Next Step AdventureMartha helps you do, what you do, better then you did it before…

Enjoy Summer!

Posted on Monday, June 28th, 2010

It’s been just over 2 months since the first ever Iowa Outdoor Youth Summit; at least two young Iowans attended the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit and Festival in New York City, and summer is here [...]

Celebrate Service

Posted on Saturday, June 26th, 2010

I grew up in southern California, and have often been asked what I’m doing in Iowa. But I’m proud to live in a state with such a strong history of  civil rights, fairness and equality. [...]

Help Evaluate Chrysalis After-School

Posted on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

As it always does, the school year has somehow disappeared, with May catching me unprepared! It’s time to collect information about your work with the Chrysalis Foundation’s after-school girls’ groups so that we can report [...]

Fly

Posted on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

My next birthday is one that ends in a “0″ and requires a significant celebration. Last week I was told that this, my 60th year, is one of extraordinary challenges and opportunities in areas I’ve [...]

Find Amelia

Posted on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

March 2010–Women’s History Month–flew by as is its habit. Again I am aware of my ignorance about the women who have shaped our country and our world. And again I find I know only a [...]

Join the Movement

Posted on Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Go outside! It’s spring, and Iowa is joining a broad based movement to renew a close, personal relationship with the out of doors.

April 10-11–As part of Iowa’s “Reconnecting Children with Nature” effort, the Department of [...]

Enjoy Soy

Posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

I learned years ago that kids and food go together. One of my favorite things to do with kids is cook. I’ve had some frantic moments in front of a classroom remembering what I forgot–yes, [...]

Work for Equal Pay

Posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010

On January 29, 2009, President Barack Obama signed his first bill into law–The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. It extends the rights of women and other minority groups, to sue for equal pay for [...]

Cross a Chocolate River

Posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010

This is a great team building activity I’ve used for many years. Once at a 4-H Camp, we used 4-H Box Lids as the “marshmallows.” When I facilitated a program based on the Wizard of [...]

Make HerStory

Posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Here’s the story that KCCI ran on the Chrysalis HerStory event May 27. Shawn Johnson, Olympic gymnast from West Des Moines, was the featured speaker.
Each year the Chrysalis Foundation sponsors a spring event for the [...]