WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Herbert Hoover National Historic Site invites visitors to attend free ranger programs this summer.

Dr. Richard Baker continues his lecture series "Geology of the National Parks" with presentations on Acadia and Great Smoky Mountains (Wednesday, June 18 at 7 p.m.) and Mount Rainier and Crater Lake (Saturday, July 26 at 2 p.m.).  The programs are free. Meet at the visitor center.

Special musical events "Music on the Village Green" continue each Thursday night in June at 7 p.m.. The weekly performances feature bluesman Kevin "B.F." Burt (June 5), folk blues duo Joe and Vicki Price (June 12), mariachi musicians Las Guitarras De Mexico (June 19), and contemporary country performer Danika Holmes featuring Jeb Hart (June 26).

Join a national park ranger for "Campfire on the Village Green" on Saturday, June 14. The program is free and begins at 9:00 p.m. The ranger will discuss how national parks restore and preserve remnants of our nation's once vast tallgrass prairie. Visitors and their families are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, and toasting sticks and marshmallows.

On Saturday, June 21 and Monday, September 1, take the "Tallgrass Prairie Walk" to find out how and why the National Park Service is reconstructing this endangered habitat as part of the landscape commemorating Herbert Hoover's life. The walk begins at the Tallgrass Prairie Observation Deck (at the Gravesite Parking Lot) at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Take a walking tour of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. from July 9 through August 13.  A ranger leads you through the park's historic buildings: the Birthplace Cottage, Blacksmith Shop, Schoolhouse, and Friends Meetinghouse. The tour begins and ends at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in time for the 7 p.m. Wednesday movie.

Learn about "Herbert Hoover's National Parks" on Saturday, July 19. As President, Herbert Hoover's administration created a number of new national parks and monuments. Join a park ranger to learn about some of these special places. This indoor presentation takes place at 2 p.m. in the visitor center.

"Hoover's Hometown Days" on August 1 and 2 celebrates the life of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States. Enjoy free family fun Friday night and all day Saturday with a variety of family entertainment, craft vendors and more! Saturday night, view a spectacular fireworks display accompanied with music by the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. The celebration takes place throughout downtown West Branch. Visit www.hoovershometowndays.org for more information.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

Bettendorf - In partnership with the Iowa Museum Association, Governor Terry Branstad has declared June 9-15, 2014 Iowa Museum Week. The Family Museum staff would like to encourage the citizens of the Quad Cities to explore area museums. "Iowa Museum Week happens during a great time of year for families to get out of the house and into any one of the fantastic museums in the area - on both the Iowa and the Illinois sides of the river. The Quad Cities is rich with culture from our art museums to our botanical center to our history museums, and the Family Museum is honored to be included as one of the many educational assets of the community," said Family Museum Assistant Director Kim Kidwell.

Family Museum Director Jeff Reiter said, "Not only is Iowa Museum Week a time to celebrate Iowa museums, it's a time for us at the Family Museum to thank our community for its continuing support. It is because of the people of the City of Bettendorf and the Quad Cities that we are able to offer such exciting exhibits and dynamic programing. It's a time to thank our guests, our city leaders, our volunteers, our donors, and our sponsors. It's very humbling to work in such a supportive community."

According to the proclamation [view here], "Iowa's museums play a crucial role in preserving the historical fabric and memory of our state through the preservation of artifacts and archives." "Iowa's museums provide educational resources and programs which expand learning opportunities for all ages." "Iowa's museums contribute to a vibrant community and state economy through job creation, the purchase of goods and services, and by attracting tourism revenue to the community and the state." "Iowa's museums play a significant role in enhancing community quality of life." Branstad encourages the citizens of the state Iowa to celebrate by visiting and supporting the Iowa museum of their choice.

If you would like to contact the Iowa Museum Association, please contact Cynthia Sweet, Executive Director at (319) 239-2236 or imasweet@cfu.net.

Teachers use student-designed stickers to encourage great work

DES MOINES, IA (06/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) members around the state have used ISEA's student-designed stickers to celebrate student achievement and good work for over 29 years. Now in its 30th year, the popular Design-a-Decal program helps give statewide recognition to young art students when their winning designs are printed on stickers and educators use them to give positive feedback to their students. With encouraging messages like "Way 2 Go" and "Super Cool," the stickers get used on everything from homework assignments, to papers and projects.

Students competed in three, grade-level categories: elementary (K-5); junior high/middle school (6-8); and high school (9-12). The 24 winning designs are printed in full color on sheets of one-inch square stickers and each design is featured twice.

"The Design-a-Decal contest is one of our longest-standing programs because it's so much fun for the students. Art teachers who administer the program are very enthusiastic and the students who submit designs do a great job and love to participate, so it's a win-win for everyone. It's a wonderful way to encourage creativity. The end result is a terrific page of stickers our members can use on homework and other assignments to encourage more great work," said Tammy Wawro, president of the ISEA.

The students who created the designs used on the decal sheets receive two plaques from the ISEA-one they keep and one to be displayed at their school.

(A listing with names of the schools, supervising art teacher, and students whose designs were selected for use on the decal sheets is attached. Also attached is a picture of the winning decals.)

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Registration is now open for the 6th annual Engineering Kids Camp at the Putnam Museum. The one day camps will be held during the week of July 21st - July 25th for kids in grades 2nd - 8th.

The camp is a partnership between the Quad City Engineering & Science Council (QCESC), the Putnam Museum and the Iowa State University College of Engineering, who design and lead the camp.  Each one day camp will be an exciting, engaging experience for your young engineer. Three fun, hands-on sessions including LEGO robotics with challenges for various student experience levels, the opportunity to create and learn side-by-side with engineering students from Iowa State University and Quad City professional engineers, and a big screen 3D movie along with a camp t-shirt and lunch.

Camp free is $40 and includes lunch and a t-shirt. Camp runs 9am - 3pm daily with extended care available for additional fees at the Putnam Museum, 1717 W. 12th Street, Davenport, Iowa. Space is limited, register today atwww.putnam.org/What-s-Happening/SummerCamps or call 563-324-1933 ext. 266.

Dates:

• July 21st - Grade 4-6
• July 22nd - Grades 4-6
• July 23rd - Grades 2-3
• July 24th - Grades 4-8 GIRLS ONLY!
• July 25th Grades 7-8

For more information about the Iowa State University Engineering Kids Program, visit www.isek.iastate.edu. For more information on the Quad City Science & Engineering Council, visit www.qcesc.org.

For further information, please contact Pat Barnes atbarnespatricko@johndeere.com or (563) 370-5513.