Wildlife Adaptations and Winter Fun

The Nature Guardians combined their engineering and artistic skills to build shelters!

Insect galls are little growths on plants made when insects lay eggs inside. The plant forms a protective home, giving food and shelter. Some larvae stay inside all winter, safe from cold and predators, then emerge as adults in spring! 

Nature Guardians gathered to build a fire, learning fire safety and Leave No Trace principles along the way! From safe setup to proper cleanup, we practiced responsible outdoor skills while staying warm and having fun! 

Nature Guardians used their rad flint and steel skills to start the fire!

We enjoyed cooking hotdogs over the fire and making hot coco - which helped to keep us warm. 

We passed along some deer antlers and had the chance to look at some animal skulls up close!

The Nature Guardians did great matching scat and tracks with the correct species!

Nature Guardians spotted a porcupine and made sure to keep a safe and respectful distance, observing this prickly creature from afar. Respecting wildlife is key to our outdoor adventures!

Nature Guardians learned all about the cool strategies wildlife use to survive winter - adaptations, torpor, hibernation, migration, diapause, and brumation!