, and other community groups, contact Dani’s Dreams 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.

Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!

There’s so much smore at Dani’s Dreams…

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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”.

Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center is a resource for Hancock County schools, teachers, Scouts and all community groups for hands-on, innovative environmental education opportunities and state standards-based activities and projects. We’ll design a one-of-a-kind tour, activity or project for YOUR CLASS, based on YOUR NEEDS at NO CHARGE. Email dgriffins@netzero.com or call 317-640-4430 – Dream It, Do It!

Dani's Dreams Club, Dream It - Do It!, 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.”

 

Dream It - Do It!, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events, Teacher Resources

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!

Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events

Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon…

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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.

Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events

High Noon – Fall’s on It’s Way!

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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.

Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events, Teacher Resources

Celebrate Our Farmers…

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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.

 

 

Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events

Planting for the Future at Dani’s Dreams

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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

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Dream It - Do It!, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events

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!

Change the World – Join Dani's Dreams Team!