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2. 0. 1. 6.

Happy New Year to all of you! Here's hoping 2016 is blessed with beauty and nature for everyone!

Last year, 2015 (which is difficult to believe I already have to call 2015 LAST year!) saw some great new projects and continuation of older projects. We had a second very successful Butterflies and Bees Celebration on June 27, with over 200 people dropping by to enjoy food, crafts, balloon art and, of course, butterflies and bees.

We also launched our first after school conservation program, Wildlife HERO (Habitat, Environment, Resources, Outreach). Eighteen 3rd, 4th and 5th graders participated. We met

once a week for six weeks, culminating in a wonderful school-wide showcase. Our HEROES shared what they learned with students and staff. Overall it was successful. This year several of the participants asked me if we were going to have Wildlife HERO again. The answer is - yes!

In 2014 we had an event called Flower Pots and Cooking Pots where we demonstrated Dutch Oven cooking and gave away native plant seeds and seedlings. In 2015 we simplified the event, called it Free Seeds for Bees, and gave away many seedlings and seeds. On a Saturday and Sunday in September I hung out at Pickwick Park and dispensed seeds and seedlings to passers by. That was great fun and I plan to do it again in 2016.

Overall in 2014 and 2015 I believe we've given away well over 100 native plant seedlings! Pretty impressive.

The last few months of 2015 were difficult. I dealt with health issues, and we said goodbye to our dear friend, sweet Katie. Katie is the inspiration of a project I did to earn my Missouri Environmental Educator certification. Several volunteers and I put in a raised bed in the yard of the group home where Katie lived. We planted several vegetables and watched them grow and produce. Katie was so proud of that garden! Nature is such a healer and touches everyone in so many ways. We will miss Katie so much, and we pray that her mother, Sharon, and her family will find peace and healing.

This brand new year is shaping up to be a good one. Day Three and I am still productive! Yay! This year I hope to bring NatureHood into reality. Stay tuned for details! We difinitely plan to continue offering various programs to schools and neighborhoods, and hope to expand to other areas and increase our scope.

This new year is also exciting for me as I am now president of the Missouri Environmental

Education Association. MEEA's mission is "Helping educators inspire Missourians to care about, understand and act for their environment since 1997". MEEA is open to formal educators and informal educators, such as scout leaders, parks and recreation leaders, and anyone interested in sharing their knowledge of Missouri's environment with others. MEEA offers opportunities for members to network through our annual conference (which will be held November 5 in Springfield). MEEA also has lesson plans, activities, coloring sheets and opportunities for grants to help you start or complete an environmental education project. In addition, anyone who is interested can become a certified Missouri Environmental Educator through MEEA. I did this and am so grateful for everything I learned along the way and the opportunities that EE certification offers me.

Overall, 2016 is shaping up to be another wonderful year for NatureHood. It is my hope that we can forge more ties with other organizations and work together to foster true change in our environment, both locally and globally. Have a wonderful 2016 and may you be truly blessed!


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