Hi Young Naturalists
I received an email about an art contest that might interest some of you.
Find the beauty of nature in your own backyard!
Youth are invited to submit original artwork, writing or photography in the Robert Bateman Get To Know Contest. This year’s theme is biodiversity, celebrating the connections between all living things and their environment. Contest deadline is May 27, so enter today!
The contest runs until May 27, 2009. Visit http://www.gettoknow.ca/en/kids/contest/ for more information and to submit your entry.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Save the Frogs Day
Guys! Save the frogs! This is a really interesting website that may interest you. There are a couple of contests coming up that you can enter, such as a frog art contest and a frog poetry contest. But most of all, the idea is to spread the word about how the world's frogs are struggling. Raising awareness is the first step to getting people to protect our frogs -- by protecting habitat, limiting pollution, and other important steps.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
April program
All right! On Saturday we'll be having our next-to-last meeting for the year. And I won't be there! But you guys will get to have lots of fun with Marg, Heather, Pat, and Tigan and Kristina.
April's a great month to play catch up on some of the things we've been wanting to do -- like owl pellets, and visiting the pond. I believe that you guys will also get to be the second group ever to attempt the brand-new Treesure Hunt. Should be fun!
Remember to bring your sightings -- we should be getting some pretty spectacular creatures now that spring migration is going full steam ahead. I've seen bluebirds and kingfishers, great blue herons, turtles, garter snakes, and lots more this month.
So remember: 10am at the nature centre. Dress for the weather, although it is supposed to be sunny and very warm so you should be good! I am still working out details for May's outing -- our final outing of the year -- which if all goes well will be for us to get a private bird-banding demonstration at rare Charitable Research Reserve on May 30. Will let everyone know as soon as I've got details confirmed.
April's a great month to play catch up on some of the things we've been wanting to do -- like owl pellets, and visiting the pond. I believe that you guys will also get to be the second group ever to attempt the brand-new Treesure Hunt. Should be fun!
Remember to bring your sightings -- we should be getting some pretty spectacular creatures now that spring migration is going full steam ahead. I've seen bluebirds and kingfishers, great blue herons, turtles, garter snakes, and lots more this month.
So remember: 10am at the nature centre. Dress for the weather, although it is supposed to be sunny and very warm so you should be good! I am still working out details for May's outing -- our final outing of the year -- which if all goes well will be for us to get a private bird-banding demonstration at rare Charitable Research Reserve on May 30. Will let everyone know as soon as I've got details confirmed.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
March program
Spring is definitely springing. I have crocuses flowering in my garden, and robins singing in my backyard. Not that long ago I saw my first great blue heron of the season, and yesterday I saw a number of turkey vultures!
All of this means, of course, that it's time for our annual Maple Syrup program at the sugar bush. I've sent out an email: remember, we're not at the nature centre this month! Also, I hope you guys bring along your appetites, because we're supplying hot dogs and buns for roasting over a maple-scented fire at the end of the program.
If you're coming, please let us know so that we can make sure to have enough food! Also, the sugar bush is really muddy at this time of year, so everyone should make sure to wear good footwear.
See you there!
All of this means, of course, that it's time for our annual Maple Syrup program at the sugar bush. I've sent out an email: remember, we're not at the nature centre this month! Also, I hope you guys bring along your appetites, because we're supplying hot dogs and buns for roasting over a maple-scented fire at the end of the program.
If you're coming, please let us know so that we can make sure to have enough food! Also, the sugar bush is really muddy at this time of year, so everyone should make sure to wear good footwear.
See you there!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
sightings from January and February 2009
I have two months' worth of sightings to report here, thanks to the fact that I forgot the book at the Nature Centre last month.
January 2009
Not a bad list for what is generally regarded as a slow time of year! Same for the next one:
February 2009
From Cuba:
If you look at February's list, it's clear that our spring animals are starting to show up: killdeer, kestrels, and skunks are all either migrants or hibernators, and some of the very earliest signs of spring.
Good work Young Naturalists!
I'll be posting more information about our next program in a week or two.
January 2009
- snowy owl
- shrike
- fox
- northern harrier (marsh hawk)
- raccoon
- hawk (peregrine falcon?)
- 4 bald eagles
- cooper's hawk
- bay-breasted warbler??
- crows
- chickadee
- junco
- woodpecker
- nuthatches
- mourning doves
- white-winged crossbills
- pine siskins
- common redpoll
Not a bad list for what is generally regarded as a slow time of year! Same for the next one:
February 2009
From Cuba:
- palm warblers
- iguana
- very small boa constrictor
- rice paper butterflies
- common redpoll
- pine siskins
- red-tailed hawk
- cardinal
- downey woodpecker
- red-bellied woodpecker
- ravens
- killdeer
- kestrels
- northern harrier
- skunk
- red-shouldered hawk
- raccoon (drunk on fermented plums!)
- mallard ducks
If you look at February's list, it's clear that our spring animals are starting to show up: killdeer, kestrels, and skunks are all either migrants or hibernators, and some of the very earliest signs of spring.
Good work Young Naturalists!
I'll be posting more information about our next program in a week or two.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
February 21st: extra February outing!
Hi Young Nats!
In case you weren’t able to be there for the extra outing this past Saturday, here’s what went on...
Ontario Nature invited our Young Naturalists to a special outing they sponsored for us along with the Guelph YN at Shade’s Mill Conservation Area in Cambridge. Since there wasn’t enough snow for our original plan of snowshoeing, we got to try our hand at orienteering. Wendy, one of the interpreters at Shade’s, taught us basic use of a compass. Then, families headed off into the wilds with only a compass, list of coordinates and a map of the conservation area. We worked hard to walk in exactly the right direction so we could find the -- sometimes well-hidden -- white and orange signs with secret symbols. My group had to back-track a few times but that was part of the fun. I guess our outdoor adventure skills aren’t too bad though, since all the groups made it back to the nature centre!
There were 6 families and 3 leaders from the KW YN. Ann and Tamara, leaders of the Guelph YN were both there. Unfortunately, none of the Guelph families were able to attend but we were very excited about the great ideas we have for getting the two clubs together in the future. Keep your ears open for cool events next year!
KW Young Naturalists would like to thank Clare and Ontario Nature, KW Field Naturalists, Guelph Field Naturalists and Wendy from the GRCA for a great afternoon!
Marg KWFN YN
***
And thanks Marg, for writing this post for us!
In case you weren’t able to be there for the extra outing this past Saturday, here’s what went on...
Ontario Nature invited our Young Naturalists to a special outing they sponsored for us along with the Guelph YN at Shade’s Mill Conservation Area in Cambridge. Since there wasn’t enough snow for our original plan of snowshoeing, we got to try our hand at orienteering. Wendy, one of the interpreters at Shade’s, taught us basic use of a compass. Then, families headed off into the wilds with only a compass, list of coordinates and a map of the conservation area. We worked hard to walk in exactly the right direction so we could find the -- sometimes well-hidden -- white and orange signs with secret symbols. My group had to back-track a few times but that was part of the fun. I guess our outdoor adventure skills aren’t too bad though, since all the groups made it back to the nature centre!
There were 6 families and 3 leaders from the KW YN. Ann and Tamara, leaders of the Guelph YN were both there. Unfortunately, none of the Guelph families were able to attend but we were very excited about the great ideas we have for getting the two clubs together in the future. Keep your ears open for cool events next year!
KW Young Naturalists would like to thank Clare and Ontario Nature, KW Field Naturalists, Guelph Field Naturalists and Wendy from the GRCA for a great afternoon!
Marg KWFN YN
***
And thanks Marg, for writing this post for us!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
extra February outing - please RSVP!
Just a quick reminder about our extra outing this weekend! I sent out an email with details and a map, but if you haven't received the information please let me know and I will get it to you as soon as possible.
If you know you're coming, please try to let me know so that I can get the numbers to the organizers, so we have enough equipment. Remember to dress warmly and be prepared in case we can't go snowshoeing to be doing other cool (pun intended) activities! Otherwise, you don't need to bring anything along except yourselves.
If you know you're coming, please try to let me know so that I can get the numbers to the organizers, so we have enough equipment. Remember to dress warmly and be prepared in case we can't go snowshoeing to be doing other cool (pun intended) activities! Otherwise, you don't need to bring anything along except yourselves.
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