Youth and Diversity

July 2024

We thought we'd report on the first few weeks of summer nature programs Sierra Club members have presented on Wednesday mornings from June 5-July 31 to Sioux City's Sanford Center children at Agape Community Garden. So far, the kids had lots of fun planting flower seeds to frame the garden fence line; and they learned to thin or harvest herbs, lettuce, radishes, spinach, beets, carrots, peas, and beans - all grown inside raised beds dedicated to the kids! They've brushed up on recycling and what is litter, engaged in some exciting interactive birding tips, and are learning to journal all of their favorite finds of each session. July is set to offer even more outdoor intrigue! Stay tuned. At the end of July, we hope to enter a full report with pictures on our website. 

August 2023

Agape Community Garden update:

Local Sierra Club volunteers have been hosting children from Sanford Center ages 6-10 at Agape Community Garden. It's been fun learning together to plant and tend veggies, and each week co-writing a story of the adventures found in the garden. They have learned about native plants and shrubs, mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. We wrapped up the summer sessions on Thursday morning. The kids completed six weeks of exploration, and each received a Junior Naturalist badge donated by Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Note: The garden is in need of volunteers of all skill levels to lend a helping hand either in the form of physical work or guidance in a few areas of need. (Master Gardeners can earn credits for hours of service.) If you'd like to try your hand volunteering, please respond to this email or text 712.986.6210. Michelle Bakke or I will get back to you. 

June 2023

    Agape Community Garden is officially open for business! Stop in at your leisure to meet friends for coffee, enjoy a picnic, or take a self guided exploration of the native plants and shrubs. Before you leave, feel free to choose a book from the free lending library. Your gently used books are always welcomed. The need is especially great for children's titles.  

    Most of the vegetables are now planted either by seed or in plant form, so your help in tidying up the veggie patches is ongoing. If you know a weed from a vegetable plant, and like to garden, you have an open invitation to work! It doesn't matter when you get the urge because there are tools on-site.There are two tool corrals inside the fence on each side of the gate. And, if any of your garden tools are gathering rust/dust, they will find use by others. All you'll need to do is drop them off. 

We have resumed children's programs and are welcoming kids from Sioux City's Sanford Center for six consecutive weekly nature focused sessions. 

July 2022

July 2, 1-3pm: Creepy Crawly Critters and My Patchwork Prairie kids program at Lewis and Clark State Park near Onawa, Iowa. Presented by Northwest Iowa Group of Sierra Club members, Andrea and Jeanne

 

 

July 11: "Love Bugs!" - Agape Community Garden was buzzing with excitement. Local Sierra Club member and expert educational  naturalist, Andrea Porter, led our young gurests on a wild adventure! If they weren't appreciated before, by the end of the evening it was unanimous, we love bugs! 

 

 

May 2022

 

 

During the month of May, local Sierra Club members hosted a free May basket make-n-take, along with three more Saturday morning programs at the Agape Community Garden in Sioux City, IA. 

 

 June  2022

 

 

June 25: Backyard Birds, presented at Agape Community Garden by local Sierra Club and Audubon member, Rex Rundquist. Looks interesting? Keep and eye on the EVENTS and MEETINGS tab because this excellant program will be repeated during the summer as more birds visit!  

 

 

 June 4-5: The Loess Hills Prairie Seminar offered us another opportunity to emphasize the habitat connections that exists on our prairie. Here kids were encouraged to learn by using their senses, then create a quilt of six of their favorite priaire occupants. 

 

May 2022

 

Agape Community Garden Welcomes Everyone!

 Stop in anytime to enjoy your neighborhood community space. The gate is closed but never locked. You can help plant and tend the vegetable garden. The veggies are free to anyone in the community once they’re ready to be picked. Chairs are onsite for you to enjoy your coffee or a meal with friends anytime. We’re creating a children’s corner which will be open during daylight hours. Kids will be able to plant their own garden and watch it grow!

 Sierra Club members will be presenting nature programs throughout the summer. Here’s what’s happening in May and June: (All programs can easily be repeated upon request. Call/text 712.986.6210 or email nwiasierragroup@gmail.com)

May 1-8, all day- Check our bins for free May baskets ready for filling with your own flowers and special treats.

May 14, 1pm-Learn how to plant veggies in a small yard space. AND kids can plant their own bed in Agape!

May 21, 1pm-Introducing “Iowa Junior Naturalist Program” for ages 6-16

May 28, 10am-Introducing “Agape Adventures with Pippy, Winged-one, and Orn” - A story book with weekly installments. Each page will be blank on one side for kids to write their own story. Free binders. Suggested ages 3-12

 

 

 

During the month of May, local Sierra Club members hosted a free May basket make-n-take, along with three more Saturday morning programs at the Agape Community Garden in Sioux City, IA. 

 

Are you ready to be amazed? Just click on the message below! 

 

April, 2021

Did you meet Sara Dykman when she stopped in Sioux City while following the 2017 monarch butterfly migration? She started in Mexico in March and returned to Mexico in November. She then agreed to present a "4th Tuedays" Zoom presentaion in April 2021 recapping her journey. Learn about her project at: 

http://www.beyondabook.org/butterbike-blog-1/2017/12/11/the-watercolored-story-of-butterbike.

 

February 2020

 

In February 2020, we were honored to host two connecting outreach stations during a three day event known as My Life My Choices #MLMC event for Sioux City's 7th grade classes. This event was so much fun to plan and execute, but we couldn't have done it without the expert help from three dedicated nature lovers - Olivia Parks (on loan from Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Andrea Porter (on loan from Monona County Conservation, and outdoor expert, Chuck Hopp! More than 1,300 Siouxland 7th graders flocked to Long Lines Family Rec Center for a 3-day community-driven event. “My Life, My Choices” is an opportunity for these young students to learn real-life situations through interactive stations and learn how they would make decisions in tough situations." Topics included healthy relationships, underage drinking, mental health  It was the last indoor outreach event we've hosted due to COVID health risks.

There were twenty or more activity stops. The above graph depicts the answer to the survey question "What do you remember most?". We can't wait to get back out there again!

Chuck Hopp hosts Sierra Club outreach table # 2 during  My Life / My Choices #ML/MC

Olivia Parks hosts Sierra Club outreach table # 1 during My Life / My Choices in #ML/MC

April 2020

Dear members and friends, 

Although we will not schedule face-to-face gatherings until further notice, we're committed to remain interactive in other ways. 

We ask you to join our virtual community at facebook.com/groups/NWIASierraCommunity/ . Add your voice to the conversations about all things related to nature, environmental protection, and social justice. Here we can share information and opinions, discuss issues, and collaborate on improving the world we all share. If you like sharing photos and strories as you explore the outdoors, we've reserved a place for yours!

Please continue to visit our website and our Facebook page, and never hesitate to reach out to us directly. Our aim is to keep everyone safe, happy, and healthy. We will let you know as soon as possible when we will be able to resume our normal activities.We hope to see you soon, at least virtually!

 

2019

September 15: "My Patchwork Prairie". After Sierra Club member,  Andrea Porter, and our guests sat down to learn about the original animals of our Loess Hills Prairie, they created their own prairie quilt to hang at home and help them remember this discovery! 

 

 

September 13: The Agape Community Garden again set the  stage for bringing nature to the city with "Backyard Birds" program. Sierra Club member, Rex Rundquist wowed the visitors with his specil stories and his very special e-bird bird sounds app!!! Rootbeer floats are always welcomed, too! 

August 21: "What Pollinators Want?": (Pics and stories soon.) The Agape Community Garden Native Plants Interpretive Garden sectionis is loaded with pollinators!!!! Sierra Club members had fun with interactive learning. 

Monday, July 22: The Agape Community Garden is becoming the place to congregate! Sierra Club member, Madhu Braunger, engaged eager listeners in stories of gardens, plants, and animals. Following the reading sessions, the children toured the garden and discovered normally unnoticed insect workers that are key to making it all grow. Rootbeer floats and mint tea harvested from our newly planted herb garden were then enjoyed by all! 
 
 
Tuesday, June 18: Instead of cutting off an overhanging branch of an old mulberry tree when first preparing the location for the Agape Community Garden in Sioux City, Michelle Bakke was convinced to instead use the tree as part of the outdoor classroom experience. Local Sierra Club members co-hosted a morning nature program, followed by an excellent breakfast of ice cream and mulberries. Chuck Hopp led the nature discussion. The kids were also invited to choose a book to take home. 
 
 
Sunday, April 28, 2019: Siouxland Earth Day Celebration. This family-friendly indoor and outdoor event was held at the Delta Hotel Convention Center in South Sioux City, NE. Located in the RENEWABLE ENERGY section, our local Sierra Club hosted a kids craft table. As the children crafted a sunshine mask and picked out the perfect color of pinwheel making kit, the adults browsed the Climate Change and Clean Energy materials located on the adjoining Sierra Club table. 
 
 
 

 2018

Friday, July 28: What ARE the animals of the Loess Hills prairie? We learned some of the answers by each "adopting" an animal, then learning where/how it fits into the scheme of nature. 

We then turned our focus to "brother fox", and by paying close attention to Chuck's instructions, everyone also learned some important skills, such as "fox-walking". As you'll see, during a special game we played, Boys & Girls Clubs of Siouxland staff member, Catie demonstrated her newly found skill by successfully picking up a set of keys before being detected by the winner of the previous round of the game:)

Thanks, Boys & Girls Clubs of Siouxland, for giving us this opportunity to hang out with some really great kids! The posters were donated by Iowa Living Roadways Trust Fund-Iowa DOT.

(Check out a video of the game on https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestIowaSierraClub/?fref=ts

 
 

Thursday, July 27: "Love Bugs"! Well, some participants started out a little cold on the subject but warmed up to the tiny critters as we learned more about how they fit into our lives.
LaunchPad Children's Museum, Sioux City, kindly offered this fun outreach opportunity to us. The posters were donated by Iowa Living Roadways Trust Fund-Iowa DOT.

Thanks!

Note: Check out https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestIowaSierraClub/ to find two great video stories from participants of this event. of this program. 

Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people eating
 
Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling
 
 
Wednesday, July 25: July was filled with outreach opportunities for members of our Urban Family Outreach team. One of our favorite places to visit is Girls Inc. of Sioux City! These are only a fraction of the "we can't-believe-how-cool-these-girls-are" pics from part two of the "Why Clean Water?" activities we did with the "8s", then the "9s".
During part two, expressing a personal story of how each girl applied what she learned from part one, then creating her own poster and reading it to the others, is how we spent our time. It was quite evident that keeping litter out of the streets thus helping Perry Creek and Missouri River habitat stay clean is a very important goal! 
If you missed part one, you can check it out on our page: https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestIowaSierraClub/
 
 

On Wednesday, July 18, the Northwest Iowa Group of Sierra Club Urban Family Outreach team presented two sessions of the first of a two-part "Why Clean Water" interactive educational program to the "8s" and the "9s" at Girls, Inc. in Sioux City. We also want to thank the City of Sioux City for donating the "Storm Water" activity books!

On Friday, July 20, the Northwest Iowa Group of Sierra Club Urban Family Outreach team presented a "Why Clean Water" interactive educational program at the Boys and Girls Club of Sioux City. We also want to thank the City of Sioux City for donating the "Storm Water" activity books!

 

2018

June 15, 2018 What Pollinators Want
Girls, Inc. Sioux City
We'd like to thank girls,inc. for inviting us to present two pollinators programs, one tailored for the eight-year-olds, and one tailored for the nine-year-olds. The terms used at the club are "the 8s and the 9s" :). Our first time there, we came to teach, but we sure learned a thing or two from the girls, too!
(The posters were donated by Iowa Living Roadways Trust Fund-Iowa DOT.)
 
 
June 11, 2018
What Pollinators Want
Boys and Girls Club of Sioux City
(The posters were donated by Iowa Living Roadways Trust Fund-Iowa DOT.)
 
 
Litter Dash 2018
April 20
The weather was actually nice for Litter Dash 2018
Strong Women of the Four Directions and Sierra Club united once again to pick up the trash on Perry Creek Trail. 
A few years ago the two groups co-adopted the portion of the path from 6th to 11th Streets, and the families and friends of our two groups typically enjoy three cleanups each year!
 
 
Multicultural Fair 
April 8, 2018
"Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet"
Northwest Iowa Group, Sierra Club participated again this year, offering two nature related make-and-take crafts which the visiting children enjoyed. We also engaged in friendly conversation with adults. The crafts included an 8"x11" jigsaw puzzle created from calendars, and a charm bracelet made from yarn, small pictures cut from magazines and calendars, which were pre-applied to construction paper medallions. The children chose one each medallion representing our motto, "Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet", then strung the pieces onto the yarn to create the bracelett. Vistors slowed to watch segments of a slideshow that featured many of our past activities.
 
Neighborhood Network Family Fun Night
January 11, 2018
"Animals Who Share our Loess Hills Prairie"
 
 

2017

On Tuesday, July 25, our newest Sierra Club member, Emily Anderson, used some of her AmeriCorps volunteer skills as Sierra Club teamed with the Boys and Girls Club of Sioux City during 'Shark Week". The activities were presented to be fun while educating the kids about the impact of litter and chemicals on Perry Creek eventually leading to the Missouri River. In reflection, She stated she "convinced at least three kids that water's cool and worth taking care of." 

Wish we had room for all the pictures we took when we hosted the Neighborhood Nature Fair as part of our May 23, "4th Tuesdays" program. Pollinators and native host and nectar plants were all the craze that evening! Valerie Flanagan even tattooed insects on arms, faces, and hands of excited kids. On August 2, we're taking the show on the road to the Boys and Girls Club of Sioux City!! 

 

We are also working on a project to bring public awareness of how families can protect storm water runoff from polluting the streams and Missouri River habitat. Would you like your family members to become involved?  Call or email us.

 

 

2014-2016

During our first NW IA Sierra Group hosted "4th Tuesdays" meeting, held in Spring of 2014, we developed a team of volunteers who are interested in sharing the love of nature and caring for our environment with families in the inner city area of Sioux City. We named ourselves the Urban Family Outreach team.

We formed a partnership with The Strong Women of the Four Directions and the Boys Club of Sioux City and plan to reach out to other groups. Our efforts have focussed on the Perry Creek Path because of its proximity to the two groups' meeting places and because of its diversity of wildlife. Here are a few pictures taken over several months depicting some of our fun collaborations. Visit us on Facebook for the complete album and details or if you'd like to join in on the fun!