September marks the first full month of the new school year in Iowa, which means that around the state, kids are putting books in their bags, teachers are sketching out lesson plans and administrators are walking the halls, all excited for the school year ahead.

As I prepare for the start of fall here in Washington D.C., I would personally like to welcome back to school all the students in Iowa, from those headed to their very first day to the students attending our great colleges and universities. Education is essential to our state and Iowans know and value the importance our education system gives to our children.

September is also a time to remember that even as we grow older, learning never stops. And a valuable resource to continue learning is the Library of Congress, where tools are available to teachers, students and their families online at www.loc.gov.

The Library of Congress posts historical pictures, documents and many other resources for of all students, young and old. Pieces from the Civil War, works of art from the American Revolution, personal histories of those who experienced the Civil Rights Movement, along with maps, photographs and historical artifacts, are part of over 19 million primary sources available online. And the information is completely free of charge.

The Library also has a page dedicated to teachers. At www.loc.gov/teachers, educators can access tutorials, webcasts, interactive activities and standard-based lesson plans based on grade level. In short, the Library of Congress has put together a great resource for students and faculty and I highly recommend taking a look at the website.

As Iowans start a new school year, I wish all of the administrators, students and teachers good luck and a successful year ahead.

A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here.

Most adults recall a time when summer meant endless hours of outdoor play (and the start of school the confinement of a classroom) - but most American children today spend the majority of summer indoors.  Studies show the average American child between the ages of 8 and 18 spends nearly eight hours per day, year round, indoors with televisions, computers, and video games.  The costs of this "indoor childhood" run the gamut from health problems to a reduced ability to relate to peers and adults and inability to concentrate.  Solutions to this trend are fairly simple, such as including unstructured time outdoors in a child's daily routine, as well as more outdoor education in schools.  The National Wildlife Federation campaign, Be Out There, aims to ensure that every child gets a daily "Green Hour" - 60 minutes of exposure to active outdoor play and/or nature.  Studies show academic performance in science, math, English, and social studies, as well as a sense of responsibility to their surroundings, increase when students have hands-on experiences with nature.  In addition, exposure to natural settings has shown to reduce symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and depression in children.  Be Out There provides practical tools for families and schools to make being outdoors a fun, automatic part of everyday life and return to America's children what they don't even know they've lost: their connection to the natural world!

At Rivermont Collegiate, education goes well beyond the classroom!  Rivermont students are provided a solid foundation in quantitative knowledge and written expression, while also completing a series of requirements that challenge biases, encourage personal expression, promote tolerance, and help students discover courage and inspiration.  Rivermont is excited to announce the addition of a formal Outdoor Education Program to the Upper School for the 2011-12 school year!  Students in grades 9-12 will be traveling to Camp Manito-wish in upper Wisconsin this September, experiencing a week of supervised physical challenges and varied living conditions, while learning to work with each other in overcoming physical, mental, and emotional obstacles.  The Outdoor Education Program at Rivermont is designed to challenge students to grow in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with one another.  Furthermore, thanks to the generosity of individuals, groups, and foundations, Rivermont is able to offer this inaugural program at no additional charge to students!

Rivermont Collegiate, located in Bettendorf, is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, multicultural college preparatory school for students in preschool through twelfth grade.  What are you waiting for?  Explore what Rivermont has to offer!  Drop in for Open Tours on Tuesday, September 6^th from 8:30-10:00 a.m. No appointment necessary!  This casual event gives families the opportunity to tour campus and explore our philosophy and programs.

Rivermont Collegiate is located at 1821 Sunset Drive, directly off 18^th Street behind K&K Hardware in Bettendorf.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!  For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate or Tuesday's Open Tours, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

For additional information on the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There and Green Hour campaigns, visit www.greenhour.org.  For additional information on Camp Manito-wish, visit www.manito-wish.org.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (09/01/2011)(readMedia)-- Forty-five Augustana College students are studying contemporary and historic Britain and Europe from the heart of one of the world's greatest cities, London. The Fall Term in London program offers students a chance to explore the area while studying with Augustana and British faculty.

From your area this includes:

Kayla Ferguson, a junior from, Orion, Ill. majoring in liberal studies.

Anna Tunnicliff, a junior from, Bettendorf, Iowa majoring in history.

Timothy Gillman, a senior from, Rock Island, Ill. majoring in geography.

John Peters, a senior from, Milan, Ill. majoring in history.

Laurel Williams, a senior from, Milan, Ill. majoring in communication sciences & disorders and English.

"London is a rich historical and cultural center," said Dr. Catherine Carter Goebel, professor and chair of art history at Augustana. "I particularly look forward to sharing its wonderful museums and fabulous art collections with our students. Studying art history through firsthand examination of some of the finest artwork in the world, as well as visiting relevant historic sites, is an exciting opportunity both for our Augustana students as well as their professor."

Joining Dr. Goebel in London will be Dr. Peter Kivisto, professor of sociology, anthropology and social welfare at Augustana. Five courses will be offered during the London term, including sociology and art history taught by Augustana professors, in addition to British history, theatre and contemporary politics taught by local faculty. Included with coursework and as part of the program are several group excursions in and around London, including guided tours of landmarks, museums, theatrical productions and a soccer match, as well as day trips to such historic sites as Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath and Oxford.

Traveling around and learning more about Great Britain and Europe is what attracted Martin King, a senior geography major from Oswego, Ill., to sign up for the study-abroad program. While in London, students will live in student apartments in the Kensington neighborhood. They will be based in Glasgow during a one-week excursion in Scotland.

Of the 45 Augustana students enrolled in the London program, 39 applied for and received $2,000 through the college's Augie Choice program to help pay for expenses. Augie Choice provides students with the opportunity for the kinds of learning that will make them stand out when they start careers or go on to graduate school.

For more information, contact Keri Rursch, director of public relations, at (309) 794-7721.

AMES, Iowa -- As waters recede from farmland that has been covered for several months by Missouri River flooding, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension are jointly planning a workshop for Monday, Sept. 12 to address cropland issues. The workshop will be conducted via webinar at several viewing sites in both states from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Extension agriculture staff will host the workshop sites and facilitate questions to the panel.

Topics to be covered during the webinar and extension presenters include : sedimentation and debris removal, Shawn Shouse, ISU Extension ag engineer; managing post flooding soils -- flooded soil syndrome, Mahdi Al-Kaisi, ISU Extension soil specialist; cover crops for soil health, Paul Jasa, UNL Extension engineer; and leases and crop insurance on flooded land, William Edwards, ISU Extension farm management specialist. Rick Koelsch, UNL associate dean of extension, will moderate the panel.

"It is important for us to share information with those tasked with caring for farmland post flooding, but it is also important for Extension to hear the concerns and specific issues these folks have on their land," said Shawn Shouse, extension ag engineer and planning committee member. "There is science that we can apply to this situation, but there is much that comes from farmer experience."

Physical damage to farm ground may include obvious things like erosion and sand deposition. But some effects are invisible, having to do with the loss of soil microbes and soil structure. Land managers need to start planning and acting as the waters recede so that the soil can be productive again for next year.

"Using webinar technology helps us reach the most people on both sides of the river without having them travel great distances," said John Wilson, UNL Extension educator and event co-chair. "It also allows for informal discussion at each site among those who have been most affected by the flood and with extension staff."

In Iowa, the workshop will be held at the following ISU Extension offices: Fremont County in Sidney, Harrison County in Logan, Mills County in Malvern and Monona County in Onawa. ISU Extension in West Pottawattamie County is hosting the session at the Lied Multipurpose Center, 3501 Harry Langdon Blvd, Council Bluffs and Woodbury County Extension is hosting at a site to be determined. Nebraska viewing sites will be in Auburn at a site to be announced, in Blair at the Blair City Hall Council Chambers, in Dakota City at the USDA Service Center, in Falls City at the Courthouse, in Omaha at the Douglas/Sarpy Extension Office and in Tekamah at the City Auditorium. The Extension agriculture educator hosting the workshop at each location will be available after the webinar to address additional questions and concerns, if needed.

The webinar also will be available in South Dakota at the Davison County Extension Complex in Mitchell and in Kennebec at the Lyman County Courthouse. Further information on the Flood Recovery for Cropland Workshop, including additional sites and information as it becomes available, is available on ISU and UNL extension websites:  www.extension.iastate.edu/topic/recovering-disasters and flood.unl.edu.

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