Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

University of Iowa hospitals expert takes questions on J&J concerns

Iowa orders pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Marion school board votes 5-2 to no longer consider ’Mavericks’

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

24-hour COVID-19 vaccine clinic to take place this weekend

US recommends 'pause' for J&J COVID-19 vaccine over clot reports

Cedar Rapids clinic to receive federal COVID-19 allocation starting this…

Home / News / Education

Off the Map: Fayette County group promotes taking kids outdoors

By: Katie Mills Giorgio Feb. 8, 2015 5:42 pm Updated: Feb. 8, 2015 5:42 pm
Off the Map: Fayette County group promotes taking kids outdoorsOff the Map: Fayette County group promotes taking kids outdoorsOff the Map: Fayette County group promotes taking kids outdoors

FAYETTE COUNTY - A group of dedicated volunteers is working to make sure kids get plenty of time outdoors.

Take a Kid Outdoors, or TAKO as it is commonly known, started in 2006 after a meeting in the living room of Richard E. 'Dick” Jensen of West Union. Jensen is considered the organization's founder and is a passionate advocate of all things nature.

'We wanted to promote unstructured enjoyment of nature,” said Kata McCarville, treasurer of TAKO.

TAKO offers at least one event per month that engages kids in outdoor fun. The group has sponsored everything from ice fishing, archery and sledding to panning for gold, planting corn and creating art in the park.

'Nature has a very positive affect on us as human beings and we want to make sure kids have some relationship with the natural world,” McCarville said.

'It helps meet their physical and emotional needs,” added TAKO President Leif White. 'And our programs encourage unstructured creativity outdoors.”

An important element of the programs is adult involvement.

'This is not just bringing a kid and leaving them for a fun program,” McCarville said. 'We want the adults to enjoy and become more confident in doing things outdoors with their kids. We are growing the ability of adults too.”

TAKO events have become popular with mentoring groups for that very reason, White said.

'We provide them with safe outdoor group activities,” White said. 'It is a natural partnership.”

TAKO also often collaborates with other organizations to develop the programs, including Fayette County Conservation, local 4-H groups, the Hawkeye Conservation Club, the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Club and Upper Iowa University.

'Our partners have some of the equipment and materials we need and we concentrate on getting people there,” White said.

In the past, programs have had as many as 80 participants, but typically average about 30. They run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends and include a free lunch, with all costs covered by TAKO.

'We have so much fun with it,” said McCarville, who favors programs about water and rocks based on her training as a geologist. 'And of course there is always a learning element involved.”

Leif White sleds with Bjorn White, 5, and Declan White, 3, who covers his eyes during a Take a Kid Outside (TAKO) sledding a cross country skiing event at Heritage Farm Park in Clermont on Saturday, February 7, 2015. Founded in 2006, TAKO is based in Fayette County and holds outdoor events for families throughout the year. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
Lucas Schaefers, 4, of Wadena, helps build snowmen during a Take a Kid Outside (TAKO) sledding a cross country skiing event at Heritage Farm Park in Clermont on Saturday, February 7, 2015. Founded in 2006, TAKO is based in Fayette County and holds outdoor events for families throughout the year. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)
Children sled and build snowmen during a Take a Kid Outside (TAKO) sledding a cross country skiing event at Heritage Farm Park in Clermont on Saturday, February 7, 2015. Founded in 2006, TAKO is based in Fayette County and holds outdoor events for families throughout the year. (Adam Wesley/The Gazette)

Katie Mills Giorgio

It’s time to return to the Tic Toc, Cedar Rapids…

Longbranch Hotel in Cedar Rapids adapts with micro weddings

Women of Achievement: Being in charge is ‘the most rewarding…

SoulGood Southern Diner in Cedar Rapids features family’s favorite dishes

Ornery Octopus aims for ‘treasure hunt’ appeal, selling overstock items…

All articles by Katie

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Iowa schools test for lead in drinking water

Iowa schools test for lead in drinking water

Erin Jordan News Nov. 29, 2019 6:33 pm

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg joining Iowa City strike Friday

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg joining Iowa City strike Friday

Molly Duffy News Oct. 3, 2019 5:08 pm

After Greta Thunberg ‘sniper’ post, Waterloo teacher quits

After Greta Thunberg ‘sniper’ post, Waterloo teacher quits

By Andrew Wind, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier Education Oct. 11, 2019 10:53 pm

Education

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

UNI cancels Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinic

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 2h ago

Mount Mercy names presidential finalists

Mount Mercy names presidential finalists

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 3h ago

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State hold mass vaccination clinics…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed Apr. 12, 2021 11:23 pm

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed Apr. 12, 2021 10:07 pm

News

Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 10 years in workplace shooting

Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 10 years in workplace shooting

Trish Mehaffey

Crime and Courts 90m ago

Cedar Rapids’ Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 24

Cedar Rapids’ Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 24

Community 90m ago

Iowa orders pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Iowa orders pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Michaela Ramm

News 2h ago

Iowa City organizations partnering to celebrate Earth Day with

Iowa City organizations partnering to celebrate Earth Day with "Greening…

Community 2h ago

Environment & Nature

Sports

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company