Gene's+Junk

Assorted; lots of links. Tags include: Transition Room, Resources and Links

Computer Science Teachers Association [|www.csta.acm.org] [|www.CS4HS.com] [|www.topsecretrosies.com] -doc film om women in WW2 who did more than rivet (CS types) [|www.ceohp.org] - computer educators oral history project [] - eToys - an Ilinois CS promo effort - out of U of Ill. [|www.scratch.mit.edu] home page - some added scratch resources @ [] [|www.byob.berkely.edu] - bring your own blocks - drag and drop blocks, not just commands [|www.waveplace.com] - another CS resource - check out Papert's Mindstorms book Oregon - [|www.techstart.org] and [|www.opas.ous.org]

It is absurd to thuink that learning has to be hard or unpleasant to be rigorous. a poor teaching strategy can make even the easiest concept seem hard; a great teaching strategy can make even the hardest concept seem easy. Stacy Armstrong (CSTA 2011)


 * Wellmark**

Positive Thinking - []

Resiliency - []

PBS - IPTV [|www.iptv.org] [|www.iptv.org/series_education.cfm] or /iowapathways or /for-teachers or /education

[|www.pbs.org] [|www.pbs.org/parents/electric-company/eletric-racer.html]

DM Hiking

HIT THE TRAIL

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST PLACE TO HIKE IN CENTRAL IOWA

ByBOBMODERSOHN

Special to the **Register W**ith warmer temps here, a stroll around more than the block is appealing. Hikes offer a bit more umph. Stretch your legs while enjoying natural scenery and maybe catch a glimpse of wildlife at these destinations.

OBrown's Woods

Brown's Woods Drive is west off Southwest 63rd Street, south of the Raccoon River.

There are two trail loops that total 1.9 miles; the front one is .4 mile, the back loop is 1.5 miles. Difficulty is moderate as it meanders through a 484- acre oak and hickory forest. This Polk County forest preserve can only be explored on foot or on cross-country skis. No horses, bicycles or motorized vehicles are permitted. A roomy parking lot is accessed via Brown's Woods Drive and there is a portable toilet.

©Raccoon River Park

2500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines.

This park offers a 3.2- mile, level, crushed rock/ asphalt nature trail around Blue Heron Lake. A hiker and former leader of weekly central Iowa walks, John Washburn likes to hike on its east side, into the peninsula and then off-trail farther to the east. Adjacent to the Raccoon River, there's lots of wildlife. The park has plenty of hard-surface parking and other facilities, too.

©Maffitt Lake

35304 Maffitt Lake Road, Gumming (see www. maffittlakefarms. com for detailed directions).

The reservoir is owned by Des Moines Water Works and is southwest of Des Moines at the corners of Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison counties. It has plenty of roadway and lots of parking, and offers a wide trail winding some six miles around the lake. This is a favorite hiking spot of Jackie Porter, 60, of Des Moines, who loves to be outdoors and keep herself moving and exercising. If she didn't hike? I could get lazy," she said.

¸ LEARN MORE

• Fora list of scheduled hikes go to www. iowa. sierra [|__club.org/ciag/__] and look under outings.

• The Sierra Club's Central Iowa Group offers summer hikes on Tuesday evenings to the club's favorite places in the Des Moines Area. Most of the bicyde/multi use trails are hard surface and handicap accessible. Trails are easy to moderate in difficulty. Contact Ginger Soelberg at __soelbergv@dwx.com__ or Jane Clark at jrdark@radiks.net for more info.

• See Elizabeth Hill's book, 'Hiking Iowa,' for lots of great hiking destinations around the state.

• Also see ' Best Easy Day Hikes: Des Moines' ( Falcon Guides, $9.95) by Michael Ream, which supplies maps and directions to both well known and little known trails to get away for an hour or two.


 * OIowa 4- HCenter**

Take E57 west off Iowa Highway 17 from Luther (or east from U.S. Highway 169 south of Ogden).

Six trail options of one to two miles in length are featured. The nice part about it is the trails are generally connected in a looping system so hikers can continue on longer routes if they so choose," said John Roosa, manager of the center. Deer, turkey and small game (squirrels, etc.) are abundant, while fox and coyotes are seen on occasion. Some of the major paths have steps on steeper parts. Lodges have bathrooms, but trailheads don't. During work hours, there are bathrooms at the main lodge (Linden).

Visitors should check in at the office so the staff know how many people are on the trails. Check the center's website, [|__www.extension.iastate.edu/__] 4h/ center/ 4HWildernessTrips. htm, for maps or call ( 515) 795-3338 for updates.


 * 0 Iowa Arboretum**

1875 Peach Ave., Madrid. Take E57 west of Lutherfrom Iowa Highway 17, then south on Peach Avenue.

Several little loops which are about 15 minutes each can create a good hour-long outing. Hiker Carol Grimm, 65, of Urbandale loves to visit the Iowa Arboretum with her family. Find a walking map at [|__www.iowaarboretum.org__]. Trail guides are also available onsite.


 * ©Des Moines**

River trails

East and west sides of the Des Moines River from the Sycamore Access. North on Northwest Beaver Avenue, then right on Northwest 66th Avenue to the river and parking lots.

This is Des Moines hiker George McKeever's favorite area, great for photography, especially a wooded peninsula about a mile south (along the paved Neal Smith Trail) from the Sycamore Access along the Des Moines River. Where the trail angles left, get off-trail and follow the river. He's found a beach, eagles, fox, a beaver, owls, deer and other wildlife there.


 * ©** Beaver Creek Natural Resource **area**

South of Terra Park, Johnston, or access

from Crown Point or Lew Clarkson Park.

Great for walking, jogging, biking and viewing wildlife on the trails with woodlands, grasslands and some reconstructed prairie. Ginger Soelberg, 69, of Johnston, said: The creek's riparian area serves as a wildlife corridor, and I occasionally spot mink, deer, beaver, fox andmany birds, including great horned owl, woodcocks and great blue heron. I love the fact that a natural area is close and accessible." Visitors should check in at the office so the staff know how many people are on the trails. Check the center's website, [|__www.extension.iastate.edu/__] 4h/ center/ 4HWildernessTrips. htm, for maps or call ( 515) 795-3338 for updates.


 * 0 Iowa Arboretum**

1875 Peach Ave., Madrid. Take E57 west of Lutherfrom Iowa Highway 17, then south on Peach Avenue.

Several little loops which are about 15 minutes each can create a good hour-long outing. Hiker Carol Grimm, 65, of Urbandale loves to visit the Iowa Arboretum with her family. Find a walking map at [|__www.iowaarboretum.org__] . Trail guides are also available onsite.


 * ©Des Moines**

River trails

East and west sides of the Des Moines River from the Sycamore Access. North on Northwest Beaver Avenue, then right on Northwest 66th Avenue to the river and parking lots.

This is Des Moines hiker George McKeever's favorite area, great for photography, especially a wooded peninsula about a mile south (along the paved Neal Smith Trail) from the Sycamore Access along the Des Moines River. Where the trail angles left, get off-trail and follow the river. He's found a beach, eagles, fox, a beaver, owls, deer and other wildlife there.


 * ©** Beaver Creek Natural Resource **area**

South of Terra Park, Johnston, or access

from Crown Point or Lew Clarkson Park.

Great for walking, jogging, biking and viewing wildlife on the trails with woodlands, grasslands and some reconstructed prairie. Ginger Soelberg, 69, of Johnston, said: The creek's riparian area serves as a wildlife corridor, and I occasionally spot mink, deer, beaver, fox andmany birds, including great horned owl, woodcocks and great blue heron. I love the fact that a natural area is close and accessible."

Other **good** hiking locations

• Yellow Banks Park (Polk County), 6801 S.E. 32nd Ave., Pleasant Hill, east of Des Moines off Highway 65 • Margo Frankel Woods State Park, north of Des Moines, along Northeast Second Street • Walnut Woods State Park, southwest of Des Moines • Lake Aquabi State Park, south of India nola • Ledges State Park, south of Boone ¸ Hiking tips

• Wear comfortable boots or shoes.

• For hikes longer than an hour, bring a fanny pack or backpack with snacks/food, drinks in light containers and a small first aid kit.