Education

PEEC: Health Benefits of Dirt

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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

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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

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Kids at iCARE summer camp share their animal tracking journals. Photo by Sylan Argo
 
By SYLVAN ARGO
Community Programs Director at The Family YMCA

The 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

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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

Read More

Today is Earth Day! PEEC Thanks Sponsors

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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,
Read More

UNM-LA Offers History of Homesteading Class

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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

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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!

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Mountain students doing field studies at Fenton Lake. Photo by Angelique Harshman
 
Pajarito Plateau Field Science Is Happening Right Outside Your Door!
By ANGELIQUE HARSHMAN, PEEC Education Programs Director

It’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

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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

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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
Read More