Only two months until our biggest fundraiser of the year, Dani’s Dreams Memorial Walk/Run, Aug. 2 at New Palestine High School. Dani’s Dreams empowers kids to make a difference in the world while learning and sharing important information. Sign up today online for the walk/run that help Dani’s Dreams sponsor events like Troop 924’s Badge Day!
Check out this video report from Girl Scout Troop 924 in Hancock County
Tag Archives: New Palestine
Dani’s Dreams Helps Troop 924 Earn Badges
Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education at Zion Lutheran School partnered with Hancock County Girl Scout Troop 924 for a special Badge Day event May 18. The Junior Troop of Megan Brinley, Lyssie Davenport, Alaina Davis, Lyndsay Diefenderfer, Cassie Moch and Sarah Warner earned their Animal Habitat badge and the Brownie Troop members Sarah Stonerock and Lilly Warner completed the requirements for Bird and Bug badges.
The girls and their leaders spend the afternoon at Dani’s Dreams, discovering the types of birds in the area, observing several types of bugs and learning about endangered animals and how they can help. They also filled bird feeders at Dani’s Dreams and made one to take home.
After their hands-on activities, troop members became Dani’s Dreams reporters and shared their knowledge with others through posters, written and video reports.
Here’s a sampling of what the girls learned:
Cassie Moch reported about parrots in the rainforest:
“It is important so there is more animals around and to save them. Kids can help by doing research about the animals and what can help them.”
Lyssie Davenport reported on endangered animals in the Amazon, specifically the scarlet macaw:
“This is important because we need these animals in the eco-system or more animals will go extinct. Kids can help by spreading the word. Sometimes the only things that adults listen to are children.”
Sarah Stonerock found out that the ladybug is found all over the world. It can play dead when it is threatened. Its favorite thing to eat is aphids.
Lilly Warner discovered that the dragonflies eat tadpoles and like to be near the water.
Check out more fun facts in the Dani’s Dreams video reports the girls created and plan your Scout, daycare, preschool or class trip to Dani’s Dreams or email Donna Griffin, director, at dgriffins96@gmail.com. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook!
Making memories, learning, growing and discovering our roots…
Discovery, learning, growing and hands-on activities were the order of the day at the sixth annual Dani’s Dreams Earth Day Dedication Event April 10 at the outdoor education center at Zion Lutheran School in New Palestine.
The warmest day of the year so far was prime time for children and their parents and grandparents to enjoy several outdoor activities and each other’s company, including:
1) A Nature Detective hunt, where children gathered information on butterflies, birds, dinosaurs, weather and photosynthesis. All winning names were placed in a random drawing for an I Spy birdhouse. The Day family won the birdhouse! Watch for future reports on Dani’s Dreams website and Facebook page from the Day birdhouse.
2) Mini Greenhouses – kids and their grandparents took home dirt and seeds and will now get to “Watch ‘Em Grow!”
3) Thanks to the participating families who planted bulbs, one of the gardens at Dani’s Dreams will bloom this summer with colorful gladiolus flowers! Check out the plants’ progress over the summer on the website and Facebook page.
The first round of voting took place for this year’s T-shirt design and essay contest for the Dani’s Dreams Walk/Run Aug. 2, 8 a.m. at New Palestine High School. Finalists will be chosen and placed online where everyone can vote for their favorite!
Kids, don’t forget to talk to your grandparents and get their stories for our “Remember Our Roots” memory book. We are compiling childhood memories and stories over this year. Send them to Zion Lutheran School, in c/o Dani’s Dreams or post them online at the Remember Our Roots at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s Facebook Page.
Remember Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School is open every day to spend some quality outdoor time with your family!
Remember When You Were A Kid?
Tomorrow’s “Remember Our Roots” celebration kicks off a year of activities, learning and fun at Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center, with kids taking the lead and connecting to their roots – their grandparents.
“We’d play catch, we’d play marbles, we’d play tag and baseball and football and throw snowballs in the winter, and we’d help each other do stuff- that was all fun,” said Cole Allen Vandygriff’s grandfather, Dido said in an email. “Sometimes we’d go to parks to play or even to the river (where we weren’t supposed go to) and even if we got hurt sometimes it was still fun to be with my friends. I guess our guardian angels had to work overtime sometimes but they did a good job.”
All grandparents and their grandchildren are invited to share their memories in the Go Green Center tomorrow, 3:30-5 p.m. either on video or by filling out the “When I Was A Kid” story form. The stories created, as well as the posts and pictures uploaded to the “Remember Our Roots” Facebook page, will be placed in a memory book for the end of the year.
We’ll also be planting bulbs, constructing mini-greenhouses, gathering knowledge on a nature detective hunt and creating family tree stories about life when grandparents were children.
Studies show that environmental education improves student achievement in core subject areas and also makes students more interested in learning overall. What’s more, getting kids outside and active promotes a healthy lifestyle that is essential to fighting obesity and reducing symptoms associated with attention deficit disorder, depression, and stress.
And for all generations, nothing beats being outside, enjoying God’s wonderful creation, and spending precious moments with family – join us!
Outdoor Experiences Bring Learning to Life – Join Us!
Scientists and researchers will tell you that children who have hands-on, real-world activities better understand concepts and processes. At Dani’s Dreams empowering children and giving them innovative opportunities to grow, to explore and to discover is the heart of our mission.
This Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. children will be learning, growing, running, laughing and sharing those experiences with the most important people in their lives, parents and grandparents – simple basic enjoyment of the wonders of God’s creation.
Share your childhood story.
Plant a seed together and watch it grow over time.
Listen to the birds.
Feel the breeze.
Remember your roots.
All those families who complete the Nature Detective Quiz will be in a drawing to win an I Spy birdhouse. They can watch the birds in their backyard and also make reports on their activities and share that with others on Dani’s Dreams website and Facebook page.
Dani Says, You Could Be A Winner to Remember!
TO ALL KIDS IN HANCOCK COUNTY:
Enter the Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center’s annual T-shirt design and essay contest.
The theme for this year’s event is “Remember Our Roots” and all Hancock County classrooms, Scout and youth groups are invited to bring a grandparent or parents and participate in environmental educational activities and crafts at Dani’s Dreams Earth Day Dedication Event April 10, 3:30-5 p.m. located at Zion Lutheran School in New Palestine.
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 seventh annual memorial walk/run Aug. 2. 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. 2 at the beginning of the walk/run at New Palestine High School.
2. WRITE AN ESSAY based on the theme “Remember Our Roots” Entries from all ages will be accepted. The winner 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 9 or bring it to Dani’s Dreams April 10, 3:30-5.
Entries will be picked up at each school April 9 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 April 10 3:30-5 p.m. Keep up with all the Dani’s Dreams news at http://www.danisdreamsoutdooredcenter.wordpress.com. Email dgriffins96@gmail.com for more information.Here’s the entry form for the T-shirt design and essay contest:
Treasure Found at Children’s Museum Night!
Hancock County families found the real treasure by shaking off the winter doldrums Feb. 26 at Children’s Museum Night, sponsored by Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center at Zion Lutheran School’s gymnasium. The evening included free, educational and entertaining activities designed for families to learn and interact together when the Children Museum’s, National Geographic’s “Treasures of the Earth” came to New Palestine. Zion’s PTL provided concessions for sale.
Children and their families:
• Examined and identified authentic tools in an archeologist’s pack;
• Assembled a take-home science experiment to observe and learn about what happens to metal objects in saltwater environments;
• Wrote their names in hieroglyphs in a pharaoh’s cartouche, and
• Created their own “Terra Cotta Warriors” in Emperor Qin’s tomb
This entertaining and educational science program kicked off the year’s activities at Hancock County’s only outdoor education center.
Teachers, Scout Leaders, and other community groups, contact Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center to schedule your specially designed educational opportunity. We’ll tailor your experience to your needs at NO CHARGE. Contact Donna Griffin, director, at dgriffins96@gmail.com or 317-640-4430.
Ready for Adventure? Discover the Treasures of the Earth Feb. 26!
Kids, get your family and head to Zion Lutheran School, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 26 to explore the wonders and treasures of the earth when the Children’s Museum’s “National Geographic’s Treasures of the Earth” exhibit brings free family educational activities and fun, sponsored by Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center.
Explore the Treasures of the Earth this Wednesday
From National Geographic for Kids: The Great Pyramid was once encased in a dazzling layer of polished limestone and topped with a golden capstone. The casting was stripped away long ago as building material for Cairo.
FACT: Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, The Great Pyramid is the only one left standing.
Find many more fun facts and explore the wonders and treasures of the earth when the Children’s Museum’s “National Geographic’s Treasures of the Earth” exhibit comes to Zion Lutheran School’s gym, 6-8 p.m. this Wednesday, Feb. 26. Free family educational activities and fun await you at this special event sponsored by Dani’s Dreams Outdoor Education Center.
Find Your Treasures of the Earth
Check out this video, The Making of “Treasures of the Earth”, from National Geographic about the creation of the “National Geographic Treasures of the Earth” exhibit at The Children’s Museum. This special exhibit is coming to New Palestine this Wednesday at Zion Lutheran School, 6-8 p.m. and is open to all area families for a FREE educational experience, which is the REAL TREASURE!
Dani's Dreams Outdoor Education Programs 