Comet’s Turbine Tale

Earth Rangers

June 14, 2024

“Whoosh”

Oops! Almost got you there. I didn’t mean to dive so close to an Earth Ranger’s head. I’m Comet, and I was flying on the wind for that dive!

You humans use the wind in some cool ways, like getting energy from wind turbines. These are the giant fans, as tall as a 20-story building, that you see in windy areas like on hills, along shores, or across a prairie field. When wind turbine blades spin, they generate electricity that can power entire cities.

The best part? These turbines don’t need fuel to operate! Wind energy is renewable, and doesn’t create any pollution. As long as there is wind, you’ll always have electricity to go around.

One small problem…

Some people are against wind energy because they think turbines hurt birds like me.

And it’s true – sadly, birds do sometimes fly right into wind turbines. But the fact is, climate change is the absolute biggest threat to birds worldwide, and wind energy helps to fight climate change!

Where does that leave us? Needing more responsibly placed turbines!

Putting wind turbines where birds migrate can cause problems. We can fix this by placing the turbines in spots with strong winds that won’t harm birds or their habitats. Spread the word about keeping birds safe and ask turbine developers to speak with animal experts to find the best spots for the blades. We can always find solutions… especially when we work together!

I’m blown away by the awesomeness of the power of wind! Are you a big fan of wind energy and wind turbines? Did you know you can totally make your own? Earth Rangers has a mission that teaches you all about how to put your own wind turbine together, using just a few common items. What are you waiting for?

There’s a lot more to learn about renewable energy. You can expand your knowledge by checking out the We’ve Got the Power Mission in the Earth Rangers App.

Paper Plate Butterfly

Creative Corner

Earth Rangers

June 13, 2024

Paper Plate Butterfly

Time:15 min

Difficulty:Easy

Don’t throw away those leftover paper plates! You can upcycle them and your popsicle sticks into beautiful butterflies.

Here’s what you need:

Popsicle stick (or a twig!)
2 paper plates
Scissors
Glue
Acrylic Paint
Pipe cleaner
2 googly eyes

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1: In both your plates cut out a rounded triangle shape. This will be your butterfly’s wings.

Step 2: Paint your paper plates! What kind of pattern do you want to give your butterfly? Are they one color or a bunch of different ones?

Step 3: While your paint is drying, cut your pipe cleaner in half. Glue them and the googly eyes to your popsicle stick.

Step 4: Glue the wings to the back of your butterfly body, and there you have it! A beautiful butterfly!

That’s it! You’ve got yourself a pretty paper plate butterfly! Why not hang it up so it can fly?

Pawsitively Hilarious Jokes #28

Earth Rangers

June 10, 2024

Where does a killer whale go for braces?

The orca-dontist.

Bow’s Shoreline Story

Earth Rangers

June 6, 2024

Look down here! No, further down… HERE! Under the water.

Ahoy Earth Rangers! Bow the Rainbow Trout here to take you to one of my favorite lakes: Lake Huron.
What brings me to Lake Huron, you ask? Well I’m here to check out the beautiful shores of Manitoulin Island. It’s my dream vacation!

Manitoulin Island is super special. With an area of 2,766 km², it’s the biggest freshwater island in the whole world. Manitoulin Island even has its own lakes—108 of them, to be exact! The island’s land and waterways are home to a ton of flora and fauna that rely on clean water to survive. Animals like frogs, river otters, beavers, bobcats, bears, and deer all call Manitoulin Island home.

This picturesque place isn’t without its problems. For example, an increasing amount of plastic trash—especially along the island’s shorelines—is threatening the island’s ecosystems. It’s sad that lake and ocean shorelines continue to be covered in trash and pollution. Is there not something we can do?

Shoreline Savers to the rescue!

We need you! Join us and work to stop shoreline pollution! Manitoulin Island and its many lakes are not the only places threatened by it – shorelines and waterways worldwide need our help. And we have the power: by keeping our shores clean, we can reduce the amount of plastic makes its way through the Earth’s waters, harming marine life.

Bow’s tips for the future

You can help fight the plastic problem in different ways! Here are a few ideas to share:

1) Use less plastic! Single-use plastics, like straws and plastic bags, are a big problem. If we stop using them as much, we’ll have less of it in our waters and on our shores. So, let’s try to use less plastic stuff in our daily lives!

2) Go on a shoreline cleanup. Whether you’re alone, with your family or friends, or part of a big cleanup group, picking up trash helps a lot. Imagine if everyone picked up just a few pieces of trash each time they went out!

3) Research! To make a difference, we should learn more about the problem. We need to understand why it’s happening and then find ways to fix it. You can read articles and books, listen to podcasts, or watch documentaries about the issue. The more we know, better we can solve the problem.

4) Spread the word. Tell others about the plastic pollution crisis by talking to friends, family members and strangers alike. You could donate to a charity that cleans up shorelines, volunteer with them, or tell others about their work. Every little bit helps to make a difference!

World Ocean Day

I’ve heard whispers that Earth Rangers like you celebrate World Ocean Day. It’s a great time to celebrate and raise awareness for the importance of oceans and water in our lives!

You can be a part of it by completing the Shoreline Saver Mission and heading out to clean your nearby shorelines! You’ll make a big difference for the wildlife like me.

Give it a try. Start by accepting the Shoreline Saver Mission in the Earth Rangers App. You’ll get tons of helpful information, tips for starting your cleanup, and more!

Nature journal

Creative Corner

Earth Rangers

June 6, 2024

Nature journal

Time:60 min

Difficulty:Easy

Nature journals are treasures that help us grow close with our environment. Why not start one now?

Here’s what you need:

A notebook or paper to write in
Something to write with like a pencil, pen, or marker
Art supplies to decorate your guidebook
Tape or glue
Your favourite outdoor space
Friends or family to join you
Optional: A camera or binoculars

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1:

Make your way to your favourite outdoor space. It could be your local park, a walking trail, a beach, or even your backyard!

Step 2:

Spend some time paying attention to your environment. What do you find? What do you hear?
If you find any cool material, you can gather it for your book!

Step 3:

Now that you’re one with nature, take notes on what you find and think of! Here’s a list of ideas to inspire you:

Draw a bug you find or animal you hear!
Describe the weather.
Explain why you like (or don’t like) this place?
Stick a super-cool leaf to your notebook.
Make a poem about something you see.
Try to write a song as if you were a bird.
Can you find an interesting object? What does it feel like?

Tip:

Make sure to respect nature while you’re on your adventure. Make sure you don’t disturb any animal habitats while you’re gathering your materials! If you move something, make sure you put it back.