Write You a River

Martha McCormick on September 21, 2010

The summer after my daughter LucyKate graduated from college, we wrote a daily Haiku. It was a really fun way to recap the day, or put our hopes and dreams out there for the universe. The traditional basis for Haiku is nature; I’d compare our Haikus to droplets, poems sparkling in the sun. Soaking into moss.

Here is an opportunity for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grades to try their hands at creating droplets, streams or rivers of words or art. River of Words is a free, annual, international poetry and art contest on the theme of watersheds for students K-12. If you don’t know what a watershed is, you’re not alone. I learned not so long ago. The entry deadline is December 1, 2010.

The Grand Prize for the River of Words contest is an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC to attend an award ceremony at the Library of Congress, and inclusion in an annual poetry book of winning submissions. Every child, group or young adult that enters the contest will receive a personalized “Watershed Explorer” certificate. Kids enter on their own, through schools, or through organizations like 4-H, Campfire, Boys and Girls Club or Scouts.

River of Words could be an enhancement to your existing program, a creative stand-alone project, or a great opportunity for students to add to their individual artistic and creative portfolios. It could also be used as a small portion of a larger science project, art project, or research project. An educator’s guide for curriculum for instructors is available.

Take a few minutes to create your Haiku, ballad or picture!

Have Fun

Martha McCormick on September 14, 2010

I’ve been working with the Next Step Advisory Board to develop my company’s mission and values. It turns out that Next Step values creativity, partnership, and fun! Who knew?!!!??

One of my Board members sent me a link to a video done by TheFunTheory.com. They developed several strategies and then took videos to test their theory that fun can get people to change. Hmmmm, how many applications can we find for that?

The video most closely tied to my current work is the World’s Deepest Trash Bin; I’m working with Keep Iowa Beautiful to develop a program guide for Kindergarten, First and Second Grade teachers to lay the groundwork for kids to learn about volunteering, the environment, character and keeping their schools clean. The lesson plans are nearly done, and have a good share of fun built in.

I think my personal favorite is a strategy for getting people to use the stairs more than the escalator. It reminds me the giant piano scene from the movie, Big; I might just have to watch that movie again real soon. There are 35 pages of entries into The Fun Theory’s contest to find other ways to use fun to get people to change their behavior. Which do you like best?

Go to the Library

Martha McCormick on September 7, 2010

A major highlight of my growing up years was the weekly (Really? Weekly?) trip to the library. We had two–Covina and the Los Angeles County Library in West Des Moines. The LA Library opened when I was older, and seemed just huge. Mom read to me and my brother every night long after we could read to ourselves. Then I went to bed and read to myself. The book I remember best was Palace Wagon Family, about the Donner Party crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

I just got home from the AVID (Authors Visiting In DesMoines) launch of Sara Gruen‘s new book, Ape House. Gruen’s talk was wonderful. It’s a good thing, since I am running on 4 hours of sleep in the last 24. As soon as I finish writing this, I’m going to bed with my new copy of the book. Ape House is a novel loosely based on the Great Ape Trust right here in Des Moines. It’s not an easy place to visit, but Gruen’s talk certainly piqued my curiosity.

The AVID book launch took me back to the libraries of my childhood. When we spent summers on our grandparents’ farm, the Bookmobile dropped off the only books available at the little store in Woodlawn. I’m sure Braxie’s business really picked up when our family was visiting!

I loved going there with grandpa to pick out another week’s worth of books. He usually bought me an orange soda too! I got in trouble many times for hiding out on the couch with a book when there were tomatoes to be canned.

So, tonight I got in touch with my inner “Library Geek” and intend to stay that way! What are YOU reading?

Dig in the Dirt

Martha McCormick on September 6, 2010

Last week I rebuilt my “pondless waterfall” for the third time. I’ve lost the illusion that it’s the third and LAST time. Gardening is all about the process. A potential home buyer asked my friend if her garden was finished; that was a deal breaker. Here was a neophyte–a garden is never finished. My art teacher says the only true beauty emerges from process; gardens are evidence of that.

After the garden workshop in my backyard Tuesday, Carol and I talked about criteria for selling our homes. I told her the old neighbors to my back interviewed potential buyers to find out if they would tend the garden to their satisfaction. The new neighbors have done well; that garden has flourished and is constantly being improved and expanded. I’m vigilant about keeping the creeping charlie from creeping through that fence!

Saturday my daughter and I planted eight shrubs and perennials for fall interest. Yesterday morning they looked like they had always been there. That’s a wonderful compliment: when Bill Dirkx saw my pond for the first time, he asked the same thing, “Hasn’t that always been there?”

September and October are the months for putting your hope in the ground. I bought some quick growing greens so we can have fresh salads into frost. I still have roses and bulbs to plant. I won’t see any results of that investment for six months, but I am excited about planting anyway. Winter will go faster, knowing there will be daffodils.