Conservation biologist Megan Quinn exploring the Frontenac Arch with her wolf, otter, and moose stuffies from Earth Rangers!
Have you ever wanted to know what a river otter eats for lunch? What about where moose go to stay warm in the winter, or why wolves like to live in packs?
Well, it’s your lucky day! This year, Earth Rangers has partnered with Megan Quinn, a conservation biologist who works with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, to support her research preserving otter, moose, and Eastern wolf habitat in a beautiful, forested area of Canada called the Frontenac Arch. And Megan can’t wait to answer all your questions about her work with these incredible animals!
Comment below with your questions for Megan! You can ask her for information about the animals she works with, the forest she works in, or even about her day-to-day life working as a conservationist! Maybe you’re curious about what she eats for breakfast before a big day of hiking through the forest, or how she stays safe around wild animals like wolves. Maybe you want to know why she chose to become a conservationist, or how you could pursue a job in conservation where you grow up. Or maybe you just want to know how big moose are in real life. Whatever you want to know, sound off in the comments!
We’ll select three to five of the best questions you post and share them with Megan. Check back in the New Year for her responses!
In the meantime, head over to the Earth Rangers Shop to purchase your own moose, otter, or Eastern wolf adoption kit and support Megan’s work!
Megan Quinn recording data from her field work at her computer station — with some help from her furry friends!
We’re not squidding! This octopus smoothie is berry sweet!
Here’s what you need:
A banana
Blueberries
Strawberries
Coconut milk or yoghurt
8 Sour Gummi Worms
2 Chocolate chips
Help from an adult
Here’s how you make it:
Step 1: Set aside one strawberry, you’ll need it later. Gather all the rest of your fruit together and blend until smooth.
TIP: If you don’t have a blender or mixer. It might be easier to buy frozen fruit for your smoothie! Let them thaw, and it should be easier to mash together with a potato masher or fork.
Step 2:Stir in some coconut milk (or yoghurt) into your mix until you have a creamy consistency.
Step 3: Refrigerate your smoothie for 10-15mins until its surface has thickened. Meanwhile, cut two tiny holes in your last strawberry. Add the two chocolate chips in.
Step 4: Plop the octopus head on the surface of your smoothie. Arrange the 8 gummi worms in a circle around the strawberry head, forming tentacles!
This year, from December 7 to December 15, Jewish people all around the world will celebrate Hanukkah: the festival of light! The holiday commemorates a rebellion by a Jewish group known as the Maccabees against the Greeks in the 2nd century. According to Jewish scripture, when the Maccabees defeated the Greeks, they wanted to rededicate their temple by lighting a special lamp called a menorah. But all they could find was a jug with a tiny bit of oil in it–enough to light the menorah for just one day. To their surprise, these droplets of oil kept the lamp burning for eight whole days and nights! (Now that’s what we call energy efficiency!)
Today, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah with all kinds of fun traditions, from lighting menorahs of their own to giving gifts to cooking delicious feasts. We’ve got all kinds of advice to help you and your family make your Hanukkah celebrations festive and eco-friendly.
Candles–Minus Carbon!
Most Hanukkah candles are made of a substance called paraffin wax, which is derived from fossil fuels. These are substances that send carbon into our atmosphere and make our planet warmer, causing all kinds of environmental challenges. The good news is that there are tons of low-carbon candles available! When you’re shopping, look for candles made with beeswax, soy, or coconut wax.
Give Gifts–Not Garbage!
One of the coolest things about Hanukkah? Eight days of presents. One of the least cool things? All the garbage that comes along with gift-giving! To avoid sending piles of plastic and paper waste to the landfill, consider wrapping your gifts in recycled paper. You can use art supplies to decorate your homemade wrapping and make it look just as snazzy as anything you’d find in a store! Same goes for greeting cards: recycled paper and a personal touch will make your loved ones smile and divert waste from the landfill.
If you’d like, you can even go one step further and choose something eco-friendly to go inside the wrapping paper. Thrift stores, clothing or toy swaps, and local secondhand sales platforms can be great ways to find cool, good-as-new gifts and keep perfectly good products from the garbage dump.
Locavore Latkes, Anyone?
A carnivore eats meat, a herbivore eats plants, and a locavore eats locally! Next time you go to the grocery store, check the labels on the fruits and vegetables: you’ll find the names of countries all around the world and transporting fresh produce from far-away places takes lots of fossil fuels.
Latkes are delicious fritters are made by frying shredded potatoes in oil, usually with sour cream and applesauce on the side. Look for potatoes grown in your community and when it’s time to dip all this deliciousness, choose sour cream from a local dairy and apples from a local orchard. Yum!
Stay Gold!
When you’re playing with a dreidel, the stakes are high: big piles of chocolate coins individually wrapped in gold foil. We definitely love chocolate, but individually wrapped candy? Not so much! Consider playing for chocolate or peanut-butter chips, or even for nickels and dimes–really, any tiny treats or fun trinkets will do, as long as they stay out of the trash bin.
Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel…
Some dreidels are made with plastic. Some are made with wood. If you’re an Earth Ranger, you probably already know which kind we prefer. Instead of going for a disposable plastic dreidel, invest in a wooden one that will last for generations.
Chag Sameach! What’s your favourite way to celebrate Hanukkah?
All the way back in July, we invited Earth Rangers across Canada to send us their very best artwork showcasing the beauty of trees in wintertime. And wow, did you all deliver! The top twenty artists had their work displayed at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)’s National Forest Week reception back in September. Canadian forestry leaders and government officials voted on which artwork they liked best. How cool is that?
After all that voting, we’re so pleased to finally announce the winners of this year’s Christmas in July contest.
In first place: Earth Ranger Helly, age 11, who lives in Manitoba!
Helly will have their artwork featured on the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) holiday card this year. They also won a fantastic prize pack courtesy of FPAC and Earth Rangers.
Check out Helly’s winning artwork below, along with a few words about what inspires her as an artist and a conservationist!
Earth Ranger Helly
What inspired you to create this artwork?
Forests and Earth Rangers inspired me to create this artwork.
What’s your favourite thing to do in the wintertime?
My favorite thing to do in wintertime is skating and playing in the snow too.
Why is it so important for us to protect trees?
Trees are important to protect because trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals.
What’s your advice for other kids who are interested in conserving trees?
My advice to kids is to plant more trees to have better oxygen.
And let’s give a very special shout-out to our runners-up!
In second place, we have Earth Ranger Revaan, age 6, from Manitoba. Fun fact: they’re Helly’s sibling!
And in third place? None other than Earth Ranger Madison, age 11, from Alberta.
Comment below to congratulate the winners, and keep your eyes on the Earth Rangers app for more holiday fun!
Hi everyone! This is Emma. We’re posting this episode in honor of the Kids Podcast Party! A bunch of kids podcasters are doing an episode to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Check out the Nat Geo Kids Greeking Out podcast and their episode featuring all wolf stories! They will tell you about another podcast participating.
But first – I’m going to eat this epic burrito…
It’s the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA for short) and Earth Ranger Emma is SO excited. It’s all she can think about! She and the Earth Rangers HQ are posting this episode in its honor!
Thanks to a spicy snack for dinner, Emma is swept up into a super-vivid dream. She’s somehow found herself on an incredible journey back through time! Through her adventure, Emma learns all about the events that precipitated the ESA and started the environmental movement as we know it.
Where did Emma go?
During her time-traveling dream adventure, Emma ends up visiting Congress in 1914 and seeing the creation of the Lacey Act. Then she finds herself in 1962 New York City on the day a very important book was published. Finally, she ended up in Washington on the day the Endangered Species Act was signed into American law.
Why is the Endangered Species Act so special?
Some of you might be asking: “Why was the ESA created?”
Its goal was (and is) to protect endangered plants and animals and save them from extinction. Some of the first animals the ESA protected were the Humpback Whale, Black-Footed Ferret and Bald Eagle
Celebrating the ESA!
When Emma wakes up, she does some more research about the ESA. Although there have been some tremendous successes, sadly, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
As Earth Rangers, we know how important it is to care about the environment and all the living things in it. If you’re looking for inspiration or ideas about how you can help, you can check out the Missions section of the Earth Rangers app!
What an adventure! Did you enjoy this little dream-escape? Were you aware of the ESA before this? Can you name an endangered animal from the list?
Cards are perfect gifts for friends and family.
Why not hoof it, grab some moose-paper and get crafting?
Here’s what you need:
Acrylic paint
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Black and white marker
Cardstock paper
Cardboard, like a cereal box
Paper scraps: old magazines, newspapers, mailers, or seasonal cards (whatever you can find!)
Here’s how you make it:
Step 1: Cut out several circles from your paper scraps: One big, one medium, and four small.
Paint two small circles in a color you want for your moose’s eyes, and the rest in the color of your moose’s fur.
Step 2:While your paint is drying, trace the outline of your hand on the cardboard. You will need to do this at least two times. Cut out these hand shapes.
Paint your moose’s antlers. What color do you want them to be?
Step 3: Stick the medium circle to the bottom of the big to create your moose’s head and muzzle. Next, add your moose’s eyes and glue the remaining tiny circles to the edges of its nose.
Step 4: Once the antlers are ready, glue them to the back of your moose’s head! Use your marker to draw on some eyes and nostrils.
Step 5: Lastly, fold your cardstock paper in half. Glue your moose’s head on the outside and you’ve got yourself a cool card! Just the right kind to gift someone!
What colors did you pick for your a-moose-ing craft? Let us know in the comments!
