Throwback Thursday: MAGIC Camp

This week we're going way back-- to Tuesday.  Here's a look at some of the activities that are going on at MAGIC camp this week.


MAGIC (Mentoring a Girl in Construction) introduces high school girls age 14 or older to trade skill occupations such as carpentry, safety, electrical and highway construction and gives them a chance to learn from women already succeeding in these jobs. The event is taking place all week and is sponsored by KDOT.

“It’s important to let young women who will soon be entering the work force know about career opportunities in these previously non-traditional fields,” said KDOT Civil Rights Administrator Doria Watson. “This camp shows the students new career possibilities they may not have considered before.” 

Students will visit places such as Westar Energy’s Kansas Education and Science Park, Foley Equipment, Burlington Northern, Billiard Airport, Topeka Metro Transit Authority and KDOT’s Research Lab in addition to listening to several speakers in different transportation careers. They will participate in hands-on training and basic construction as well as learn about various modes of transportation and safety.  

“All these activities are designed to build self-confidence, leadership and team-oriented skills as the students explore occupational options they may not otherwise have had a chance to learn about,” Watson said. 

A total of 28 high school girls from the Topeka area are taking part in the camp, which will end tomorrow.  

Fund exchange popular with locals

Public works directors and elected leaders in Kansas were frustrated: because federal funding comes with specific standards and requirements, projects built with federal money cost more than projects built with local money. In response to their need to stretch their transportation dollars, KDOT created the Federal Funds Exchange. Under the program, local governments can swap their federal funds for state funds that carry fewer requirements. Because KDOT bears the costs of using the more-restrictive federal funds, the exchange rate is 90 cents of state money for every dollar of federal money.

The program has been an immediate and resounding success.

By having flexibility to construct projects to a county standard, rather than to federal standards, counties have been able to build projects at a 30% cost savings, according to Norm Bowers of the Kansas Association of Counties. 

Indeed.  Because of greater flexibility in the type and scope of projects that could be built under the fund exchange program, the miles improved for $25 million (federal aid program) increased from 15.4 miles in 2010 to 195.2 miles in 2011. 

What's on your Kansas Bucket List?

With the summer travel season upon us, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism wants to know:  what’s on your Kansas Bucket List?

The Kansas Bucket List is a new social media campaign that encourages Kansans to share their must see and do Kansas experiences on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #KSBucketList. Images submitted with the #KSBucketList hashtag may be featured on the www.KSBucketLIst.com website and the 70 most unique and engaging experiences will be featured in the winter issue of KANSAS! magazine to coincide with the 70^th anniversary of the publication.

So what would you include on your Kansas Bucket List? Here are a few of our favorites:

Castle Rock & Monument Rocks, Gove County

Boothill Museum, Dodge City

World’s Largest Ball of Twine, Cawker City

Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Goddard

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase County

Kansas Speedway

Don’t forget to use www.kandrive.org to plan your Kansas road trip!

Motoring Monday: Syracuse Sand Dunes Park

The Syracuse Sand Dunes Park is the largest sand dunes park in Kansas and one of the largest in the Midwest.

Opened in 2007, the Sand Park offers 1,300 acres of dunes, rolling hills, bowls and some fast flat areas that will appeal to sand drag enthusiasts. Sand trails have been expanded through the park. RV parking, camping and restrooms are available at the park. The park also includes a 40-acre kid-friendly fishing pond that has been stocked.

Check out the website here.