Did you know spiders have poor eyesight? They are able to “see” by “feeling” vibrations around them. Go grab your friends! Lets play a game based on their skills!
About the game:
Objective: A game of tag with a twist! One person, the “spider”, is blindfolded and calls out to the “flies” to let them cross the room. The winner.
Players: 3 or more
Here’s what you need:
A blindfold
Friends or family members
Somewhere outside to play
Here’s how you do it:
Step 1:
Start by picking one person to be blindfolded. This person is the spider and everyone else is a fly.
TIP: The spider can’t see, so be sure to pick a spot where they can’t run into anything!
Step 2:
The spider stands in the middle of your chosen area, while the flies all go to one side.
Step 3:
When they’re ready, the spider should call out “Oh flies, oh flies, it’s time to fly on by!”. After this, the flies should walkslowly to the other side of the play space.
Step 4:
The spider, listening closely for the sound of flies, should stand still until they’re ready to try and tag one. When they’re ready to move they should shout “SPIDER STRIKE!”.
At this point, the flies can run to the other side.
TIP: Be careful not to trip! Keep touches light and don’t run so fast you’ll get hurt!
Step 5:
If a fly is tagged by the spider, they become the “spider’s web”. They become an obstacle for the flies and should stand still in the field and try to touch any fly who passes by without moving your feet.
The last fly left is the winner! They become the spider in the next round.
What did you think of the flyby the spider game? Let us know in the comments!
Hi, I’m Peter Soroye! I work at the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada, where I make sure that swift foxes have the habitat they need to thrive. This past year, Earth Rangers across Canada adopted almost 300 swift foxes!
It’s been so fun to see kids like you adopting the swift fox plushies. I love seeing your excitement and interest! Knowing that so many people want to save the swift fox and support our work has been very motivating. Ultimately, the only way to protect wildlife is for as many people as possible to care about it. We’re all grateful for your help and support. From the Key Biodiversity Areas team at WCS Canada, thank you! Here’s what your adoptions made possible this year.
The Key to Biodiversity
My work this year focused on identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for swift foxes and other animals and plants across Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada. We’re identifying different areas, like Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan, or Dundurn Sandhills near Saskatoon, as KBAs. That way, people know exactly which areas are most important for protecting wildlife.
Most of the work to identify KBAs happens on a computer, which is an important tool for most biology and conservation work nowadays! On the computer, I can read scientific reports, chat with experts, and create maps of swift fox habitat.
Feeling the Burn
Some members of our team were able to get out into the field this year as well. We took an exciting trip to the Beaver Creek Conservation Area in the Dundurn Sandhills and the CFB Dundurn KBA. While we were there, we watched researchers do a controlled burn of some of the site. A controlled burn is when conservationists light a small fire on purpose, with lots of safety measures in place, to burn plant material that can contribute to wildfires.
Controlled burns may look scary and destructive. But many prairie animals and plants rely on lands where small fires break out naturally. When our experts carry out a burn, they’re doing the same work that nature does — and they’re preventing bigger, out-of-control wildfires from happening. This is important work that keeps animal habitats safe and comfortable.
Foxes and Friends
During the summer, I visited the Grasslands National Park KBA. Grasslands is famous: It’s one of the sites where the swift fox has been reintroduced! During my trip, all the swift foxes stayed hidden. But I saw many other cool prairie species, like burrowing owls, prairie rattlesnakes, and bison.
How Can You Help?
There are many things you can do if you’re interested in a career in conservation. For one, keep learning! Following Earth Rangers, KBA Canada, and WCS Canada can help you learning about the challenges that wildlife is facing. Learning will help you see and even create potential solutions.
Another thing you can do to support conservation in your day-to-day life is use apps like iNaturalist or Seek to take pictures of plants and animals that you see. Try out these apps on hikes, camping trips, or even in your own backyard! You’ll learn more about the plants and animals around you, and the information you collect helps scientists who are working in conservation. You might just discover something that you’re passionate about and could pursue a career in!
Finally, keep caring! Make sure that your friends and family know how important conservation is to you. That way, the people in charge of our cities and countries will know how important it is to support conservation too.
Hi, I’m Katie Florko! I’m a research scientist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and I’m fascinated by all things Arctic! I just finished my PhD at the University of British Columbia. I studied how climate change is affecting the ringed seals that live in Canada’s Arctic Circle.
This past year, Earth Rangers across Canada adopted over 250 ringed seals! It’s fantastic to see kids like you taking an interest in my research. All of your adoptions made a big difference in my work! By adopting a ringed seal, you helped us learn more about these adorable creatures. This knowledge is crucial because the Arctic, where ringed seals live, is changing fast. With your support, we were able to understand these changes better and work to protect seals for the future. Your adoption means a lot to me, and you’re really helping these amazing Arctic animals. Thank you for being part of our team!
Here’s everything I’ve been able to accomplish thanks to your adoptions!
Flying Over the Arctic
This year, I studied seals in Churchill, Manitoba. This town is known for its chilly weather, even in the summer. Snow covers the ground for most of the year. But the summer days are long, with lots of daylight–sometimes up to 20 hours of sunshine! Churchill’s climate is perfect for polar bears, ringed seals, and other Arctic wildlife.
My job in Churchill is to find ringed seals and fit them with special tags that track how they move and act underwater. If we understand where seals go, and what they do, we can learn more about how to protect them and their habitat.
But that’s not all! I also had the amazing opportunity to fly in a plane in the high Arctic. While I was sitting in the plane, I would do aerial surveys – count the animals that I saw and keep a record of where I saw them!
We flew over Ellesmere Island, one of the largest islands in Canada, which is very remote and icy. I spotted incredible animals like walruses and narwhals–and plenty of seals, of course! There were so many different kinds: ringed seals, bearded seals, and hundreds of harp seals.
My goal was to make a record of the animals that live in the Arctic, because the environment is changing rapidly there. In order to conserve this icy ecosystem, we need to know as much as possible about the animals that live in it.
After I collected all my data in the Arctic Circle, I traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to share my discoveries with scientists from all around the world!
Now I’m gearing up for more Arctic adventures. This summer, I’m planning to tag more seals in Hudson Bay. I’m also going to do more aerial surveys to track different animals on the sea ice. I have an exciting journey ahead of me. I can’t wait to see what we’ll discover next!
Want to Be Like Me When You Grow Up?
You can prepare for a career in conservation–and support animal conservation in your daily life!–by learning about different animals and their habitats. You can read books, watch documentaries, and visit nature centers to discover more about the world around you.
It’s important to be kind to animals by recycling, picking up litter, and respecting wildlife habitats. You can also take action to reduce the effects of climate change, which hurts animals and their ecosystems. Encourage your families to use energy-efficient appliances and transportation methods, like walking, biking, or taking the bus. These things can make a big difference for our environment!
You can also participate in beach clean-ups, join or start an Earth Rangers Club at school, and learn about and advocate for policies that protect the environment. This will give you valuable experience and boost conservation efforts.
Every action you take brings you one step closer to protecting our planet for future generations–and pursuing an exciting and rewarding career in conservation!
Carbon Footprint Investigation: School Supply Edition
Earth Rangers, let’s get ready for school with a twist—by being Earth-friendly! Use your investigation skills to prepare for the new school year with supplies that are better for the planet or can help lower your carbon footprint.
We’ve created a handy guide below to help!
Getting ready for school doesn’t mean you need to buy a lot of new stuff! Start by checking what you already have at home. You might find half-used notebooks or supplies from last year that just need a little care to be as good as new! Instead of buying new supplies, give your old items a makeover. It’s a great way to reduce waste and make the most of what you already have!
Here are some tips for eco-friendly back-to-school prep:
Look for items with minimal or recyclable packaging. Less packaging means less waste!
Choose things made from recycled or non-toxic materials. These are better for the planet and for you!
Paperand Notebooks – Take out your magnifying glass and check to see that your notebooks and paper have labels that say they’re made from recycled or upcycled products. This can help protect trees and reduce waste!
Pencils – Look for pencils made from recycled materials or sustainably sourced wood – pay attention to the special symbol on the box!
Erasers: If you need a new eraser, pick one made from recycled rubber.
Glue – When it comes to glue, look for ‘non-toxic’ first. You can also look for a label that says ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘made from plants.’
Crayons and Markers –Certain crayons and markers are made using solar power, which is a nice bonus. You can also choose crayons made of sustainably sourced beeswax instead of paraffin wax.
Backpacks –If you’ve got a backpack at home, give it a refresh! A trip through the washing machine or adding some fun buttons or pins can make it feel like new.
For more cool ideas, check out the Creative Corner in the Earth Rangers app. There, you’ll find fun ideas like how to make a bookmark or a pencil holder!
Ready to take your detective skills to the next level? Join the Carbon Footprint Investigation mission today and find even more ways to shrink your carbon footprint!
Did you know you can lower your carbon footprint by making smarter choices when you shop? Learn more in the Carbon Footprint Investigation Mission in the Earth Rangers App!
Did you adopt a moose, river otter, or Eastern wolf this past year? You’re not alone! Kids across Canada adopted a whopping 674 of these animals in 2023 and 2024 — that’s almost 700!
I’m Megan Quinn, a conservation biologist at the Nature Conservancy of Canada. I’m so grateful to everyone who has adopted a Northern river otter, a moose, or an Eastern wolf. Proceeds from these adoptions help me do really important work in Eastern Ontario to protect these species and their habitats. By following along with my journey in the field, you are helping to highlight how critical this work is.
You have also given me a lot of hope! When I was growing up, I didn’t have access to any nature, so I didn’t know how important conservation was. I have always loved animals, and wanted to help them, but I didn’t know how. By being an Earth Ranger, you are already way ahead of where I was, so I can’t wait to see where you’ll go!
I’ve appreciated all the great questions you’ve asked, and the curiosity you’ve shown. Even if I didn’t get to answer your question in a video, I read every single one, and they’ve inspired me to keep going in my work.
My job isn’t always easy! It can be physically exhausting, hot, uncomfortable, and full of biting insects, but knowing that you all care about these species as much as I do inspires me to keep going! Thank you for letting me share my work with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and my world with you.
I’m so excited to tell you about everything my team accomplished this past year — all thanks to you!
Springtime in the Forest
Spring is one of my favourite times to be a conservation biologist. The early spring flowers are starting to appear, and the forest floor is covered in white, purple, and yellow as the Bloodroot, Spring Beauties, and Trout Lily flowers appear. The animals also arrive too, whether they’re coming out of hibernation or returning from their migration routes. Suddenly, the forests and wetlands of Eastern Ontario start to feel alive.
Spring is also when our new conservation technicians start their work. If you want a job where you get to protect the earth every day, you might want to work with the Nature Conservancy of Canada as a conservation technician one day! It’s a great way to learn about the animals and plants that live in these unique ecosystems.
Fun fact: being a conservation technician was my first environmental job when I graduated from college. I love teaching our technicians how to do surveys, identify species, and navigate around the forests and wetlands For many technicians, this is their first environmental job, so they are eager to get started.
Our conservation technician Rishona filmed these Northern river otters playing — right outside of our office! It’s always such a joy to see them having fun! By protecting their habitat, and working to restore it, the Nature Conservancy of Canada makes sure these otters will have safe places to live and play for generation to come.
On the Trail
My team and I have been doing a lot of trail maintenance this year! Many Nature Conservancy of Canada properties have trails where you can go for a hike. This lets you experience these wonderful areas without damaging them or stressing out the wildlife that live there.
This year, I learned how to do something new: use a chainsaw!
In March, I took special training to learn how to use a chainsaw safely. When I first became a conservation biologist, I had no idea that it would involve using a chainsaw. But this job has taught me to use all sorts of tools and think creatively.
I had never used a chainsaw before, and at first, I was quite scared. It’s a heavy piece of equipment, and you can hurt yourself if you don’t use it properly. But just like any challenge, if you have the right guidance and attitude, you can overcome your fear. I’m really proud that I can now safely use a chainsaw to keep our forests in Eastern Ontario healthy and accessible for everyone.
When trees fall down across trails, it makes it difficult for people to hike. That’s why we use chainsaws to cut a path. It’s always really sad when a tree falls down. But luckily, even though the tree isn’t growing anymore, it still has a really important role to play in the ecosystem. As the tree starts to decompose, it puts nutrients back into the soil. These nutrients help the next generation of trees grow. The trunk of the tree also becomes great habitat for birds, insects, and small mammals. In order for new trees to grow, they need sunlight. A tree falling down opens up the canopy for more sunlight to get in, which means more trees can grow.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Another task I enjoy is working with our partners. I work across a really big area in Eastern Ontario, so I need to talk to a lot of people to make sure the work gets done.
In January, I went to a big meeting to talk about phragmites. Phragmites are an invasive grass species that takes over our wetlands. and makes it hard for species like the Northern river otter and the moose to find food and habitat. We have been removing phragmites for many years in Eastern Ontario. By working together with our friends and neighbours, we can clear more of it, and we can make sure everyone knows the correct way to remove it. Invasive species removal works a lot better when you work as a team!
In April, with the help of our friends and neighbours, we removed six huge garbage bags of invasive species that had escaped from people’s gardens onto one of our properties. If I tried to do that by myself, it would take days! But because we had 12 people, it only took a few hours.
Over the last few months, I’ve also been talking to a lot of people in the community about the work the Nature Conservancy of Canada does. I’ve given presentations to students at Arnprior High School and Queen’s University. I even took student volunteers from the Canadian Wildlife Federation on a guided snowshoe hike to talk about how to identify trees when they don’t have any leaves. You also may have seen me in your school, talking about Northern river otters! It’s important to talk about these species. That way, people who don’t work with them every day, like I do, will know how important they are, and how to protect them.
Working with Animals When You Grow Up
If you want to work outside and protect species like the Northern river Otter, the moose, and the Eastern wolf, you can be a conservation biologist too!
My first piece of advice would be to keep asking questions. Being curious about the environment is really important, because the more questions you ask, the more you’ll learn. I encourage you to learn about the species and habitats that are in your community. You can do this whether you live in a big city, a small town, or a rural area. Using apps like Seek or iNaturalist on your phone will help you to learn more about what you see outside.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada has properties across the country, and you can visit many of them to go hiking. You could ask your parents to volunteer at one of our Conservation Volunteer events. This is a great way to meet your local conservation biologist, do something good for the planet, and learn about the nature where you live. All of this will give you a head-start to being a conservation technician with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and one day, a conservation biologist like me.
But you don’t need to wait to grow up to make a difference! There are things you can do right now to help the planet, like planting a native flower garden, raising awareness in your school, and continuing to be an Earth Ranger.
Hi, I’m Nick Paroshy! I study polar bears at the University of Alberta. This past year, Earth Rangers like you adopted a whopping 478 polar bears. That’s almost 500 polar bears! Because of your support, I spent this past year in the Arctic Circle, studying how polar bears move through the ice, snow, and sea.
Researching animals takes a team. Because so many of you adopted polar bears, I knew I had the best team supporting me. I wouldn’t have been able to complete as much of my project — or have as much fun talking about polar bears — without you. Hopefully, everything I’ve learned while researching polar bears will help us make changes, as a team, to protect polar bears and their habitat!
I’m so excited to tell you about everything I accomplished thanks to your polar bear adoptions!
Here’s a picture of me with one of the polar bears we tracked! This bear is safe and sound asleep.
This past year, I traveled to the Arctic Circle. My job was to find polar bears on the sea ice and put special collars on them. These collars help researchers like me follow polar bears wherever they go!
Bears spend most their time traveling on the sea ice, looking for food. Their habitat is huge, and they can walk and swim a long way! When their habitat changes, like when sea ice melts because of climate change, it becomes harder for polar bears to find food, get around, and raise their babies.
For my project, I tried to learn more about where polar bears spend their time. If we know that, we can do a better job of protecting their habitat.
Have you ever wondered how you find a polar bear in the Arctic? You just follow their pawprints! Follow a trail of polar bear pawprints–also known as tracks–and you just might find a bear!
But tracks can be hard to spot. Check out this photo I took: Can you spot the polar bear tracks?
Wildlife adoptions aren’t the only way you can protect animals! Small actions make big changes. Encourage your friends, your parents, and your family to care about polar bears. Together, we can protect polar bears, seals, caribou, and all the other animals in Canada’s Arctic. We need kids just like you to be curious about science. You can study animals the same way I do, and when you grow up, you can have a career in conservation! Maybe I’ll even meet some of you out on the sea ice someday!
Last week on the Wild Wire blog, we told you that, this past year, Earth Rangers across Canada and the United States adopted over 200 jaguars! Every jaguar adoption kit sold supported the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) and Osa Conservation. These organizations protect native habitat for jaguars in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, a beautiful and diverse rainforest ecosystem. Today, we’re here with even more good news – especially for future scientists and conservationists!
From Earth Rangers to Rainforest Protectors
You’re an Earth Ranger now – but did you know that you can be a ranger when you grow up, too? Wildlife rangers and park rangers are people whose job is to protect nature! They patrol protected land, monitor wild animals, combat poaching, work with local communities, manage natural disasters, and show tourists the beauty of nature.
Osa Conservation brings together dozens of volunteer rangers from all over Costa Rica to protect the natural resources of their home. These rangers are also known as Rainforest Protectors. In 2023, they carried out fourteen field expeditions to conserve wildlife in the Osa Peninsula’s rainforest — including, of course, jaguars! They patrolled 31,076.2 kilometres (19,309 miles) and logged 22,587 observations of 6,535 plant, animal, and insect species.
“We do not want generations to grow up without knowing was lives in these forests,” said Yolanda Rodriguez, one of Osa Conservation’s Rainforest Protectors. “What is in the forest is ours; it is our responsibility to protect it.”
Thanks to these Rainforest Protectors, the species that live and grow in the Osa Peninsula are being well-cared for. And future generations of conservationists and scientists have even more information about this incredibly biodiverse rainforest!
Want to Work in the Rainforest When You Grow Up?
If you want to protect the rainforest when you grow up, here’s some good news: You can! Osa Conservation has a beautiful campus in the middle of the rainforest where conservationists come from all over the world to study and learn.
In 2023, Osa Conservation gave five young conservationists full scholarships to live on the Osa Peninsula for six months and study the beautiful and unique rainforest ecosystem. These young ecologists and biologists had the chance to learn from more experienced conservationists and research wildlife that they wouldn’t encounter anywhere else!
From studying native plants to measuring the impact of microplastics to building treetop bridges for animals like monkeys, these young scientists all made the Osa Peninsula a safer and more comfortable place for jaguars. You made their scholarships possible by adopting jaguars. Maybe, a few years in the future, you’ll become a scientist and receive a scholarship of your own!
The Jaguars Thank You!
Or, at least, they would if they could talk! For now, please accept a big round of applause from all of us at Earth Rangers, and from our friends at Osa Conservation and the International Conservation Fund of Canada, for all your hard work protecting jaguars, supporting conservation science, and protecting the rainforest.
We got tons of great guesses on Part 1 of this Pixel Puzzler and now it’s time for the answer. Are you ready for the great reveal? Find out if you got it right!
The answer to this Pixel Puzzler is (drum roll please) Lemur! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!
Have you ever wondered what arctic research is really like? Today I’m talking to not 1, not 2 but 3 real-life scientists who help to protect animals in the arctic. Bundle up and tune in!
Emma’s interviewed THREE amazing scientists: Yifeng Wang, Katie Florko, and Nick Paroshy. These three have been working hard high up in the cold to help Polar Bears, Ringed Seals, and Caribou. Your help has allowed Earth Rangers to fund their research by sending money from plush adoption kits to save these beautiful animals.
But because of climate change, caribou are having a harder time finding food to eat and places to live. Polar bears who rely on sea ice for food, struggle because their habitat keeps melting as temperatures rise. Ringed seals depend on this ice for food and protection from predators, making it hard for them to protect and feed themselves.
Katie Florko has been in charge of studying how to protect ringed seals. Working in Churchill, her job to fly over the arctic to find ringed seals and fit them with special tags that track how they move and act underwater. If we understand where seals go, and what they do, we can learn more about how to protect them and their habitat. Once the data collected, she traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to share her discoveries with scientists from all around the world!
Earth Rangers across Canada adopted over 250 ringed seals to help her with this project. That’s an incredible amount!
Over the summer, Yifeng Wang went to the permafrost peatlands to collect data to predict how the permafrost might respond to climate warming. As the climate warms, shrubs growing in areas that used to be shrub-free making the permafrost thaw, which means that caribou have less access to food and water. In winter she went to Labrador to work with the communities there to organize events to help everyone learn and come up with solutions to together to fight climate change and protect the peatlands together.
She’s been able to do this thanks to the incredible help of 150 Earth Rangers who adopted caribou plushies. You too can help Caribou research by supporting scientist Claudia Haas by adopting a caribou of your own in the Earth Rangers store!
Nick Paroshy traveled up to the Arctic Circle to learn all about how polar bears move across their territory, and how we can help them when this land changes. From the safety of a helicopter, Nick will fly all over the Beaufort Sea to scout polar bears, and tag them to track their movements. To do this, they need to tranquilize the bears, since humans cannot safely approach these majestic predators.
An amazing 478 Earth Rangers helped Nick in saving Polar bears! You contribution has been a huge support!
Want to help out too? Go check out the current animal plush kits in the Earth Rangers shop – all of them are tied to real scientific research and will support these people in saving the animals you adopt! Don’t have any money to buy a plushy? Don’t worry! Wildlife adoptions aren’t the only way you can protect animals! Small actions, like challenges and missions, can go a huge way to helping fight for animals.
This will be our last episode for a while – Emma took the rest of the summer to prepare for her next adventure (a really special one at that!). Don’t worry – we’ll be back soon with a brand-new season and it will definitely be worth the wait.
Did you learn anything from Emma’s meetup with these super-scientists? Were you one of the cool Earth Rangers who had helped support their work? Which animal did you adopt? A comment below!
Time:30 min
Difficulty:Easy
