National Dog Day

National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and was founded in 2004 by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate, Colleen Paige.

National Dog Day serves to help the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.

Here are some FUN Dog Facts:

– Dogs are capable of understanding up to 250 words and gestures, can count up to five and can perform simple mathematical calculations. The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child.

-In total there is said to be around 400 million dogs in the world.

-Dog have superior hearing than humans, capable of hearing sounds at four times the distance.

-Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell, they are capable of differentiating odors in concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans can.

-According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.

-The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.

-Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill.

 

For more fun doggy facts please visit: http://www.funnyfidos.com/fun-dog-facts/

Celebrating National Honey Month: From Hive to the Table

Image Source: Pixabay.com

The journey of honey from the bee hive to your kitchen table starts with the honey bee. There is a total of around 20,000 separate species of bees in the world but only about 7 of those are different types of honey bees.

Honey bees collect pollen and nectar from blooming flowers and plants. These honey bees that collect pollen and nectar are called worker bees. Worker bees are exclusively all females. Worker bees are able to reach the nectar that is in the flower by using their tongue, also known as a proboscis (pro·bos·cis). The bees’ tongue works like a straw, she unrolls her tongue and dips it into a flower. She then sucks up the nectar like you would when drinking from a straw.

Easily see this bee’s tongue!

A worker bee drinks the liquid nectar and stores it in a special stomach called the honey stomach. The bee continues to forage, visiting hundreds of flowers, until its honey stomach is full. Within the honey stomach, enzymes break down the complex sugars of the nectar into simpler sugars. With a full honey stomach, the worker bee heads back to the hive and regurgitates the already modified nectar to a hive bee. The hive bee ingests the nectar and further breaks down the sugars. It then regurgitates the nectar into a cell of the honeycomb.

Once the liquid honey is in the comb the bees go to work to get all that extra water out. Failure to reduce the extra water in the nectar would result in fermenting and spoiling. They evaporate the water from the nectar by fanning the honeycomb with their wings in an effort to speed up the process of evaporation. When most of the water has evaporated from the honeycomb, the bee seals the comb with a secretion of liquid from its abdomen, which eventually hardens into beeswax.

So how does the beekeeper know when the honey is ready for harvest? The beekeeper will look for a few signals in the hive to let him know if the honey is ready. The first signal is if there are open combs (not capped with beeswax) with nectar leaking out. If all the frames in the beehive are all filled with capped honey, the beekeeper can then uncap the combs and start to harvest. Another good way to tell if the honey in your hive is ready to harvest is the season. Usually once the last major nectar flow of the season is complete, your hive’s honey will be ready!

Beekeeper tending to her "super".

So what happens after your beehive is full of honey and ready to be harvested? Well a beekeeper will remove the frames from the beehive box – called a super – and uses a heated knife or scraper to shave off the waxed caps sealing the honeycomb. He places the frames, heavy and oozing with honey, into a hand-cranked centrifuge and spins them, forcing the honey onto the walls of the drum, where it drips to the bottom. As the drum fills, the beekeeper will open a spigot and strain the honey through cheesecloth to remove stray bits of wax or other debris. Then it gets bottled in sanitized canning jars. According to urban beekeeper, Don Eidam of the San Francisco Bay Area, says that

“Harvests vary from year to year and colony to colony, but a typical hive of 60,000 bees will produce, on average, 40 to 60 pounds of honey.”

Once your honey is bottled it can last for years without any sort of refrigeration. It naturally resists molds, bacteria, and other fungi’s that commonly spoil other foods.

So the next time you buy a jar of honey from your local farmer’s market, just think about all the work that went into making that sweet delicious treat! From the bees bringing the nectar into the hive and processing the nectar into honey. To a beekeeper processing the honey from the honeycomb. Then straining out any beeswax or impurities and then the bottling process. There is a lot of work involved to bring that sweet golden honey all the way to your own kitchen table! 

Bonus Honey Facts:

  • Honey is the only food product created by an insect that humans eat.
  • There is a 15,000 year old cave painting in Spain which depicts a human figure robbing honey out of a beehive.
  • There were 2,000 year old vats of sealed honey found in King Tut’s tomb. The honey is believed to be still edible.
  • Male bees are called “Drones” and they do not have stingers, their only purpose is to mate with the queen bee.
  • The average honey bee’s wings flap over 183 times per second.
  • Bees have an excellent sense of smell which allows them to find their hive.

Sources: 

http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Honey-harvest-From-hive-to-table-3180156.php

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-know-when-to-harvest-honey-from-your-beehiv.html

http://www.honeybeesuite.com/tag/honey-stomach/​

http://www.keeping-honey-bees.com/how-do-bees-make-honey.html

http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/how-do-bees-make-honey.html

2015-2016 School Year Grants!

Start the 2015-2016 school year off with excitement! There’s no better way to get students out of the “summer slump” and back on track than with High Touch High Tech!

Looking for ways to fund your next High Touch High Tech workshop? Whether your looking to fund your next exciting elementary programs or upcoming senior science, the grants listed below are a fantastic resource for all educators!

August 2015

The Gopher Turtle Council’s environmental education grant supports educators and organizations committed to developing educational projects about the gopher tortoise and the world in which it lives. Apply by August 31, 2015.

The mission of Hot Planet / Cool Athletes is to ensure the next generation is educated and energized to lead the fight against climate change. Students can apply for the chance to win up to $5,000 to create green programs at their schools. Apply by August 31, 2015.

Deadline: August 1 to November 1, 2015

The American Honda Foundation engages in grant making that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. We support youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment. Applications are accepted four times per year — February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.

Creative and stimulating projects can go a long way in helping students understand material. Our State invites you to submit a classroom project idea to be completed by May 31, 2015 (during the 2014-2015 school year). One project will be selected by the judges to receive up to $500 to bring the project to life.

       
Deadline: August 3 to October 16, 2015

The annual Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant program is a great source of funding for improvement projects at public schools in the U.S. Grant funding falls into three categories, including “technology upgrades, tools for STEM programs, and facility renovations and safety improvements. If you’re looking to beautify your school, or enhance your technology and STEM offerings, this is the program for you.
Prize: Grants can range from $2,000 to $100,000, which a large majority falling in the $2,000 to $5,000 range.

Deadline: August 1 to September 30, 2015

Would you like to take your students on a field trip next year, but the challenge is funding is holding you back? Consider applying for a Target grant for class field trips. Each year, Target supports teachers across the country, providing small, one-time grants to help fund the out-of-class learning experiences. Interested grant seekers can apply online and view local learning field trips that have been funded.
Prize: Grants are available up to $700.

September 2014

Deadline: September 28, 2015

Organizations, including schools, non-profits and government agencies, are invited to apply for grants up to $1,500 to develop or implement environmental curricula that integrate hands-on ecology exercises into the classroom. One-page pre-proposals are due September 28, 2014.

 
Deadline: September 30, 2015

Project Learning Tree® (PLT), an award-winning national environmental education program for educators and students in grades PreK-12, has GreenWorks! grants of up to $1,000 available to schools and youth organizations for environmental service-learning projects. Students “learn by doing” through community action projects they design and implement to improve an aspect of their school or neighborhood’s environment. These environmental action projects blend community service with academic curriculum to link classroom learning to the real world.

Sponsored by North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy® cooperatives, Bright Ideas education grants provide funding for hands-on classroom projects that fall outside normal funding parameters. Each year, about $600,000 is given out to teachers across the state by our state’s electric cooperatives. Applications are accepted from April through mid-September.

The Captain Planet Foundation provides grants of up to $2,500. The Foundation supports high-quality, hands-on environmental stewardship projects that have enabled more than 1.1M youth across the U.S. and around the world make significant environmental improvements to their schools or communities.

Ongoing

As part of Annie’s commitment to school gardens, the company created the Annie’s Garden Funder on CrowdRise to empower schools and like-minded friends to raise money for school gardens.

Schools that receive a honeybee observation hive agree to run an annual fundraiser selling Bee Cause Honey to help pay for the ongoing care of the bee family they have adopted and for the installation of honeybee observation hives at other schools.

The Karma for Cara Foundation is encouraging kids 18 and under to apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. Whether it is turning a vacant lot into a community garden, rebuilding a school playground or helping senior citizens get their homes ready for winter, they want to hear what project you’re passionate about. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives serve more than 2.5 million people across North Carolina in 93 of the state’s 100 counties. The cooperatives emphasize the importance of community involvement, integrity, accountability and innovation, and as part of that commitment, sponsor Bright Ideas education grants. These grants provide funding for hands-on classroom projects for students in grades K–12 throughout the state.

 

Clif Bar Family Foundation Small Grants are awarded for general organizational support or to fund specific projects that protect the Earth, create a healthy food system, increase opportunities for outdoor activity, reduce environmental health hazards, and build stronger communities. The grants, averaging approximately $8,000 each, are awarded four times per year.

Community Recycling KIDS [CR KIDS], an environmentally conscious textile recycling program that collects clothing, bags, belts, and shoes you no longer need. These materials will be recycled for reuse around the globe. We are making recycling convenient, fun, rewarding and educational for kids. Community Recycling is founded on the principle that we are People Recycling For People. Won’t you join us in our movement to inspire kids to collect textiles for reuse, creating a lifetime of good choices and a greener nature?

Want to make a difference? Take action? Solve a tough community problem? YSA can help! Whether you’re a kid, teen, educator, or adult mentor, YSA Grants power youth-led service and service-learning projects with funding, training, and resource support.

The World We Want Foundation promotes and supports youth making positive social change in their communities and around the world. The Foundation works with and through the partner organizations and mentors that applicants provide, helps young people design and conduct meaningful social action projects, provides micro-grants to support projects, and more.

The Gannett Foundation supports local organizations in communities served by the Gannett Company. In North Carolina, this includes the Asheville and Greensboro markets. Priorities include education and neighborhood improvement, youth development, community problem-solving and environmental conservation. Applications considered twice a year: February 15 and August 15 (some areas may have earlier deadlines).

Shoe recycling is a simple way for your organization or school to make money. ShoeBox Recycling will pay $.50 per pound for paired, secondhand shoes. No shipping costs!

Through its National Giving Program, the Walmart Foundation awards grants of $250,000 and above to non-profit organizations that operate on a national scope through chapters/affiliates in many states around the country or through programs that operate regionally/locally but seek funding to replicate program activities nationally. The Foundation accepts program ideas year-round using the Letter of Inquiry format only.

The Cornell Douglas Foundation provides grants to organizations that advocate for environmental health and justice, encourage stewardship of the environment, and further respect for sustainability of resources. The average grant amount is $10,000. Applications accepted year-round.

The National Wildlife Federation’s tree bank program provides free trees to schools, youth groups and nonprofit organizations. Apply by January 31 for spring planting dates (February-May 10) and by September 21 for fall planting dates (October-January).

The Environmental Research & Education Foundation accepts proposals for research projects and educational initiatives for developing tools that promote awareness or increase knowledge of the solid waste industry. Awards are generally up to $500,000. Pre-proposals are due by 5 p.m. each May 21 and October 1.

The Bank of America offers grants that support high-impact initiatives, organizations and the development of visionary leaders. Schools with farm-to-school programs may be eligible under the areas: (1) assisting with food access and/or (2) developing career leadership and skills. Requests for proposals are issued three times per year.

The Bush Fellowship is an opportunity for individuals to increase their capacity for and improve their practice of leadership, while working with others to solve tough problems in their communities. Applications accepted three times per year.

Westinghouse provides grants to nonprofit programs that support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, environmental sustainability, and community vitality. Grants of up to $5,000 are available for programs located not more than 100 miles from a Westinghouse site. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed four times per year.

Costco Wholesale grants support programs focusing on children, education and health and human services. They look to achieve the greatest impact where Costco’s employees and members live and work. Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, which meet their giving guidelines and focus areas, are considered. Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.

The current rate of funding for science proposals in the U.S. is about 20%. The #SciFund Challenge is an experiment – can scientists use crowdfunding to fund their research? It is also a way to get scientists to directly engage with the public. Crowdfunding forces scientists to build public interaction and outreach into their research from day one.

Campus Progress works with youth-led community and campus groups on various issues, including the environment. Young people can join an Action Alliance with Campus Progress by applying for an organizing grant of up to $1,500 a year to help with websites, fliers or anything else they might need. Organizing grant applications are accepted year round.

FundingFactory is a free program where schools, non-profits, and charities earn points that can be redeemed for cash or products by recycling their empty printer cartridges, cell phones, laptops, and other small electronics.

The NiSource Charitable Foundation funds nonprofit organizations focusing on learning and science education, environmental and energy sustainability, community vitality and development, and public safety and human services. Eligible organizations must have a direct impact in a NiSource service area.

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) and Dreyer’s Fruit Bars are planting orchards across the country in a collaborative program called “Communities Take Root,” and your town could be next! They invite your community to apply for this exciting opportunity to grow fresh fruit, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen relationships and build community food security—all through the simple act of planting fruit trees.

“Fruit Tree 101” is a program that creates outdoor edible orchard classrooms at public schools of all levels, across the country, to provide generations of students with environmental education opportunities and a source of organic fruit for improved school lunch nutrition.

The EarthEcho Water Planet Challenge Grants of $2,000 are available to middle and high school public educators to support service-learning programs that improve the health of the planet. Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed three times per year.

The Simply Organic 1% fund supports and promotes the growth of organic and sustainable agriculture. One percent of sales on all Simply Organic spices, seasonings, flavors and mixes goes to support organic agriculture — through research, education and grower development.

The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation supports grassroots organizations and movements in the U.S. working to change environmental, social, economic and political conditions to bring about a more just, equitable and sustainable world. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Need some funding for your crazy brilliant idea? The Awesome Foundation awards $1,000 grants every month. It couldn’t be simpler. Deadlines are rolling.

Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is a grassroots public health effort to engage stakeholders at the local, state and national level to support salad bars in schools. The program’s goal is to fund and award 6,000 salad bars over the next three years. Any K-12 school district participating in the National School Lunch Program is eligible. Applications accepted throughout the year.

Pets in the Classroom is an educational grants program to help bring aquarium fish or small pets into PK-8th grade classrooms. You can obtain a grant or coupon for the purchase of new pets, pet environments or pet food and supplies for existing classroom pets. Applications accepted year-round.

The International Paper Foundation supports non-profit organizations in communities where its employees live and work. Environmental education is one of the primary areas the Foundation supports. An online application process routes applications to the appropriate local facility for consideration. Contact your local facility for submission deadlines.

Public school teachers who register their classroom at the Adopt-a-Classroom website can be adopted by an individual, business or foundation. Once adopted, teachers will receive credit to purchase items that enrich the learning environment, including classroom technology.

Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas supports projects in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, environmental justice and environmental education. While proposals are accepted all year, ideal timing is during the first quarter of the calendar year.

The Cedar Tree Foundation makes grants in the following areas of concern: environmental education, environmental health and sustainable agriculture. Particular consideration is given to proposals demonstrating strong elements of environmental justice and/or conservation within the program areas listed above. Letters of inquiry accepted year-round.

The Lawrence Foundation is a private, family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, education, human services and other causes. Applications are open to any organization that meets the grant guidelines. Two grant cycles a year. The deadlines are April 30 and November 1.

Through the Sip to Support a Garden program, schools and community gardens can earn year-round funding for their garden programs. Register your school or public community garden group with Jamba’s swipe card program and every time a supporter of your group uses the card at a participating Jamba Juice, your program gets 10% of the sales.

Eligible schools may apply for up to $4,000 to help increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. The grants can be used for a variety of activities, tools, materials, student and staff incentives, staff development, and overall Fuel Up to Play 60 program implementation. Applications accepted four times per year.

These grants seek to strengthen the stewardship of public lands by strengthening Friends Groups through funding for organizational capacity building. Applications are accepted April 30 and October 30 every year.

These grants support health, including food security and improved nutrition; environment, including water security, sustainable agriculture, and adaptive approaches to climate change; and education, including access to education and training for the underserved and women’s empowerment. Requests up to $100,000 are accepted year-round.

The Office Depot Foundation awards grants to support activities that serve, teach and inspire children, youth and families, and to support civic organizations and activities that serve community needs. Grants range from $50 to $3,000. Applications are reviewed year-round.

The Verizon Foundation awards grants to K-12 schools to increase literacy and educational achievement levels. Proposals are considered from public and private elementary and secondary schools registered with the National Center for Education Statistics. Unsolicited proposals are reviewed on a continuous calendar year basis, from January 1 – October 14.

The ING Foundation awards grants of $2,500 to $100,000 and more to non-profit organizations. The Foundation focuses on financial literacy, children’s education, diversity and environmental sustainability. Grant requests are reviewed quarterly.

The MeadWestvaco Foundation seeks to provide leadership for advancing research, education and public dialogue on public policy issues of special interest, such as the economy, regulation and environmental stewardship. Proposals for grants are accepted throughout the year. Grants range from $250 to $10,000.

WaysToHelp.org invites teens in the U.S. to apply for grants to fund their community service ideas across any one of 16 issue areas, including the environment. Grant requests are reviewed and responded to on a monthly basis. Grants up to $500 are awarded.

Recognizing that healthy, thriving communities depend on involved citizens, organizations, and corporate partners for momentum, Waste Management lends its support and services to programs related to environmental education, the environment and the community. Applications accepted year-round.

The Norcross Wildlife Foundation supports grassroots organizations in the U.S. working to protect wild land. Grants averaging $5,000 are provided primarily for program-related office and field equipment and public education and outreach materials. The Foundation also provides no-interest loans to acquire land prioritized for conservation. Applications may be submitted at any time.

Competitive grants are available to not-for-profit, grassroots organizations in the U.S. that facilitate progressive social change by addressing the underlying conditions of societal and environmental problems. Only proposals from grassroots, constituent-led organizations are considered. Letters of interest may be submitted at any time.

Young people ages 18-25 are eligible to apply for grants to pursue research, exploration, and conservation-related projects consistent with National Geographic’s existing grant programs, including the Committee for Research and Exploration, the Expeditions Council, and the Conservation Trust. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Environmental Education Centers may be eligible for a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). (Federal Agencies and for-profit institutions are not elegible.) The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

The Fund for Wild Nature provides “small grants to small groups who get things done.” The fund provides money for campaigns (including development of citizen science endeavors) to save and restore native species, biological diversity and wild ecosystems. Most grants awarded in the past ranged from $1,000-$3,000.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has initiated a small grants program in North Carolina and Virginia as part of its strategic plan to identify and cultivate its constituency, to build value with the supporting public, to create community awareness of the Parkway as an economic and quality of life resource, and to assist the Blue Ridge Parkway with the accomplishment of its goals.

Grants in amounts up to $500 will be awarded upon successful application from private agencies, schools, arts councils, and other not-for-profit organizations whose programs and projects support the mission of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Deadline: December 16, 2015

Are you succeeding in science lab instruction with minimal equipment? The Shell Science Lab Challenge gives you an opportunity to share your exemplary approach for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000!

Invigorate student participation through a national K-12 recycling competition.

The AIAA offers classroom grants of up to $200 for science and math programs. K-12 teachers who use science, math, or technology in the classroom can apply.

 

Mini-grants are available from the Entomological Foundation for curriculum development efforts or workshops emphasizing the uses of insects in K-12 educational settings.

 

The NSTA has more than a dozen grant and recognition programs for teachers.

 

Five hundred dollar grants are available annually from the NWA for K-12 teachers who help to improve meteorology education for their students. The selected teachers can use the funds to take an accredited course in atmospheric sciences, attend a relevant workshop or conference, or purchase scientific materials and equipment for the classroom.

 

Up to $10,000 to student/teacher groups for projects tackling environmental issues.

Use Your Smartphone to Project 3D Holograms

Today, High Touch High Tech employees happened upon a video showing how to project a hologram into 3D with just a few simple supplies and your smartphone!

https://ca.screen.yahoo.com/tech-tips/turn-smartphone-3d-hologram-projector-123504255.html

Here is what our 3D hologram looks like:

Download the App on the Google Play Store called Hologram Projector!!

Would you buy a STEM Doll?

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Image Source: MGA Entertainment – Permission grated to use Image on  8-11-2015

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics make up the acronym STEM. The integration of STEM has gained momentum in education in the United States. This is partly because of the increased emphasis on it by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and federal funding of legislation for STEM.

Recently the toy company MGA Entertainment launched a line of four dolls, each of which focuses on an aspect of STEM. Each doll comes with a working experiment kit, so kids can play and feel inspired to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The line of dolls called Project Mc² comes with a matching experiment kit, to create working volcanoes, lava lights, glow stick necklaces or blueprint skateboards.  Customers can build and rebuild all of these projects using household ingredients.

 

Why dolls?

In response to a growing demand to get girls interested in STEM, MGA Entertainment released dolls that could act as smart, empowered role models.

In addition to incorporating STEM, MGA Entertainment didn’t want every doll to look exactly the same.

“We wanted the characters to reflect what a real life group of friends would look like,” Isaac Larian, CEO of MGA Entertainment said. “Each character is engineered to stand at a different height, has a unique face sculpt and represents a different cultural background.”

In addition to the release of the dolls, a Netflix Original series also titled Project Mc² will premiere on August 7, 2015. The show focuses on four girls inspired by the dolls who are recruited to join a top-secret spy organization.

Available NOW on Netflix!!

National Honey Month

Image Source: Pixabay.com

September is National Honey Month! 

Honey’s versatility is not the only thing that makes it unique. There are more than 300 varietals of honey in the United States alone, each with a distinct flavor profile and color based on the floral source where the bees collect the nectar. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is stronger.

Fun fact: to make one pound of honey, a honeybee needs to tap 2 million flowers. No wonder they’re called worker bees.

Confucius Day

Image Source: Pixabay.com

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

                                                                                  -Confucius

When : Always September 29th

Confucius Day honors one of the world’s greatest philosophers.

Born in China on October 18, 551 B.C., Confucius is one of the earliest, and perhaps the the first great philosopher. He was also a teacher, a scholar, and a politician.

Checkers Day

Image Source: Pixabay.com

Get out the Checker Board. Today is Checkers Day. Surprisingly, this day is not named after the classic board game.

On September 23, 1952, vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon gave a speech to address growing public concern about his use of campaign funds. He assured the public that he had not misused the funds, but that he intended to keep one gift—a little dog that the Nixon children named Checkers.

International Peace Day

Image Source: Pixabay.com

When : Always September 21st

International Peace Day seeks a global cessation of violence and war. Each year on this day, celebrations are held in hundreds of countries, all with the same goal in mind….to stop war and violence. Created and sponsored by the United Nations, this day seeks to end war.

See more on this special day, at the United Nations Webpage on International Peace Day.