At Home Activities/ Resources - Bringing Nature to You!

Below are some activities and resources that you and your family can utilize to stay connected to nature while social distancing!

• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - DIY Turtle Nest Protection Cage
  Click here for instuctions to build a DIY turtle nest protection cage. It's a great family project and will protect the vulnerable eggs from predators. Once you've seen a turtle lay their eggs (typically in a sandy or gravel area), place the nest protector over top and do not disturb the nest further. Come fall, keep watch for emerging baby turtles! 
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Nature Journaling
  Click here for tips and prompts for nature journals. The possibilities for nature journals are endless - you can keep track of what interests you most, illustrate, and add in unique findings about plants, wildlife, weather, or whatever you see!
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Know Your Migratory Birds!
  How well do you know your migratory birds? Match the bird silhouette with the species name, and then the fact! Can you get 100%?
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Ontario Turtle ID
  Click for an ID sheet on the 8 species of turtles found in Ontario to learn about our shelled friends!
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Make a Bird Mask
  Who is your favorite bird? A craft Pileated Woodpecker? A mysterious owl? A bright red cardinal? Click here to learn how to make a mask of your favorite feathered friends.
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Explore Your Yard!
  Click here for a list of games and activities you can do in your own backyard to stay connected to nature!
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Bannock in the Backyard
  Click here for Wye Marsh's recpie for sweet bannock and cedar tea - enjoy it over a campfire in your backyard, or baked in the oven. 
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Backyard Birding Bingo!
  Click here for a local birding bingo challenge. How many of these birds can you spot? Can you get a full card?
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - BEE a Good Neighbour: How to Build a Bee Hotel
  Click here for instructions to build a bee hotel. There are many ways you can help pollinators this spring - and one of them is by building a bee hotel for shelter! 
  
  Click here for an article outling more info on Bee Hotels, including placement and maintenance.
   
• Ontario Wildlife Trivia with Wye Marsh
  http://www.quiz-maker.com/QSIPX3X
  How well do you know your Ontario Wildlife? Take our trivia, then challenge your friends!
   
• Ontario Wetland Trivia with Wye Marsh
  https://www.quiz-maker.com/QEAGT3J
  How well do you know your Ontario Wetlands? Take our trivia, then challenge your friends!
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Earth Day BioBlitz
  Click here for BioBlitz species list. A BioBlitz is a survey of the plants and animals in a set area. The goal is to find as many species as possible and record them to help monitor the populations and habitats from period to period, tracking health and any changes. Set your area (your backyard, your street, your local park), and see how many species you can find! 
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Build a Biosphere for Earth Day!
  Click here for instructions to build your own self regulating Biosphere. A biosphere is defined as the area of the planet where organisms live, including the ground and the air. The Earth is one big Biosphere! 
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Hand Print Trumpeter Swans
  Click here for a fun and simple craft - turn your handprints into the wings of a Trumpeter Swan!
   
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - How to Press Flowers!
  Click here for instructions on how to press flowers - either between the pages of a book or in your microwave! Use the pressed flowers to make cards, bookmarks, or as part of a collage!
  
  
• Wye Marsh At Home Activities - Get Growing: Be a friend to Monarch Butterflies by sprouting Milkweed!
  Click here for growing instructions. Did you know that Monarch Butterflies exclusively eat and lay their eggs on Milkweed plants? Milkweed is important to helping grow the Monarch population - plus it's beautiful in your garden!
   
• Nature Canada - Children's Resources:
  https://naturecanada.ca/enjoy-nature/for-children/resources/
  Connect with nearby nature through the various resources listed here! From a scavenger hunt to tips on how to help nature in you area, our resources offer ways to get outside and connected with nature.
   
• Toronto Zoo - Live with the Keepers:
  https://www.facebook.com/TheTorontoZoo/?redirect=false
  Tornto Zoo is doing daily Facebook Live streams hosted by their keepers to learn about some of the behind the scenes happenings at the zoo, and teach us all about the different species that live there. From how to train a hippo to go on the scale, to learning about penguins swimming, and more!
   
• Calgary Zoo's Daily Dose:
  https://www.calgaryzoo.com/YourDailyDoseandDailyDoseAtHome
  Calgary Zoo is taking you behind the scenes with our animals, humans and conservation programs every day during our temporary closure to keep spirits high, and minds engaged. They have videos as well as downloadable activitiy pages!
   
• Science North - Jenn Learns Stuff!
  https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNorth/videos/521418165148218/
  A weekly series on Science North's Facebook where Jenn learns new things throughout the facility. Learn along side her in this funny and informative series! 
   
• Canadian Museum of Nature: Things to do at Home
  https://nature.ca/en/home
  Visit Canadian Museum of Nature's website and social media for activities you can do at home and in your neighbourhood. Especially keep your eyes peeled for their dinosaur! 
   
• Telus Spark - Science from Home:
  https://sparkscience.ca/spark-science-from-home/
  Visit Spark Science for DIY experiments and citizen science, innovative online challenges, important science education content, andcurated content from STEAM community leaders. Spark will also connect you virtually to remarkable creators, scientists, artists, educators and builders to bring the world to you!
   
• Ontario Parks - Nature Journaling Tips:
  https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/nature-journaling-ideas/
  Some tips and insights into Nature Journalling from Senior Park Clerk at Murphys Point Provincial Park.
   
• Georgian Bay Land Trust - Salamander Workbook:
  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-7h-GsB_Mhdyhrb_U5ebqRiGDI9CmBCM/view
  Colouring, facts, word searches and more all for the budding naturalist with a special interest in salamanders!
   
• Bird Studies Canada: How to Sketch Birds
  https://www.birdscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/FeederWatch-Birds-Sketching-Tutorial.pdf
  For the budding artist and naturalist with an interest in our feathered friends, learn how to sketch the birds you see!
   
• Georgian Bay Land Trust & Nature Canada - Species ID Quizzes:
  Now is a great time to brush up on your species ID skills, and there are plenty of online resources to help you. Visit the Ontario Nature website to learn all about Ontario's different reptile and amphibian species. When you feel ready, test your knowledge with the quizzes below!
  Turtle ID:  Level 1 
  Turtle ID: Level 2
  Frog and Toad ID:  Level 1   
  Frog and Toag ID: Level 2
  Salamander ID: Level 1
  Salamander ID: Level 2
  Snake ID: Level 1
  Snake ID: Level 2
   
• Nature Journaling Tips from the City of Calgary:
  https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Pages/At-Home-Activities/learning/Nature-journaling.aspx
  Nature journaling helps families discover, and rediscover, their natural world. It's also a great way to get outdoors, reduce stress and boost energy levels. Learn some tips and tricks here.
   
• Nature Canada - Backyard Bird Safari:
  https://naturecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BackyardBirdsNG-June2018-min.pdf
  Check off the birds you see flying around your NatureHood!
   
• Nature Canada - Monarch Guide:
  https://naturecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Nature-Canada-Monarch-Guide_Revised-min.pdf
  A guide that provides you background information on the monarch butterfly, suggestions and tips on native butterfly gardening, and descriptions of specific plant species that are necessary for the monarch’s survival.
   
• Nature Canada - Scavenger Hunt:
  https://naturecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/scavenger-hunt-with-pictures-May-25-2017.pdf
  Bring this on your next nature walk and see how many you can check off!
   
• The Guardian - Bugs, Bark Rubbing and Bird Nests: Turn your Daily Walk into a Nature Home School
  https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/apr/14/turn-you-daily-walk-into-a-nature-home-school
  Whether making a wildflower bracelet or searching for badger footprints, here are some simple, enjoyable ways to start teaching your kids about nature.
   
• Planet Proector Academy - Online Classes for ages 6-11
  https://planetprotectoracademy.com/for/parents-he/
  Check out Planet Proctor Academy for some online programming featuring daily live webcasts and fun game-based activities
   
• Nature Canada - Junior Birder Journal & Activity Book
  Click here for activties, facts, and more all forthe budding birder in your family. From learning the parts of birds, ID tips, conservation pointers and all about habitats and migration this book is full of great info!

• Bird Sounds - Calls from North American Species 
  https://www.bird-sounds.net/
  Sometimes we can't see the bird, but we can hear it's call! This site has over 602 different bird calls for North American speices. Search for local birds, and explore some that you've never heard before!
   
• E-Bird 
  https://ebird.org/home
  Register for a free account and discover a new world of birding! ransforms your bird sightings into science and conservation. Plan trips, find birds, track your lists, explore range maps and bird migration—all free
   
• Bird and Moon Comics - Mnemonics of North American Birds
  Click here for a cute and informative graphic to help remember some of the calls of North American birds. 
  For more Bird and Moon comics to learn about nature in a colourful way, please visit: 
  https://www.birdandmoon.com/
   
• Birds of North America with Jason Ward
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZVnnAt5_5lbqaQNNg-LEPwdRbj_nf5hU
  Jason Ward has been an avid birdwatcher since he was a kid growing up in the Bronx, where he spotted a peregrine falcon eating a pigeon on a ledge outside his bedroom window. Join him in this YouTuebe series as he travels around the United States meeting birders and bird enthusiasts of all kinds.
   
• 3 Ways to Celebrate Canadian Animals - Play, Learn, Discover with CBC!
  https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/3-ways-to-celebrate-canadian-animals
  One of the best things about our vast country is our Canadian wildlife!
   
• CBC Kids: The Nature of Things! - Turtles
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EzuEYQWpkc&feature=emb_title
  Join David Suzuki to learn about turtles all over the world!