Et Cetera
Oak Three Making Science Fun in Cedar Rapids
By Deon Johnson
Oak 3 spent one month assisting with Science Center summer camps in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The teams worked in four classrooms (pre-K and kindergarten, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, and Grades 5-6) in a variety of capacities.
Oak 3’s guided the pre-K and kindergarten kids in exploring the world of incredible insects by making wiggly worms and spinning spider web crafts with them and children from first and second grade investigated the age of the dinosaurs.
Alliant Energy reminds Iowa residents on 8-11 to call 811 before digging
Alliant Energy encourages residents to call 48 hours before digging to know what’s below
With Aug. 11 almost here, Alliant Energy hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for everyone to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.
Every year, thousands of incidents happen in Iowa where someone digs into a buried natural gas line or other underground utility service like electrical lines and fiber optic lines.
NRCS Announces EQIP Drought Signup in Iowa
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is inviting Iowa farmers affected by the summer of 2012 drought to sign up for special Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding. The signup runs Aug. 13-17.
According to Jon Hubbert, acting state conservationist for NRCS in Iowa, $150,000 will be available in Iowa with priority to affected farmers in the D3 designation on the U.
AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Tiffany Swiderski
By: Rachel Lebeaux
Name: Tiffany Swiderski
Hometown: San Diego, California
Tiffany is serving her second year with the AmeriCorps NCCC as a Team Leader at the Vinton Campus. Tiffany previously served at the Pacific Region Campus in Sacramento, California as a Corps Member in Class 15.
Prior to joining NCCC as a Team Leader, Tiffany had been working as an Academic Coordinator with the Urban Corps of San Diego County. Financial Coaching Course Begins September 12th
Sharpen Your Financial Coaching Skills begins September 12th in Cedar Rapids. This course from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is designed for volunteers, clergy and others working in nonprofit groups and organizations who assist their clients or members with financial management concerns.
The five-week course combines two face-to-face sessions with three weeks of online learning.
Cedar Two Assists in the Cherry Capital
By: Yazmeen Green
Cedar Two arrived in northern Michigan two weeks ago for their third round project of the year. They are working with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) until early September. GTRLC is a land trust that works to protect and oversee land conservation efforts over a five-county area.
AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Becky Hofkes
By: Rachel Lebeaux
Name: Becky Hofkes
Hometown: Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Becky is serving her second year with the AmeriCorps NCCC as a Team Leader at the Vinton Campus. She came to Vinton only a week after graduating as a Class 18 Corps Member at the Pacific Region Campus in Sacramento, California. Cedar One Works With Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
By: Jacob Jackson
The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium of Dubuque Iowa has welcomed Cedar One, its third AmeriCorps NCCC team. They are working for 8 weeks from July 16 to September 5. During their stay in Dubuque they are giving guided educational tours, helping with the upkeep of the animals and their living spaces and working maintenance for the museum and aquarium.
Free Admission and Healthy Activities Kick Off Iowa State Fair Opening Day
WHAT: Fairgoers can take part in healthy activities and free admission on the Fair's opening day. A coupon featured in the August 5 Des Moines Sunday Register or the Wednesday, August 8 Des Moines Register full page Hy-Vee ad is required for free admission 6- 9 a.m. WHO Radio's Van and Bonnie will broadcast their show live from the Grand Concourse.
AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 FEMA Corps Team Leader Spotlight: Jamie Casterton
By: Rachel Lebeaux
Name: Jamie Casterton
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Jamie is serving her second year as an AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps Team Leader in Vinton. She was previously a Corps Member in Class 16 at the Atlantic Region Campus in Perry Point, Maryland.
Jamie graduated from Forest Hills Central High School in 2005 and Florida State University in 2009 with her Psychology degree.