We need your help! This animal is trying to tell us something but we can’t figure it out! Do you know what is this mantis thinking?
Post your ideas in the comment section below.
Ultimate Guide to National Parks: Bruce Peninsula
Welcome back to Emma’s ultimate guide to national parks. Today Emma is playing a home game: She is visiting Bruce Peninsula National Park in Ontario, Canada – a place that she knows extremely well because this is where she used to go camping with her parents when she was little. Does she still know her way around this small but exciting gem of a park?
Let’s tune in and find out!
Today Emma has returned to her home province of Ontario to visit the beautiful Bruce Peninsula National Park. It is a place she’s hiked ever since she was a tiny conservationist and offers plenty of relaxing sights to enjoy.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is located along the Niagara Escarpment, which runs from New York all the way to Wisconsin. It has various limestone cliffs and caves that overlook the Georgian Bay. It is unique for housing various at-risks reptiles, like the snapping turtle, Massasauga Rattlesnake, Eastern ribbonsnake, and Eastern milksnake.
The most popular attraction of the Bruce Peninsula National Park is “The Grotto”. It is a water-filled cave that experienced visitors can hike to and enjoy. Even before getting there, there is a lot to see! For those who don’t like walking, the park can also be enjoyed in other ways, like swimming, canoeing, or kayaking.
Going home to enjoy an old national park is not without its own adventures. Emma received a strange message from Ryan, and more than that – had to experience what it’s like to be out during a sudden shift in weather! In all these ups-and-downs, now was no better time to check out Adelia’s pouch. What did you think she found inside?
Got any thoughts about Bruce Peninsula National Park? What about what was hiding inside the pouch? Or…that strange text message. Why do you think Ryan reached out to her?
Tapir Scramble
Tapir Scramble
Time:10 min
Difficulty:Medium
We’ve got atapirrific word scramble for you! Can you unscramble these letters?
- Read the paragraph below and use it to unscramble the words.
That’s not a pig or hippo! It’s not even an anteater. No, it’s a tapir!
These cool animals are known for their prehensile noses, which help them swim and forage for food. They have four toes on their front feet and three on their hind legs. Tapirs enjoy cool water, and they’re such skilled swimmers that they can dive down to eat aquatic plants. A group of tapirs is called a candle. It’s common for candles of tapirs to graze together before going their separate ways.
Think you got them all? Tap on the puzzle image to see its secret answer!
The Soothing Geothermal Baths
Wow, this is nice and warm…
Hello there, young Earth Ranger! Want to know what I am doing in here with snow on my head?
I am going to let you in on a little secret. People aren’t the only ones enjoying the benefits of renewable energy. Animals do too!
Japanese macaque monkeys like me live in mountainous regions, where there’s always a lot of snow. In fact, we’re sometimes called snow monkeys. But we have a clever way to keep warm: taking a bath in a hot spring.
The key to these heavenly hot tubs is geothermal energy. That’s the heat that comes from within the Earth, such as steam from lava flows or magma in the Earth’s core. That heat can be captured as energy, which humans can then use to heat homes or generate electricity. And best of all, it’s a renewable resource that doesn’t pollute the environment!
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 on the Earth Rangers app to learn all about geothermal power (along with other types of green energy)!
Would you Rather #52
Would you rather…
Hold an (itchy) caterpillar or brush some stinging nettle
Tell us which one you pick in the comments!
More “Would You Rather” Questions!
Pixel Puzzler #34: The Great Reveal
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) a Camel! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!
Tap here for more cool stuff like this!
Ultimate Season Showdown!
Calling all Earth Rangers! It’s time for the Ultimate Season Showdown!
We’re going to pit the four seasons against each other: winter vs. spring vs. summer vs. fall! Which one is the best for our gardens – and all the creatures that live in them?
Spring
When spring has sprung, it’s a great time to get your garden prepared for planting. You’ll want to clean up any debris and add some topsoil. As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to plant those seedlings you grew indoors! Some plants don’t mind cool soil and can be planted earlier in the season – think potatoes, carrots, peas, lettuce, and spinach.
Be a Backyard Biologist: Springtime is when you’re going to see more birds in your yard. Try keeping track of all of the birds that you spot! Use a field guide to identify any species you don’t know.
Summer
In summer, it’s prime gardening time! The sunshine, warm weather, and rain are perfect for your plants to thrive and grow. You’ll be able to start harvesting your crops, like berries, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This is also the best time to visit farmers’ markets and enjoy all the yummy local produce.
Be a Backyard Biologist: Summer is when you’ll see lots of living things in your yard. We’re talking about plants, amphibians, birds, fungi, mammals, reptiles, insects… How many different groups of living things can you spot? Can you find them all?
Fall
Fall will arrive with its beautiful colors. When the leaves fall into your garden, you might be tempted to remove them – but leave those leaves for now! They provide nutrients for your soil AND they make a great overwintering habitat for lots of helpful insects: ladybugs, sow bugs, and caterpillars, to name a few! You’ll still have lots of tasty foods to harvest – think pumpkins, turnips, zucchini, and, apples!
Be a Backyard Biologist: If you want to see beautiful blooms in spring, fall is the perfect time to plant bulbs! You can plant tulips, daffodils and crocuses in the cool weather, and they’ll flower when things warm up!
Winter
Now, you might not expect much to be happening in your garden during the winter, and you’d be correct if you live somewhere that experiences prolonged cold temperatures and snow. Even though there aren’t any plants to be seen under all those snowflakes, now’s the perfect time to keep track of the birds and creatures who visit your yard.
Be a Backyard Biologist: Be sure to put out a well-stocked birdfeeder. And don’t forget – winter is the perfect time to plant seeds indoors so they’re ready for your garden when the warmer weather arrives!
Which season do you think should win the ultimate showdown?
It seems each season has its strengths – so which one wins the Ultimate Showdown? Is it going to be winter, spring, summer or fall? Vote for your favorite in the comments section below!
Want to learn more about your yard and all the critters that live there? Check out the Backyard Biologist mission on the Earth Rangers app!
Ap-peel-ing Cookies
Ap-peel-ing Cookies
Time:15 min
Difficulty:Easy
Do you like apples? Cookies? How about both? We’ve got cookies that you’ll apple-solutely love.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup of butter
Tip: You can use apple sauce instead of butter for extra fluffy cookies - An adult to help with baking
- Green food colouring (or matcha powder as a natural alternative)
- Red food colouring (or hibiscus powder as a natural alternative)
- Chocolate chips
Here’s how you make it:
Step 1: Add all your dry ingredients in a big bowl and add the eggs and butter. Mix until you form a dough.
Step 2: Divide your cookie dough into three bowls. Add your green food colouring to one bowl, and red colouring to another. Leave your third bowl as is.
Chill the dough in the fridge for about 10-15 mins.
Step 3: With the help of an adult, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Spoon some red dough out, and use your fingers to spread it and form a small well in the middle. Add a small spoonful of the regular coloured dough into the well and adjust your red dough around it. Using the green dough, form two small leaf shapes. Repeat for each cookie slice. Once done, add two chocolate chips in the center of each of your slices.
Step 4: Put the cookies in the oven and bake for 10-13 minutes, depending on your oven and the size of your cookies. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges of your cookies are browned.
Let them cool, then share your cookies with your family and friends! Bon appétit!
Caleb’s Planet Cleaning Mission
Caleb is a snake-lover who hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Caleb heard about Earth Rangers from CN, where his dad works. He was inspired to become an Earth Ranger because Caleb loves helping the environment!
His favourite part about being an Earth Ranger is that he gets to make the planet cleaner. Caleb loves being outside in nature and exploring. Caleb has great environmental role models. His family leads by example by always picking up garbage outside and recycling everywhere they can.
Caleb’s favourite planet-protecting action is cleaning up garbage. He wishes others would remember to clean up their own messes, too. He plans to inspire other kids by showing them how to pick up and sort garbage safely. When asked what he might do next to protect the planet, Caleb says that starting next week, he will turn off lights when his family isn’t using them. He plans to ask his mom and dad to help!
Caleb wants other kids to know that it’s important we protect animals and the environment because we don’t want animals to get sick or hurt. He knows that by working together, we can keep them safe!
