Rocky Mountain PBS’ Post

Help me give my students the necessary materials, such as wood and paint, to thrive and excel in the art of woodcarving. https://lnkd.in/gXtV_4Zk

Find Your Community at STEAM in the PARK 2024: Where Education Meets Adventure! Fellow educators! Ever feel like you're on a quest to find your people? Well, guess what? They're waiting for you at "STEAM in the PARK 2024", set in the heart of our breathtaking national parks. This isn't just about teaching; it's about finding your place in the most awesome classroom ever – nature! Why You Should Totally Apply: Join a Community of Like-Minded Educators: This is where you connect with others who share your love for learning and teaching. It’s more than just exchanging ideas; it's about building a community that gets you. Turn Nature into Your Classroom: Imagine teaching and learning in the midst of nature's wonders. Every tree, rock, and stream becomes a live lesson. Create Bonds with Park Rangers: These rangers aren't just tour guides; they're your partners in this educational adventure. Their insights will add a whole new dimension to your teaching and understanding of the natural world. Blend Learning and Fun: This is where you see the magic happen when different subjects come together. It's about seeing the art in science and the science in art, all while surrounded by history and nature. Make Friendships That Go Beyond Professional Networks: Sure, networking is great, but what about finding friends who share your passions? From chatting under the stars to teaming up to solve real world problems, these are the moments that forge lasting friendships. "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." – John Muir Ready for an Adventure? Come join us at STEAM in the PARK 2024. It's a journey where you'll find your people, share unforgettable experiences, and see learning come alive in the great outdoors. Swing by our website for all the juicy details and how to apply! https://lnkd.in/g4aCNAuq

Be the Light unto the Path of those left behind (or beside you). This is about taking a chance to see a vision come to fruition. Let us learn truth from our experience, build support for our dreams, snd structure our goals that pave a better path for the future snd the present. Building dreams one brick at a time. Taking steps that matter. Designing a structure that serves itself and others. https://gofund.me/bc43d406

Santo 245 "Home for Sale, Not the Memories" As educators, we often guide our students through challenges, but sometimes, life presents us with our own. My mother recently passed away, and now we are in the process of selling her home. I didn’t anticipate how deeply personal and emotional this journey would be. Each piece of clothing donated, every piece of furniture moved, every keepsake chosen—it’s all a process of letting go, not just of things but of the memories tied to them. Moving forward has been a trail of tears, yet as Mom taught me, I am exhaling gratitude. This experience has reminded me how difficult endings can be, regardless of the reason. Teachers moved to a new grade level or reassigned to a new building are deeply personal and emotional journeys. They too are a process of letting go, adapting, and finding new ways to thrive. As you begin the new school year, support one another through these transitions, recognizing the significance they hold for each staff member. Allow time for reflection and connection. Together, we can navigate these changes with grace and gratitude. As C.S. Lewis said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” Question: How do you support yourself and others through moments of change?

Friends groups make a difference! To learn more about friends groups and how to get involved by visiting the PPFF website at PaParksAndForests.org

Hey, before you get too excited about splurging on new school supplies, could you please check your leftovers? The little pencil stubs, the dried-up markers, the broken crayons. Surely you could use them for some art project and repurpose them, or simply donate them to someone who might find value in them. One person’s trash is another one’s treasure. Right. The old adage. Also, these tell a story. Look at them closely. The bite marks, the frustration during the big test, the spitballs stuck to the sides of the broken ballpoint pens. The Hello Kitty crayons. The borrowed-but-never-returned pen. The whiteboard marker. That particular lesson. ✒️What do you do with your leftovers?✏️ #lowwasteschool #zerowaste #schoolsupplies #upcycle

Did you know that March in National MS Awareness Month?! I know we're near the end, but BIG THINGS are happening year-round! Can you list ONE THING you know about Multiple Sclerosis? 🤔 Join me in supporting the MS movement! There are countless ways to make a difference, from fundraising events to volunteering opportunities. Together, we can raise awareness and support those affected by multiple sclerosis. ➡️ Check out https://shorturl.at/jmHO5 to learn more and get involved! #WalkMS #AKsButterflies #KeepSmyelin #MSAwareness #SupportMSMovement #MSwarrior 🧠🧡🦋

My Glossy Friends Gloss.        I do not use much of it.  The real world is not glossy very often. The real world is mostly semi-gloss, or unfortunately sometimes it has a matte finish. Neither is the real world smooth. When I look for wood for my wood sculptures, I try to avoid the smooth wood. I look for scraps of wood, down in the dirt of the mill, sometimes in a special pile that is going to be thrown away soon, because no one wants that stuff. I like my wood to have bark. I like my wood to have saw marks showing where it was ripped from a larger plank. I like my wood rough; rough enough to cause a splinter in my finger, because sometimes life, in its generous way, gives me a splinter just to keep me awake. When I lay out the sculpture, I try to align the image so that it is straight and parallel, because in life, I am trying to do the same thing. I rarely go beyond a very coarse sandpaper, sometimes not using sandpaper at all. Life is not smooth.  Soon, once again, I will have the distinct privilege of riding my strange looking recumbent cycle alongside some of the bravest, strongest, most human human-beings I know. Some are paraplegics, some are quadriplegics. Some have serious pain that does not show at all, until, unfortunately, it is too late. We will ride 180 miles in an effort to accomplish goals that as individuals, we might not be able to attain. We work together. We ride together. We celebrate together. My friends and I have edges and ridges that have not been smoothed, although with time, the rough spots are getting rounded. We have “saw marks” that show where some of us were ripped from the life we were enjoying before, by an accident, by disease, by military conflict protecting the rights and privileges that the rest of us so often take for granted, and, unfortunately, those afflicted just by being born, like my grandson, Aaron. Beware, if we are ruffled, you might earn a splinter or two from us, just to keep you awake.  Our leader, Jennifer Moore, does not see the sharp edges. Jennifer does not see the jagged, bumpy, dinged and dented rough spots. She is not afraid of splinters. Jennifer sees potential, she sees physical, mental, and emotional growth opportunities. Jennifer does not seem to be aware of the matte finish. So, when I make the wood sculptures, the background, the “frame” of the piece, the part that represents the world, is often finished with “satin” or “matte” polyurethane. My handcycle friends however, are finished in gloss.       Please help us help others; please, today, help us bring new opportunities to my “glossy” friends.  Any amount will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you and please go to the link shown below.    https://lnkd.in/etnMP7NT 1.   Click: Donate Now 2.   Click: Your desired donation amount 3.   In the box marked: “Credit this donation to..” just type our team name: “Team Courageous”

Part 4 of our #ShareAStoryMonth is here and its another inspirational story about everyday struggles! If you want to read the full blog head over to our website here: https://loom.ly/yeeAHuw #access ID: Light Blue background. At the top in a darker cyan coloured text is "#ShareAStory" the font makes it look like it has been handwritten. Just below that towards the left hand side of the page is a cartoon looking notepad with a quote on it from the blog. It states: “All this time my son, feeling unwell, fatigued, facing pains he’s never experienced before- and asking…Why me?” To the right even with the top of the notebook is a stack of post it notes (Green on the top and the same cyan blue colour used for the text underneath) It says: "Read the full blog on our website!" Underneath the post it note stack, in the bottom right corner, is a stack of 6 books all facing different directions. From the bottom the colours are: Pink, yellow, blue, pink and 2 greens on top.

$75 million can go a long way to train and employ the chronically unemployed and prevent or end their homelessness. It can work wonders in research to improve the cognitive health of seniors, and be put to work to end the trafficking of children. I believe that it is time for charitable foundations to review their priorities and to consider reprioritizing their funding to have greater positive impact on improving the human condition. I am not suggesting that "The Arts" are not important and worthy of support. They are! But consider this... Those who are jobless, poverty stricken, homeless, suffering with Alzheimer's or another life-altering condition are not likely to enjoy museums and The Arts. I believe that this is the time to reprioritize! I do understand that many foundations are structured with guidelines and funding priorities set in place by their founding donor(s). Even then, many of these foundations can find and encourage programming that improves access to those who are dependent on vital human services. How about funding for entry fees and bus transportation for families and individuals wanting to visit and benefit from museums and other nonprofit arts and historical institutions? #charitablefoundations #nonprofits #humanservices #foundationgrants #grants