Tag Archives: Learning

Special Events, Teacher Resources

Families Get Creative at Children’s Museum Night

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For the third year, Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center sponsored Children’s Museum Night at Zion Lutheran School. Creativity was the theme of the day with students learning about the art of blown glass and the artist Dale Chihuly who created the sculpture that greets visitors at the Children’s Museum. Families collaborated to create a replica that now graces the halls of Zion. Students and their parents also created paintings and simulated “glass-blown” art.

Special Events, Teacher Resources

FREE Family Time at Children’s Museum Night

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Join Dani’s Dreams for an evening of free, educational and entertaining activities designed for families to learn and interact together when the Children’s Museum comes to Zion Lutheran School Sept. 26, 6-8 p.m.
Bring your family, friends and neighbors

Here’s a Sneak Peek at some of the fun
(7 activities and 2 presentations planned):

Balloon Sculpture
Have you seen the Fireworks of Glass sculpture by renowned artist Dale Chihuly at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis? Families can join in the fun as they try to create their own curly, colored, twisty art pieces out of balloons! Then, by adding each piece to an armature just like Chihuly’s team did, we hope to leave a sculpture at your school that is similar to our museum sculpture.
Hot Shop
Hot’ shop’, n.—A glass working studio containing a furnace, glory hole and glass blowing team. Families can step into our mock Hot Shop to see some glassblowers’ tools and learn about the studio in which glass art is created. Families are invited to match the tool with its name and try to “gather glass” and keep it on a “punty.”
Shape Scape
What do macchias, seaforms and baskets all have in common? In the glass world, they are some of Dale Chihuly’s titles for very eye-catching art! Families create their own versions of these 3-D forms using the closest thing we could find to glass (transparency film) and “safe” heat from a heat gun to form sculptures. We use heat guns for this activity, so adult supervision is a must!
Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center is sponsoring the FREE EVENT for all Southern Hancock children. The Zion PTL will provide a Taco bar for concessions.

Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events, Teacher Resources

Go Green Discovery Center Update

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Work is continuing on the Dani’s Dreams Go Green Discovery Center. The outside is nearly completed and inside the walls are going up and soon activities will begin. Remember there are seven learning centers available for area classes, preschools, scout troops and other community groups – Dani’s Dreams is FREE! We will design a lesson and activities around your class or group needs. Special activities will be held each month after school involving environmental education. Be a part of Dani’s Dreams team! For more information, email Donna Griffin, director, at dgriffins@netzero.com.

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center

Celebrate the Start of School and Help Dani’s Dreams

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Join us Aug. 1, 5-8 p.m. at the New Palestine McDonald’s to sign up for Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 4, 8 a.m. at NPHS and have dinner to raise funds for the new Go Green Discovery Center. Get details of all the fun activities on the way!

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Go Green Discovery Center, Teacher Resources

The Go Green Center is Growing – Check It Out!

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Watch our Go Green Center Grow and enjoy exhibits, music, demonstrations, snacks and crafts from 12-2 at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center following the Memorial Walk/Run at 8 a.m. that morning at New Palestine High School. Find out about solar and wind energy, how to protect our planet and what you can do to make a difference in your world!
If you have a band or are a musician and would like to perform for the Dani’s Dreams Open House and Music Festival Aug. 4, 12-2, email dgriffins@netzero.com.
Thanks to Dave Griffin, Austin Pope, Mike Dirr, Randy and Mark Caster, the Go Green Center is taking shape and will soon be under roof (see more pictures on the “Watch Us Grow!” page) – anyone who would like to help or donate materials, email dgriffins@netzero.com.
Teachers, Scout leaders, preschools and community groups come to the Go Green Open House Aug. 4 and see how Dani’s Dreams can help you with hands-on science education for this fall!

Donations and Fundraising, Earth Day Dedication Event, Special Events, Teacher Resources

Ongrowing Challenge. . .

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Sixth graders at Zion Lutheran School are the winners of the first “Watch ‘Em Grow” Seed Starting Challenge at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center. Students from Zion brought their seedlings and participated in crafts, took a nature quiz and planted flowers and vegetables in the center’s Community Garden May 5.
Those attending the event also voted on designs and essays for the fifth annual Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 4 at New Palestine High School.
Plans were revealed for the Go Green Discovery Center, funded in part by a Community Development Grant from the Hancock County Community Foundation. Construction on the facility begins in June. The Go Green Discovery Center will open on Aug. 4 with a music festival celebration following the walk/run.
If you would like to be a sponsor and have permanent recognition, donate $100 and you will be listed on the sponsor’s plaque at the Go Green Center. Email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

Earth Day Dedication Event, Go Green Discovery Center, Special Events, Teacher Resources

Come Grow With Us!

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Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center hosted a special thank-you event for Zion Lutheran School students April 19. Hedgehog Hannah brought her educational exotic animal show to the school. Students got an up-close view of a tarantula, ferret, chinchilla and more and learned about their habitats and lifestyles. Dani’s Dreams can design an experience for your class or group in our seven learning centers. Email dgriffins@netzero.com.
Mrs. Deb Weiler’s class at Sugar Creek Elementary received a special delivery April 19: a worm farm for the composting station they will create. The class received a Go Green Grant from Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center and will establish the composting station at the center.
Come, Watch ‘Em Grow and participate in nature in action at Dani’s Dreams Earth Day Dedication Event May 5, 12-2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran School, 6513 W. 300 S, New Palestine.
Join the student-led demonstrations, Be a Dani’s Dreams Nature Detective and win a prize, create crafts, plant flowers and vegetables in the Community Garden and get a sneak preview of the plans and the site for the Go Green Discovery Center to be powered by solar and wind energy and that will feature interactive exhibits on environmental and conservation education.
The winner of the Watch ‘Em Grow Seed Starting contest will be revealed, and vote on drawings for the T-Shirt design contest for the Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run Aug. 4.
Be a part of Dani’s Dreams Team! Dani’s Dreams is open to all classes, Scout Troops and community groups for tours, special events and projects at no charge. Log onto to http://www.danisdreamsoutdooredcenter.wordpress.com or email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Earth Day Dedication Event

Hey, Kids, Watch Your Ideas Grow!

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Hey, Hancock County Kids:
Watch your ideas and creativity grow in Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s annual T-shirt design and essay contest.
The theme for the event is “Watch ‘Em Grow!” and this year all Hancock County classrooms or Scout groups are challenged to compete in Dani’s Dreams Seed Starting Challenge now underway. There are now TWO WAYS for you to show your talents.
1. DRAW A PICTURE using the theme for the front of T-shirts. Your drawing could bring Dani’s Dreams to life on T-shirts for the fifth annual memorial walk/run Aug. 4. If your picture is chosen, you will receive a free T-shirt and $50 and your name will be on every shirt. You will be introduced Aug. 4 at the beginning of the walk/run at New Palestine High School.
2. WRITE AN ESSAY based on the theme “How Can I Help My Community Grow?” Entries from all ages will be accepted. Winners will be chosen in the following groups: grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Winners in each age category will receive a free T-shirt and $25. Money raised at this event will go to fund the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center, open to all students in Hancock County.
Turn in your drawing or essay to your teacher by April 18.
Entries will be picked up at each school April 19 or they can be dropped off at Zion Lutheran School. The best of the T-shirt designs and essays will be on display for voting during the Earth Day Dedication Event at Dani’s Dream Outdoor Education Center May 5 when we will determine the winner of our Watch ‘Em Grow seed starting challenge. Come and see the students’ demonstrations, create crafts and get a sneak preview of the new Go Green Discovery Center, sponsored by the Hancock County Community Foundation, scheduled for construction this spring.
Keep up with all the Dani’s Dreams news here at http://www.danisdreamsoutdooredcenter.wordpress.com. Email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information.

Earth Day Dedication Event, Special Events

Watch ‘Em Grow!

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Hancock County classes grades K-6
Sign up for the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center Seed Starter Challenge
DOWNLOAD A REGISTRATION FORM from http://www.danisdreamsoutdooredcenter.wordpress.com or
email dgriffins@netzero.com by March 23
YOU WILL RECEIVE FREE SEEDS, SOIL AND GROWING CONTAINERS, then – START your seeds and watch them grow!
BRING THEM TO DANI’S DREAMS Outdoor Education Center MAY 5, 12-2 p.m. and PLANT THEM in our Community Garden.
THE CLASS WITH THE MOST SEEDLINGS WINS free Dani’s Dreams T-shirts, a plaque and a class pizza party!
KEEP UP ON WHO’S AHEAD by logging onto to:
http://www.danisdreamsoutdooredcenter.wordpress.com – let us know how it’s going!

danisdreamsseedgrowingcontestindd

Dani's Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Donations and Fundraising, Earth Day Dedication Event, Special Events

Dani Griffin Innovation in Education Memorial Scholarship

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The Dani’s Dreams Innovation in Education Memorial Fund Committee of Zion Lutheran School in New Palestine announces its annual college scholarship.

The Dani Griffin Innovation in Education Scholarship will award a $500 one-year scholarship to a high school senior with a 3.0 grade point average or above who attended Zion Lutheran School (in any grade, preschool through eighth) or is a confirmed Zion Lutheran Church member or is a Southern Hancock resident and plans to attend a university and major in education or the sciences.

Deadline is April 13, 2012. The winner will be announced at the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center Earth Day Dedication Event May 5 at Zion Lutheran School. All applicants are invited to attend. The winner will also be recognized at the Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run Aug. 4.

Please contact Committee Chairperson Donna Griffin at 640-4430 or email dgriffins@netzero.com for more information. Forms can be downloaded below.

Applications are also available in area high school guidance offices, at Zion Lutheran School or can be obtained by emailing dgriffins@netzero.com.

scholarship app