How good are you at discovering wild creatures near you? Here’s your chance to find out!

You’ll Need:

Go Explore

• Sunscreen
• Drinking Water
• A magnifying glass
• Binoculars
• Nature journal and pencil
• Camera

1. Decide on a good place to explore and invite a friend. Your backyard may be a good place to start. If you want to go to a near by park or trail, ask a grown up to take you and stay with you.

2. Think about the best ways to be a good wildlife detective: being quiet and moving slowly, watching and listening carefully, having lots of patience and looking for clues.

3. As you explore, stop often and just listen. Do you hear birds calling? Squirrels chattering? Insects chirping? See if you can find the noise-maker with your binoculars. If you don’t know what’s making the sound, just write down how it sounds to you.

4. Look for small creatures on the slowers, leaves, branches, stems and trunks of trees and other plants. If you see a small creature, use your magnifying glass for a closer look.

5. Learn to look for wildlife clues. Do the leaves of a bush look as if they’ve been nibbled on? Watch closely for caterpillars or other plant-eating insects. See a spider’s web? Look and see if the owner is nearby. Spot some animals tracks or feathers? What type of animal do you think left them?

6. Keep a record of your discoveries in your notebook. If possible, snap pictures of the best things youo see. But please don’t take any living things home with you!

7. Be a wildlife detective at different times of the day and throughout the seasons. How do things change?