PEEC: Health Benefits of Dirt
A boy with mud and a stick: better than an iPad any day! Photo by Beth Cortright/PEEC
Health Benefits of Dirt
By JENNIFER MACKE
Growing up, many of us were discouraged from getting dirty. But some research suggests that we should all be happy to come in contact with outdoor dirt.
In addition to the many other benefits of being outdoors, could dirt itself provide health benefits?
A number of studies have suggested that children raised in very clean environments are more susceptible to allergies and asthma. Having pets in the home from a very young age, for example, decreases the occurrence of these Read More
Community Packs PEEC’s Earth Day Festival
This small mountain of dirt was a particular favorite of the younger set attending Saturday’s Earth Day Festival at PEEC. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Environmentally friendly vendors occupied more than 20 booths at Saturday’s Earth Day Festival. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Children learn about caring for small animals such as rabbits and goats. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff report:
Community members packed into Saturday’s Earth Day Festival at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, 3540 Orange St.
The Earth Day Festival Read More
Y: Outdoor Exploration Creates Kids Who Care
Kids at iCARE summer camp share their animal tracking journals. Photo by Sylan ArgoThe Family YMCA’s iCARE programs are about letting kids play outside and get dirty while helping them learn about and appreciate the great outdoors.
A few years ago, the Y adopted an internal philosophy of sustainability called “iCARE” – a philosophy that engaged youth to think about their impact on the earth.
At the same time that the Y’s national iCARE philosophy was taking form, parents needed a Wednesday-only program here in Read More
Call For Students Interested in Military Service Academies
U.S. Military Academy’s Washington Hall and Cadet Chapel. Courtesy/USMA
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Staff for members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation will hold information sessions for high school students interested in applying to the U.S. military service academies.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall began holding Service Academies Nights in 2012 to give prospective applicants and their families the opportunity to speak to representatives from each military service academy and in-state ROTC programs.
Udall’s Office will be joined this year by staff
Today is Earth Day! PEEC Thanks Sponsors
Celebrate Earth Day Today!
Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) gratefully acknowledges our Earth Day sponsors, who make PEEC’s Earth Day Festival possible and support the mission of PEEC:
Atomic City Transit, Los Alamos National Security, LLC, Los Alamos County Environmental Services, Neptune & Company, LLC, PAC-8, Los Alamos MainStreet, Select Solar, LLC, and Los Alamos National Bank.
The Earth Day Committee for PEEC
- Terry Foxx, chair
- Beth Cortright, staff
- Emma Starrett, logo design
- Rebecca Shankland, tabloid
- Jennifer Macke, tabloid
- Tom Nagawiecki,
UNM-LA Offers History of Homesteading Class
Courtesy/BLM /https:////www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/more/cultural_resources/homesteads_in_new.html UNM-LA News:
UNM-Los Alamos Community Education is offering a two-day course on the history of Homesteading and the Homestead Act.
The class is 5:15-7:15 p.m. Friday, May 3 and 2-5 p.m. Saturday, May 4. To register, call 505 662 0346 or register online at losalamos.unm.edu/community-education
Taught by Raffi Andonian, Museum Educator for the Los Alamos Historical Society, the class provides an opportunity to learn about the impact of homesteading on New Mexico and learn about Read More
PEEC Earth Day Series: White Rock Community Garden
Preliminary design for the White Rock Community Garden. Courtesy/PEEC
White Rock Community Garden Gets Underway
By LAURIE HIXSON
Amid the howling winds that constitute a sign of spring in Los Alamos, a White Rock Community Garden is making progress toward reality.
The original site for the garden has been overtaken by the new public library that will be built in the next few years. But the garden has a new location – on N.M. 4 between Time Out Pizza and the arroyo. It’s right across from the new Visitors’ Center parking lot, a much better site.
This one has everything we need, plus Read More
PEEC Earth Day Series: Pajarito Plateau Field Science Is Happening Right Outside Your Door!
Mountain students doing field studies at Fenton Lake. Photo by Angelique HarshmanIt’s that time of year again–time to get outside and explore the world of nature out our back door. Last fall, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) completed its Pajarito Plateau Field Science (PPFS) curriculum (funded by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and the Albert I. Pierce Foundation) for grades K – 6. Each grade has six lessons Read More
LAPS Releases Open Letter to the Community
LAPS News:
On April 17, 2013, the Los Alamos School Board formed a budget committee consisting of LAPS school staff, members from the community, School Board members, and representatives from the County government and LANL.
The committee was charged with the responsibility of building a proposed 2013-14 operational budget for the school district that will be presented at an upcoming public community meeting.
In late May, the budget will go to the School Board for approval prior to submission to the New Mexico Public Education Department.
Building next year’s budget will present a Read More
School Board Announces Special Meeting
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board has scheduled a Special School Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at Pinon Elementary School.
Prior to the meeting, the School Board will meet in Executive Session to discuss litigation. The agenda for the Special School Board Meeting includes the following:
-
Approval of Azazo Recycling Lease at L Wing
-
Adopt Math Curriculum for grades K-12
The Board has scheduled a Work Session for 6 p.m. following the Special School Board Meeting. The agenda will include:
- Transportation Funding Update including potential budge timpact for 2013/2014
PEEC Earth Day Series: What’s That Big Building at Entrada?
The New Mexico Consortium building and greenhouse are nearly completed at the Entrada site; their research will focus on renewable energy, food security, and climate change. Courtesy photo
Located between the Los Alamos airport runway, the Holiday Inn, and the Food Coop is a new building for joint collaborative research in the plant sciences focusing on renewable energy systems, improving global food security, and documenting and addressing the challenges of global climate change.
As a result of a joint partnership between Los Alamos Read More
PEEC Earth Day Series: Protecting the Wild Places for the Future
Protecting the Wild Places for the FutureFounded by John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club has been“Digging Nature” for 121 years. Its goal? To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth.
Because of John Muir and his activists, we the people own many wild places including the grand, glacier-carved valleys of Yosemite National Park.
Had it not been for people with foresight, many of America’s most beautiful and beloved spaces like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion might have been sacrificed for short-term economic gain.
Now it’s our turn to work Read More
PEEC Earth Day Series: Hungry for Nature? How About a Mud Pie?
A tasty mud pie is on the menu at PEEC’s mud kitchen. Photo by Beth Cortright
Hungry for Nature? How About a Mud Pie?
“This dirt pile is awesome!” “Oh, no! My pancakes are burning!” “In our country, prettiness is being covered with mud!” -overheard from kids in the PEEC mud kitchen
Children love dirt. Add water, and they love it even more. Kids seem to instinctively know what adults must re-learn—not only is playing outside in the dirt a ton of fun; it’s essential to children’s healthy development in many ways.
“Play is the highest form of research.” -Albert Read More
Splash a Teacher and Shade Chamisa’s Playground
Physics Lesson: Former 6th grade teacher, now Chamisa Elementary School Principal Debbie Smith demonstrates the laws of physics in 2012 and history will repeat itself 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday as Chamisa raises money with a carnival. Students can have four hours of fun for just $7 and parents can, too, for just $3. The funds being raised will purchase shade structures for the playground at Chamisa. Photo by Chad Lauritzen
Mrs. Jiron awaits the inevitable. Photo by Chad Lauritzen
Pegasus Staff Holds Swap Meet at LAHS
LAHS News:
Pegasus, Los Alamos High School’s art and literary magazine will host its third annual swap meet beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20 in the high school parking lot.
Spaces are still available for a donation of $20, which may be paid at the LAHS bookkeeping office or on the morning of the event.
Vendors must supply their own table and/or shade if needed.
Donations of items the students can sell may be dropped off at the LAHS main office or at 7:45 a.m. Saturday at the event.
In the event of rain or snow, the sale will be rescheduled for April 27. Read More
Community’s Help Urgently Needed to Fill 180 Judge Slots!
NCFCA News:
If so, The Th The National Christian Forensics and Communications Association [NCFCA] needs the community’s help to fill 180 judges’ slots.
WHAT: NCFCA Region III Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament
WHEN: Thursday, May 2–Saturday, May 4
WHERE: Crossroads Bible Church, 97 East Road, Los Alamos
Speech Events:
Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Open Interpretation, Original Interpretation, Persuasive, Illustrated Oratory, Biographical Narrative, Apologetics, Impromptu and Extemporaneous.
Debate Events:
Team Policy and Lincoln Read More
PEEC Earth Day Series: Celebrate National Park Week at Bandelier
Visit Bandelier during National Park Week and hope to see a rainbow over Tyuonyi pueblo ruin. Photo by Sally King
Almost 100 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson established the National Park Service to protect unique and special places.
Come celebrate your National Parks during National Park Week April 20-28, 2013.
Each year, the president sets aside a week to explore and enjoy almost 400 National Park Service sites.
This year’s National Park Week theme is “Did you know…”
Did you know that during Read More
LAHS Earns Jostens National Yearbook Design Recognition
LAHS Year Book staff from left, Andrew Li, Lauren Burr, Darby Knoll, Toni Batha and Ben Nguyen. Courtesy photo
LAHS News:
- Kaboom!: La Loma Yearbook pages featured in 2013 Gotcha Covered Look Book
Los Alamos High School’s yearbook, Kaboom!: La Loma Yearbook, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2013 Gotcha Covered Look Book, Volume 11 celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage.
Jostens Look Book is a collection of spreads and photos from outstanding yearbooks and their creative themes, cool covers, dazzling designs, relevant coverage, storytelling Read More
PEEC Asks Earth Day Festival Visitors to Park at Sullivan Field
PEEC News Alert:
One thing will be different at PEEC’s Earth Day Festival this Saturday — Earth Day visitors will need to park at Sullivan Field and ride the free Atomic City Transit shuttle bus that will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — because of three events happening at Los Alamos High School and filling that parking lot,
Of course PEEC welcomes festival-goers who arrive on foot, stroller, bike, or skateboard.
PEEC’s Earth Day Festival run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will showcase the beloved Clan Tynker and Hill Stompers again this year, along with many booths, activities like Walk Like Read More
PEEC Earth Day Series: Registration Opens for Summer Outdoor Adventures
Registration Opens for PEEC’s Summer Outdoor Adventures Programs
- What are PEEC’s summer outdoor adventures all about?
They are times of great explorations and discoveries, imagination and wonder, challenges and accomplishments. One participant, Karin Ebey, sums up the experience even better: “Every single day I come home dirty and happy!”
Nature Odyssey: Rio Grande (June 10-14)
Each day of the Rio Grande week the group spends the hot summer afternoons near water. Sometimes children are capturing and identifying invertebrates and amphibians; other times they are exploring Read More
