Next Step Creates & Develops

With a team that includes visionaries, teachers, an artist, a counselor and a scientist, we have a big wheelhouse for making something from… well, whatever we start with.

Next Step uses a unique blend of fun, mindfulness, creativity, evaluation, intuition, and effectiveness as a framework for developing resources, activities and experiences that enhance lives.

With a broad array of products and resources we’ve worked on, here’s a list to help you jump to some of the projects we’ve created, and developed. And continue to create and develop.

Mindfulness & Movement Activities

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Girls with candle windmill

We started with using centering breath at the beginning of Leadership Development workshops at Drake University. Mindfulness spread to our families, and then to kids’ classes, and then we developed the first set of activity Cards.

We’re always looking for opportunities to spread the word about how mindfulness and movement can improve our lives, and the way we are in the world. Join us; it’s a movement.

Blog posts related to Mindfulness & Movement
  • Just breathe
    What comes to mind when you hear the word “breath?” Do you have a memory of getting the wind knocked out of you when you did a belly flop in the pool? Or holding your breath when you were scared? …
  • A Mindful Spring
    I’ve been determined to really pay attention to spring this year, and to share it with some folks who seem to have an easier time being mindful than most.
  • Central Iowa Yoga Retreat
    The Central Iowa Yoga Retreat is a day for yoga. It’s a day to ground in community, to grow your knowledge, and to let curiosity bloom.

Do you need some new ideas to get going? Or settle down? Or focus?

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Home Learning Resources

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Teens working on mandalas

When COVID19 deep sixed three major Next Step events, we thought we had come to the end of the journey. But as we watched the pandemic unfold, and parents were challenged to work from home AND educate their kids, we thought, Hey! We have something to offer! So, we got to work and developed and collected a bunch of activities and lessons, each designed for ANYONE to lead with kids. They’re loosely gathered into these four categories:

During the process, we developed print-and-go activities for several organizations’ clientele, and they’re available right here on our website. Most are fun, hands-on activities that don’t require a lot of supplies or know-how. Try them out. They’re great!

Blog posts related to Home Learning Resources
  • Farm to School Science Lessons
    We are often asked, “How do we bring Farm to School teaching into our classrooms?” There are barriers. Time is short. Teachers are stretched. There is no “free time” in the day to add something extra. Fortunately, Farm to School …
  • Whatcha Reading?
    So for November, Native American Heritage Month, I’m reading books by indigenous authors. I’m nearly finished with “Indian Horse” by Richard Wagamese. It’s my favorite of the books I’ve read recently…
  • A Mindfulness Practice – What? Why? How?
    Well, as strange as it may sound, my mindfulness practice actually makes it easier to keep all those balls in the air. It helps me remember that only one thing happens at a time.

Is it overwhelming to bring more hands-on experiences into your teaching?

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Farm to School Curriculum

Just like most Iowans, Next Step team members don’t have to look too far back to find roots in agriculture. Martha spent her best summers on her grandparents’ farm, learning to milk the cow, and helping make hay.

Sara’s family moved back to help with the family farm, and Sara is working with her dad on trying new, environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. We know farms are where our food come from. NOT the grocery store, at least not initially. Here are some of the resources we’ve developed to teach kids the connection between food and farming:

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And this is the “short list.” If you’re working in the field of farm to school, or school gardening, you’re likely to run into Shelly or Sara from Next Step Adventure.

Blog posts about Farm to School Curriculum
  • Farm to School Science Lessons
    We are often asked, “How do we bring Farm to School teaching into our classrooms?” There are barriers. Time is short. Teachers are stretched. There is no “free time” in the day to add something extra. Fortunately, Farm to School …
  • Growing Food in Science Class
    By including school gardens in science, students learn through hands-on activities with countless real-world applications.
  • Validation and Inspiration
    I’ve been feeling like I needed a reset for a while. Like my teaching wasn’t always hitting the mark. There were students in my classes that I just felt I wasn’t reaching. So, I’ve gotten my reset.

Looking for ways to teach kids where food comes from?

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Nutrition & Health Lessons

We LOVE food! Throughout her career at ISU Extension, Martha created, developed and managed nutrition education programs. And now Next Step continues the work. Here are some of the projects where we promote good health through good food–

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Preparing guacamole

And this is the “short list.” If you work with nutrition and health, farm to school or school gardening, you’ll likely hear about Shelly or Sara from Next Step Adventure.

Blog posts about Nutrition & Health
  • Farm to School Science Lessons
    We are often asked, “How do we bring Farm to School teaching into our classrooms?” There are barriers. Time is short. Teachers are stretched. There is no “free time” in the day to add something extra. Fortunately, Farm to School …
  • Growing Food in Science Class
    By including school gardens in science, students learn through hands-on activities with countless real-world applications.
  • Validation and Inspiration
    I’ve been feeling like I needed a reset for a while. Like my teaching wasn’t always hitting the mark. There were students in my classes that I just felt I wasn’t reaching. So, I’ve gotten my reset.

Looking for ways to teach kids (and grownups) about gardening and nutrition?

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Curriculum Alignment with Educational Standards

So many outstanding lessons and teaching activities exist. Aligning them with the Iowa Academic Standards gets them into classrooms. Our team of teachers know the standards inside and out. We can easily connect your content with academics taught in every classroom.

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Building a worm composting bin at Food Corps training at ISU Extension

Connecting hand-on learning to academic studies is what we do. Contact Sara or Shelly from Next Step Adventure to learn more.

Blog posts related to curriculum
  • Farm to School Science Lessons
    We are often asked, “How do we bring Farm to School teaching into our classrooms?” There are barriers. Time is short. Teachers are stretched. There is no “free time” in the day to add something extra. Fortunately, Farm to School …
  • Growing Food in Science Class
    By including school gardens in science, students learn through hands-on activities with countless real-world applications.
  • All Day Long
    Some soreness in my upper back is reminding me to do that five-minute slow Cat/Cow pose she recommends. Squats. Side body long. And after a walk stretch quads and hamstrings. Yay! Oh! and don’t forget the hips, pelvis and psoas.

Do you need some help wading through lessons and standards and getting them to line up?

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Content for Promotional Materials

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Newspaper article 99 Counties, 99 Parks Kick-Off

The way to reach kids, families, and communities is to think like them. That’s what we do best! We created a printable Family Fun Pack for Travel Iowa complete with games, activities, and picnic ideas. For Choose Iowa we developed learning activities and eye-catching posters to promote local foods in schools.

Connecting with kids, families, and communities is one of our superpowers. Contact Shelly or Sara at Next Step Adventure to learn more.

Blog posts related to content for promotional materials
  • Iowa Farm to School Conference
    We came together in search of a common goal–feeding our children fresh, healthy food. And we believe that goal can best be accomplished by promoting farm-school partnerships.
  • We love food!
    There aren’t many things I like better than food. It’s key to good health (eat your veggies). It’s fun to eat (ice cream? popcorn?). There’s nothing more satisfying than baking a loaf of bread or cooking up a tasty stew!
  • Covid–What Can We Do?
    …a sense of belonging is one of the most essential needs of humans. We also need to feel power over our lives, belief in our own abilities and a sense of generosity. Seems to me Covid has challenged our ability to satisfy all of those needs.

Would you like to instill more substance into your promotion?

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