Next Step Leads & Coordinates

Sometimes an adventure begins with an unexpected opportunity; when new doors open, Next Step is happy to step into a leadership role, do some problem solving, organizing, bringing a fresh look to your work.

The work has often grown from other, more specialized projects.

If your organization gets bogged down in meetings, or needs an objective perspective on a project, we may have something to offer.

Central Iowa Yoga Retreat

This annual event is one of our biggest projects. We‘re proud of how we transformed it into a day of community-building among yoga teachers and practitioners. We’ve even had people come to the retreat as their VERY FIRST yoga experience, and have a wonderful day! Each year we work to make the retreat:

  • A welcoming, healthy environment
  • Promote conversation and connection among the participants
  • A place where people can sample a variety of yoga flavors
  • FUN!

Thank you thank you! I’m just beginning to find my tribe here and this was a boon.

Mary Beth Einhorn, Central Iowa Yoga Retreat Participant
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Thai Yoga Partner Massage at the Central Iowa Yoga Retreat in 2016

Most of the retreats we’ve organized have been at the Raccoon River Nature Lodge. It’s come to feel like home to us, and this year the Retreat is on Earth Day, so we’re adding some new ways to help us all reconnect with our Earth Mother.

Blog posts related to the Central Iowa Yoga Retreat
  • 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.
  • Retreat Dreaming
    We’re less than six months out from the 11th annual Central Iowa Yoga Retreat. Check out the early bird pricing now through November 26th, 2022! We can’t wait to see you all there!
  • Soulmates
    As I plunge the depths of art and yoga, as I travel more, and find new next steps, it’s great to have a team member that can finish my sentences, and pick up my work where I leave it.

Have you always dreamed of hosting a big event?

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Mindfulness and Movement

Bringing about a better world is important to us, and we do it through mindfulness and movement.

From leading mindfulness classes and teacher workshops to creating materials, we help teachers and youth developers counter the distractions of 21st Century life.

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Mindfulness & Movement Activity Cards by Next Step laying on yoga mat

The activity card decks feature short activities that can easily be incorporated into busy classrooms, yoga classes, meetings, or everyday life.

Blog posts related to Mindfulness and 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.

Would you like some help paying better attention to your life?

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Food Education Team

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Seedling plants after being watered

The team at Next Step Adventure co-coordinates the state-wide Iowa Food Education Team. The team is made up of local and state entities that are working to increase the use of healthy, local foods in schools and early childhood education sites.

This is how we do the work:

  • Co-host monthly food education strategy meetings
  • Prepare agendas and minutes, with staff from the Iowa Department of Public Health
  • Facilitate monthly discussions
  • Engage with partners in bi-monthly Farm to School, and Early Child Care Coalition meetings
  • Support five food education virtual meetups

Imagine freeing up your schedule from some of the routine tasks of chairing meetings. Maybe even take some of those meetings off your schedule. Think of the time it’ll open up to plan, and even dream. To supervise and look at the big picture. All with a surrogate doing a stellar job of planning, organizing, and recording as the work is done.

Blog posts about the Food Education Team
  • 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.

Would you like some help coordinating your team?

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Chrysalis Afterschool

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Chrysalis school program

Evaluating the Chrysalis Afterschool Program for Girls was the first contract secured when we launched Next Step. That evaluation project expanded to include:

  • Professional development
  • Curriculum development
  • Project management

The Next Step Team loves helping accomplish important work like the Chrysalis afterschool girls’ groups. So many girls have benefited from the experience that Chrysalis offered. We love to see programs and people grow!

Blog posts related to Chrysalis Afterschool Girls Groups
  • Meet Someone
    Sometimes it’s hard to find a new activity to help break the ice at a class or meeting. I’m always looking for new ideas. I found this one that I put together a long time ago (I’m cleaning my office!) …
  • Learn about Money
    I’m STILL learning about money! During the last nine months, I’ve written checks bigger than I thought possible for remodeling my house, putting in a new driveway and front porch. It’s really exciting to be able to do these things, …
  • Start Your Business
    I think I’ve been a frustrated entrepreneur my whole life, so developing Next Step, Inc. has been an exciting adventure. When I was in high school, a lot of people thought that girls could only be moms, nurses, teachers or …

How can we help you achieve your goals?

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Teachers Going Green

Keep Iowa Beautiful and Teachers Going Green deployed so many of the skills and so much of the mission of Next Step. Starting in 2009, Gerry Schnepf asked Martha McCormick to develop an educational program to fulfill the educational mission of Keep Iowa Beautiful, which then had a strong educational, environmental emphasis. Martha and the team’s used their skills and experience in education & youth development to develop an online curriculum through a process that included:

  • Meeting with stakeholders across the state to gather their input
  • Sussing out curriculum requirements and aligning them with learning activities so teachers could justify using the lessons
  • Arranging for external evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the program.
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Teachers Going Green logo

We continue to work at getting kids outdoors and into the garden through projects with ISU Extension, Waukee Schools, and Field to Family.

Blog posts related to getting kids outdoors
  • 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 …
  • Nature Study
    I heard grumbling on the short walk to the restored prairie. “Why do we have to do this?” “I don’t like to draw.” “Plants are boring.” I did not respond but wondered if the prairie and I could win them …
  • Fresh Peaches
    Today a friend showed me her peach tree and told me to help myself. She plans to harvest all of the peaches this weekend and will have more than enough. Immediately, I started planning juicy peach slices for lunch followed …

How can we help you get your kids out of the house? And learning?

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Leadership Development

High school girls playing ball

Staff retreats are vital for the workplace. We facilitate meaningful activities that bring your group together as a team. Learn about personalities through the Real Colors Inventory, navigate mouse traps to develop team skills, work as a group to make lunch over the campfire – these are just a few of the many opportunities that await your group.

Just a few of the groups we’ve organized retreats for, or been involved with:

We take teams to the next level of leaderhsip. The Team at Next Step Adventure likes nothing better than to organize an adventure, even a quiet one, for your group.

Blog posts related to Leadership Development
  • 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.
  • Soulmates
    As I plunge the depths of art and yoga, as I travel more, and find new next steps, it’s great to have a team member that can finish my sentences, and pick up my work where I leave it.

Are you ready for your next staff retreat?

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