STEPS for Kids http://www.stepsforkids.org Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:45:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 en About STEPS for Kids http://www.stepsforkids.org/about-steps-for-kids/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/about-steps-for-kids/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:03:53 +0000 admin http://www.stepsforkids.org/about-steps-for-kids/ The Mission of STEPS is to provide healthy, educational and recreational programs for children and families in the Washtenaw County community.

  • Supporting Self-esteem
  • Teaching Skills and Values
  • Empowering, Encouraging Expression
  • Promoting the Positive
  • Striving for Success
]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/about-steps-for-kids/feed/ Cell Phone Earnings http://www.stepsforkids.org/cell-phone-earnings/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/cell-phone-earnings/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:45:28 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/cell-phone-earnings/ STEPS has earned $480 by recycling cell phones with GRC Wireless Recycling. With these funds we were able to purchase native flowers for inside and outside of the pond. The City Drain Authority told us to plant native plants on the banks of Montrio pond to purify the run-off from our parking lots and roofs before it ran into our natural pond for the health of the environment. We have also purchased garden tools and supplies, built a small wooden bridge over a stream entering the pond, purchased a picnic table and snacks, and paid stipends to encourage more children to enjoy the restoration work.

Your contributions will help us continue to involve our children in the environment, give them healthy outdoor activities, and improve the Huron River Watershed.

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/cell-phone-earnings/feed/ Wildlife Sightings At Montrio Pond! http://www.stepsforkids.org/wildlife-sightings-at-montrio-pond/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/wildlife-sightings-at-montrio-pond/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:04:17 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/wildlife-sightings-at-montrio-pond/ Here is evidence that our pond restoration is working. From early spring swans, ducks, a heron, and geese rested or nested in Montrio pond. Two couple of swans stayed for a week, a heron fished, ducks raised a family of six, and these were only the big birds we saw.  More and more of the smaller birds are feeding, living, and nesting around the pond and in the woods, cardinals, blue birds, blue jays, gold finches, purple martins, robins, grackles and sparrows, and others. There has been a turtle sighting, the dragonflies are everywhere and the frogs croak lullabies at night.

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/wildlife-sightings-at-montrio-pond/feed/ Kids Summer 2010 Restoration Work http://www.stepsforkids.org/kids-summer-2010-restoration-work/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/kids-summer-2010-restoration-work/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:41:46 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/kids-summer-2010-restoration-work/ In July and August Pinelake kids worked with Deborah Van Horn in the restoration area for a lot of fun, sun, fresh air, and a little bit of money. Kudos to Davon, James and his brother, JT and his sister, Will, Tiffany, DJ, Davian and to the junior supervisors Asia and Ayona for planting, weeding, and watering in the restoration area around the pond.

Due to the heat, humidity, and torrential rain storms this summer the work days were unscheduled. Anyone who would like to join should keep an eye open for activity around the pond. We can do more of this if adults will volunteer a small amount of their time (for a small daily stipend) to supervise. These planting activities happen from early spring through late fall.

Our wildlife thanks us!

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/kids-summer-2010-restoration-work/feed/ STEPS Fall fun http://www.stepsforkids.org/steps-fall-fun/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/steps-fall-fun/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:05:43 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/steps-fall-fun/ We have a name sign to put on the fence of Montrio Pond.   We also have earned a National Wildlife Federation sign showing that Montrio Pond is a certified wildlife habitat!  Come play with us as we put these signs on the fence, and as we place our new picnic table near the restoration area’s native plants and flowers.   Balloons for the kids and snacks for everybody.

We will announce the date soon right here.

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/steps-fall-fun/feed/ Donate Your Old Cell Phones http://www.stepsforkids.org/donate-your-old-cell-phones/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/donate-your-old-cell-phones/#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:42:06 +0000 admin http://www.stepsforkids.org/donate-your-old-cell-phones/ Donate Cell Phones to Benefit STEPS for Kids:

We have partnered with GRC Wireless Recycling to raise money through cell phone recycling.

Click to donate environmentally responsible, zero landfill cell phone recycling

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/donate-your-old-cell-phones/feed/ Discovering Montrio Pond’s native plants and fish http://www.stepsforkids.org/discovering-montrio-ponds-native-plant-and-fish/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/discovering-montrio-ponds-native-plant-and-fish/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:12:10 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/discovering-montrio-ponds-native-plant-and-fish/ Todd Crail, naturalist from the University of Toledo, came back to help us explore plants and fish inside the Pond fence.  We did that on July 18.  He is very impressed with the number and variety of native plants that we have.  He says this is probably because the banks have never been disturbed by development.  Watch for the slideshow coming soon.

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/discovering-montrio-ponds-native-plant-and-fish/feed/ Come help us plant! http://www.stepsforkids.org/come-help-us-plant/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/come-help-us-plant/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 01:44:27 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/come-help-us-plant/ Saturday May 16 we will be planting native plants to filter storm water before it runs into Montrio Pond.  This will improve the quality of the water and the health of the wildlife.  This will be fun!  We’ll be outdoors with other kids and parents.

Kids who work earn $1-2/hr, high school kids earn $5/hr, adults volunteer.

Find us downhill from 2680 Adrienne Dr., off South Maple between Liberty and Pauline at Pinelake Cooperative.

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/come-help-us-plant/feed/ Grants for Plants and Flowers http://www.stepsforkids.org/we-got-a-grant/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/we-got-a-grant/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:39:58 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/we-got-a-grant/ The Wildflower Association of Michigan is so happy with what we are doing at Montrio Pond that they have given us a $500 Hal and Jean Glassen award to buy more native flowers and bushes to plant next summer!  The national Wild Ones Association felt the same way, and has awarded STEPS a Seeds for Education grant of $350.

We thank these organizations for keeping our environmenal activities possible for the summer.

We’re looking forward to more fun days for planting, with breaks for snacks and chats.

Watch for the summer announcements.

]]> http://www.stepsforkids.org/we-got-a-grant/feed/ See real live fish up close http://www.stepsforkids.org/see-real-live-fish-up-close/ http://www.stepsforkids.org/see-real-live-fish-up-close/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:26:57 +0000 Staff http://www.stepsforkids.org/see-real-live-fish-up-close/ Learn about the fish in Montrio Pond.   What makes them healthy and bright colored?  What do they eat?  Are they safe to catch and eat?  Learn about other fish, too, that swim around here but may not be in the Pond.

Todd Crail, a naturalist from Toledo, will bring fish, and talk about ours.  Next Monday, Presidents Day, no school, yay!   4:00 PM in the Pinelake Village Co-op office/clubhouse.  2680 Adrienne Dr, off South Maple between Liberty and Pauline.  But if you live at Pinelake you are already there.

Bring your brothers, sisters, cousins, and school friends.  Tell your parents they are invited if they behave.

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