Let’s put your identification skills to the test! Can you figure out what is hidden in this picture? Make your guess in the comments.
Ultimate Guide to National Parks: A Thief in the Forest
The Quest for the best is done and Earth Ranger Emma is back at Earth Rangers HQ.
Today’s task is simple: a bird census in the forest surrounding the Earth Rangers Centre! But a berry thief is on the loose and causing trouble for our intrepid adventurer. Can super sleuth Emma solve the mystery?
Tune in and find out!
Emma’s back from her Quest for the Best and ready to return to work after her time away from Earth Rangers HQ!
Last season she raced across the US against Ryan to see who would win the position of podcast host and before that? She traveled the world to find missing conservationist Adelia Goodwin!
Time to get to work…
Emma has been through a lot. She very much deserves a chance to get back to her usual work. But will her time at Earth Rangers be a calm one? Or do adventures follow her everywhere she goes?!
Emma’s task of the day: Observe Birds.
Observing and “tabulating” birds might seem boring after so much running around, but it’s super fun and super important! By birdwatching over time, and keeping track of the species seen, Emma’s observations can help tell us how bird behavior (migration, numbers, etc…) changes.
Of course, it’s also really nice to see cool and colorful birds! Let’s take a look at those Emma saw in this episode…
Are you able to name all of these birds? Be sure to check over the episode if you aren’t sure!
BUT WAIT! THAT IS NOT ALL!
During her birdwatching, Emma stumbled upon a mystery: A thief!?!
Someone is wandering the forest stealing delicious snacks! Detective Emma manages to narrow down the potential criminals to FOUR different animals:
One of these four animals is responsible for stealing Emma’s blueberries right from inside her bag! What kind of crafty creature can open a backpack like that? Through some careful sleuthing, Emma should be able to figure it out!
Are you glad to see Emma back to work? What kind of adventures do you think she’ll be having next?
What about you? Were you able to find the animal thief before Emma? Or name five of the birds she saw in this episode?
Hungry Snake and Hoppy Frogs
Hungry Snake and Hoppy Frogs
Time:30 min
Difficulty:Easy
We’ve got an un-frog-ettable game for you! Grab your friends so they can join in on the hissssterical fun!
- Objective: A game of jump rope with a twist! One person, the “hungry snake”, moves in circles with their rope. To not get caught, the “frogs” must successfully jump over the rope as it comes close.
- Players: 2 or more
Here’s what you need:
- A skipping rope
- Friends or family members
- Somewhere outside to play
- Plastic or paper cups (optional)
- Water (optional)
Here’s how you do it:
Step 1:
Start by picking one person to hold the rope. This person is the snake and everyone else is a frog. If it’s hot outside, you can give each frog a cup filled with water.
Step 2:
The frogs should form a circle with the snake in the middle. They should be a little less than the distance of the rope away from the snake.
Step 3:
Next, the snake starts to spin in a circle, dragging the rope around on the ground. Frogs must jump over the rope to avoid getting “bitten”. If you’re playing with water, don’t be surprised if you get splashed! If the rope touches any of the frogs, they’re out until the next round.
What did you think of the Hungry Snake and Hoppy Frogs game? Let us know in the comments!
Super Ranger Alissandra is unstoppable!
Alissandra’s favourite animals are cheetahs and lions. She learned about Earth Rangers from her dad’s work and now she’s an unstoppable planet-protecting super-hero!
Alissandra loves all of the interesting facts you can learn on the app. What’s her favorite mission? The Water Taste Challenge! She had fun watching her family members test the water, and since then, they’ve pretty much stopped using single-use plastic water bottles for good! Go, Alissandra!
When she’s not busy on the app, Alissandra loves the great outdoors and spends her time playing hockey, hiking, swimming in lakes, and snowboarding in winter. Alissandra is also a master gardener and loves planting flowers and other plants in her family garden.
Alissandra also likes to camp outside in the wilderness, leaving their campsite better than they found it She always makes sure that her family doesn’t leave any litter, and wants to remind everyone that if we all clean up after ourselves, we can enjoy our parks more!
What’s next? Alissandra plans to walk to school and will challenge her little brother to walk with her. The race is on! Let’s all cheer Alissandra on as she takes on the world to make it better!
Meet Nicole Forsyth, A New Face at Earth Rangers!
We’re so happy to welcome Nicole Forsyth to the Earth Rangers team! She’ll be joining us as the managing director for Earth Rangers in the United States. We sat down with Nicole to talk about her background, her long-time love of animals, and her plans for the future of Earth Rangers!
Earth Rangers: What makes you most excited about joining Earth Rangers, Nicole?
Nicole: I just love animals! I have for as long as I can remember. I was that kid who saved bees from the swimming pool. So I feel like I’ve been an Earth Ranger all my life. I just didn’t know the word for it!
Earth Rangers: That’s fantastic! We’re very similar. I rescued a bumblebee a couple of days ago, literally while walking to the humane society for my volunteer shift. I think you and I are kindred spirits. I know that, before Earth Rangers, you were the president and CEO of RedRover. Can you tell me more about RedRover?
Nicole: RedRover is another charity that helps animals. It helps mostly cats and dogs and other pets. I was there for 17 years, and I absolutely loved it. I thought RedRover was my dream job, and in many ways, it was. But I feel like wild animals and the environment need my help, too. Earth Rangers combines my three passions all in one: I love working with kids; I love wild animals, and I love nature!
Earth Rangers: Well, fantastic! That’s everything we’re about at Earth Rangers!
Nicole: Exactly! I was a teacher a long time ago. I’m a mom. I love kids, but I also love nature. I’m a big hiker. I also kayak, paddleboard, ski and ice skate. Pretty much when I’m not working, I’m outside.
Earth Rangers: Wow! I’m jealous of all the time that you spend outside. You have such an active life! What can our Earth Rangers look forward to you bringing to the table now that you’re here? Is there any outdoorsy stuff we can look forward to?
Nicole: One thing that I’m really excited about is hearing from other Earth Rangers. I think kids have so much to say about animals and the environment, and I really want to listen. I enjoy hearing what they think and what’s important to them, and I’d love to meet Earth Rangers in person, perhaps at some outdoor events!
Earth Rangers: That’s fantastic! I’m sure kids will be excited to chat with you and learn from you. What advice do you have for kids who want to work with animals when they grow up?
Nicole: Good question! When I was at RedRover, I was the editor for our kids’ magazine, Kind News. And in Kind News, we featured Humane Heroes. These were kids who did things to help animals in their community. I think a lot of times kids are surprised to learn that there’s a lot they can do right now, and it’s never too early to start. Learning about the animals that need help in your community is a great start. Completing missions as an Earth Ranger is also great! The more experience you have, the more you learn, and the more you can use that experience to get the job you want.
Peyton: Great advice for anyone of any age, but certainly what we’re all about at Earth Rangers! Thank you so much, Nicole!
Do you have questions for Nicole? Leave a comment below, and you might hear Nicole answer in an upcoming video on Earth Rangers’ social media channels!
Pawsitively Hilarious Jokes #8
What do you get when you put three ducks in a box?
A box of quackers!
Tap here for more cool stuff like this!
Caption This: What are these penguins thinking?
We need your help! This animal is trying to tell us something but we can’t figure it out! Do you know what these penguins are thinking?
Post your ideas in the comment section below.
Tap here for more cool stuff like this!
Paper Roll Spyglass
Paper Roll Spyglass
Time:25 min
Difficulty:Easy
I spy some trashy treasures! Grab your spyglass and discover the magic hidden in recycled materials.
Here’s what you need:
- Three paper rolls
- Scissors
- Tape
- Glue
- Paper
Tip: Upcycle an old piece of paper or newspaper instead of using something new - Optional: A repurposed clear plastic bag or plastic wrap
Tip: If you don’t have a plastic bag, it’s better to not use any plastic at all!
Here’s how you make it:
Step 1: Cut a straight line from top to bottom of all three of your paper rolls. Roll one of them into a cone shape making one end wider than the other. Make sure to leave an opening on BOTH sides so you can see through it. Tape it so it stays.
Step 2: Roll your second tube a tiny bit smaller than the small end of the cone-shaped roll. Slide it into the small end of the cone-shaped roll and secure with tape. Repeat with the third paper roll, sliding it into the other end of the second tube. Secure each connection point with tape.
OPTIONAL: Cover the end of your bigger tube with plastic wrap. Tape it down.
Step 3: Cut four large strips of paper. They need to be long enough to wrap around each connection point of your paper roll.
Glue these strips to the taped connections of your tubes. Make sure they completely cover any tape!
Step 4: Paint the outside of your spyglass. You can decorate it all you like! Painting all the paper the same colour will help make it look like your spyglass is joined together.
You’ve got yourself a new spyglass! Time to add it to your collection of golden treasures!
Making trashy treasures is just the beginning of the epic adventures that await you. Get ready to have fun, GROSS OUT, and fight climate change! Join the Gross Out Challenge now!
Earth Rangers Score A Whopping Victory!
The game is over! Earth Rangers win!
Team Rangers dominated the “Rangers vs. Plastic” Challenge, proving to be an unstoppable force! Earth Rangers logged an inspiring 205,329 climate-friendly habits to combat plastic pollution.
Scoring Big Against Plastic Pollution
What a game! Throughout the Challenge, the Earth Rangers showed remarkable commitment, each habit contributing to the overall goal of reducing plastic waste and safeguarding the environment. Let’s take a closer look at a few of their plays!
Sending Gum to the Penalty Box – 31,655 times: Earth Rangers tackled gum waste, ensuring it doesn’t stick around to pollute our planet.
Blowing the Whistle on Bottles – 27,112 times: Earth Rangers stuck to reusable bottles to cut their plastic waste from single-use bottles.
Red Card for Lunchtime Litter – 26,664 times: Earth Rangers avoided single-use plastics, making climate-conscious choices to reduce waste.
Avoiding a Plastic Bag Foul – 26,087 times: By opting for reusable bags, Earth Rangers intercepted the use of thousands of plastic bags to help protect our planet.
The Power of Teamwork
Their secret weapon? Teamwork! Earth Rangers huddled together, supporting each other in the fight against plastic pollution and climate change.
To celebrate their work, participants of the Challenge have unlocked a reward to protect the kelp forests and marine life that rely on these beautiful habitats!
Up next: Calling Earth Rangers to Join the GROSS OUT Challenge!
But wait, there’s more! Earth Rangers’ victory lap doesn’t end here. As you continue your eco-journey, we invite you to dive headfirst into the wild, slimy, and mega-fun world of the GROSS OUT Challenge!
Earth Rangers Releases 2023 Eco-Anxiety Index
All too often, news about the future of our planet is bad news. Your children may find themselves caught up in worries about animal extinction and climate change. According to our new research, they’re not alone. Earth Rangers partnered with Ipsos to survey 1,000 American children between the ages of 6 and 11 for our 2023 Eco-Anxiety Index. More than 80% of the kids we surveyed experience eco-anxiety: feelings of worry, fear, and even despair over environmental problems.
In the face of issues as complex and challenging as climate change and biodiversity loss, parents often don’t know how to reassure their children. If you and your family find yourselves in this situation, we have good news for you: eco-anxiety can fuel positive eco-action! 65% of the children who responded to our survey said that they take regular action to protect our planet and fight climate change. They talk with friends and family about these issues, participate in rallies and events, volunteer, support environmental organizations, and participate in eco-friendly activities at home or school.
What’s more, according to our research, eco-anxiety and eco-action always stay consistent with one another. Kids who worry less about the environment do less about it, while higher levels of eco-anxiety drive increased eco-action. Earth Rangers found that children in the Northeast and West Coast over-indexed on both eco-anxiety and eco-action. The South hovered at the national average, while the Midwest under-indexed across the board.
“Today’s generation is leveraging their concerns as a catalyst for positive change,” says Tovah Barocas, President of Earth Rangers. “Instead of seeing a problem, they see a wake-up call – and aren’t hesitating to do something about it.”
“The data doesn’t lie,” says Steve Levy, Chief Client Officer at Ipsos Canada. “The more you know about the environment, the more empowered you feel to take action on its behalf.”
If you’re a parent or an educator of an eco-anxious child, you can use our Eco-Anxiety Parent Guide to turn their anxiety into positive action. Our resources will help you validate your children’s feelings, educate them about climate change, and find new ways to protect nature—and have fun!—as a family.
