Pixel Puzzler #26: Part 1

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.

Check back next week for the answer!

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Gobbly Gecko

Gobbly Gecko

Time:15 min Difficulty:Easy  

You’ll go bananas for this little guy! It’s time to make your berry own Gobbly Gecko!

Here’s what you need:

  • Strawberries
  • A banana
  • Two blueberries or grapes
  • Pretzel sticks

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1: Let’s start by preparing your gecko’s body! First, cut one strawberry in half (from top to bottom). Next, cut your banana and the rest of your strawberries into slices.

Step 2: Now, let’s put your gecko’s body together. Start with one strawberry half for the head, then switch back and forth between banana and strawberry slices. Finally, add the other strawberry half for a tail.

Step 3: Time to give your gecko some eyes! Cut your blueberries (or grapes) in half and place them onto the gecko’s strawberry head.

Step 4: Finally, add some legs. Place two pretzel sticks on either side of your gecko’s body, one set for the front legs and the other set for the back.

And with that, your gecko is complete! All that’s left is to gobble it up!

Breaking News: Rangers Win!

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Great work, Earth Rangers! You CRUSHED Team Plastic in the Rangers vs. Plastic Challenge. You know what that means? You’ve unlocked the final Community Reward! It’s a donation that will help support the work being done by Camille Lavoie. She’s a marine biologist trying to protect kelp forests in the Arctic!

What in the World is a Kelp Forest?

Kelp is giant algae. It looks like really long seaweed! When you have a whole bunch of them together, it’s called a kelp forest. Lots of animals rely on kelp forests every day. Some live in them. Others, like seals, use them as feeding grounds. That means they’ll stop by to get something to eat. 

Kelp forests also absorb a lot of carbon dioxide. This is really good news! Carbon dioxide is a heat-trapping greenhouse gas that makes climate change worse. BUT that’s not all! It also makes our oceans more acidic. When this happens, the shells that protect some animals get weaker and they can get really hurt. By absorbing carbon dioxide, kelp forests are planet-protecting superstars!

Help Kelp Forests by Going Plastic-free

You might be wondering how this connects to this Challenge. Well, a lot of the plastic we throw away ends up in the ocean. While there, it can really hurt kelp forests and the animals that depend on them. By saying “no” to plastic, you’re helping keep our ocean pals safe and their kelp forests clean!

You did an amazing job with the Challenge! Here’s a special gift to say thank you. If you logged a habit during this Challenge, you’ve unlocked a Seal Buddy for your avatar! Visit the Community Milestone section of the Challenge to learn more.  

Keep up the great work! You’re making a real difference in protecting our planet.

DID YOU KNOW… You can help support animals like the ringed seal and collect more avatar buddies when you do!
Visit the Adoptions section for more.

Meet Holden!

1. We’d love to hear more about Holden! What does he like to do?
Liz: He enjoys reading, creating marble runs, mountain biking and snowboarding!
2. What’s his favourite animal and why?
Liz: He loves ring-tailed lemurs because of their cool colouring, acrobatic skills, and the fact that they are primates just like us.
3. Has Holden’s eco-action had a ripple effect on the family and friends?
Liz: Yes! He loves sharing all about the fun facts he has learned, and always makes sure his mom doesn’t run the water during toothbrush time!
4. Tell us about one activity in particular that he really connected with.
Liz: He loves the cooking activities and is excited to try more of the recipes like the crab apple.
5. What do you think is one of the most important things he has learned as an Earth Ranger member?
Liz: Holden has learned that small actions we take daily can make a larger positive impact. He even started his own journal after listening to the ‘Adelia Goodwin’s Secret Journal’ on the Earth Rangers Podcast. He writes cool facts in the notebook about animals and nature he observes.
6. As a parent, what do you think of Earth Rangers programs?
Liz: I love how much the Earth Rangers Podcast and Earth Rangers App have made him aware of how our actions can benefit our climate. He has also gained a deeper knowledge of animals, their habitats, and how we can help keep them safe and thriving. It also connects him to like- minded kids around the world! Also, the jokes on the podcast – we love the jokes!

Pawsitively Hilarious Jokes #1

What do you call a grizzly bear caught in the rain?

A drizzly bear!

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The Quest for the Best: An Earth Day Celebration

What day is that? Earth Day! Emma comes to you with a special episode to celebrate this special day. She’s got some good news to share, and much more! What might it all be? Let’s tune in and find out.

Happy Earth Day everyone!
The “Quest for the Best” isn’t about to stop Emma from enjoying this special day. Today is a big day, so let’s be sure to join in on the fun!

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day celebrates the progress that the environmental movement has made, and the impact that raising awareness has helped bring to saving animals and the planet. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 – 53 years ago. A lot has happened in that time, but there’s still plenty of work to do!

How can I celebrate Earth Day?

There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day! Ask a parent to take a look at where you live to see if there are any events being organized. Can’t find anything? Don’t worry. Here are a few ideas on how you can go about it yourself:

  • organize a litter clean-up in your neighborhood
  • plant a tree or some flowers
  • limit your water waste
  • turn off the lights when you leave the room
  • spread the word about Earth Day

Some of these idea might be closely connected to missions on the Earth Rangers app – be sure to take a look and accept those you want to do. Today is a perfect chance to complete a mission and celebrate Earth Day.

What about Emma?

In this episode, Emma mentions some good news that’s worth celebrating. What are they? Let’s take a look…

Pandastic news:

Remember the red panda Emma talked about while staying at Adelia’s cabin in Nepal? If you missed it, Earth Rangers Headquarters announced an update, and they had great news to share! Over 500 rangers came in to help support the red pandas, and it has helped spread the word, give these cute animals more trees and much more! Check out the full update here: This Red Panda Update is Pandastic

50th years saving animals:

Photo Credit: Plutoforpres

Emma reminded us that there’s a lot to party about. The endangered species act can also show us more reasons to celebrate! In just 50 years, it has saved 99% species that were listed as under threat. That is HUGE! This is proof that we’re making a difference when it comes to saving the planet.

Emma also mentions her list of favorite animals: African Wild Dogs, Elephants, Sea Turtles, Red Panda and Snow Leopards. Were any of these a surprise to you? Wait, let’s not stop there! Why not share your own Top 5 of favorite animals?

Can’t pick a Top 5? You can also celebrate in the comment by sharing any cool rare or unknown animal facts you want more people to know about. Are there any animals you think others don’t know about or deserve more love and attention? There’s no better time than now to celebrate them!

Some of you have already been passing on some sweet messages to Emma and the rest of Earth Rangers headquarters. We love all the sweet jokes, animal encounters, animal facts, and messages you send us! For this special day, I made a small montage of sweet messages you all had to share with Emma. If you want to relisten to it, you can go check it out here:

If you missed that you can do that, you can leave us a voice recording by going to earthrangers.com/podcast and clicking on the “leave us a message” button. Who knows? Maybe your message will end up getting played on the podcast?

How do you celebrate Earth Day? How do you want to celebrate it in the future?

Pixel Puzzler #25: The Great Reveal

We’ve gotten 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 bighorn sheep! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!

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Help bighorn sheep with a Wildlife Adoption!

Head to the Adoptions Section in the App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop!

Pinecone Bunnies

Pinecone Bunnies

Time:15 min Difficulty:Easy  

These aren’t your ordinary cottontails. These pinecone bunnies are ear-resistible!

Here’s what you need:

  • A pinecone
  • A pencil
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • A black marker
  • Paper, felt, or foam sheets in 2 different colours

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1: Cut out some shapes to make your bunny’s head. In the first colour, you’ll need a big circle and two big diamonds. In the second colour, you’ll need a smaller circle and two smaller diamonds.

Step 2: Glue the circles together, and the smaller diamonds to the larger ones. Once they are all dry, glue the ears to the head and draw on your bunny’s face.

Step 3: Using your first colour again, cut out four long ovals and a small circle. These will be your bunny’s arms, legs, and tail.

Step 4: Finish your bunny by gluing the head, arms, legs, and tail to the pinecone. Once everything is dry, your little critter is complete.

Now you’ve got yourself a cute Pinecone Bunny. Be sure not to let it bounce away!

Retired Ant

Leaf-cutter ants have sharp mandibles that they use to cut leaves. As these insects age their mandibles wear down, using this dull cutting tool means it can take them three times as long to get the same piece of leaf. But these hard-working insects don’t exactly retire to the beach! Once a leaf-cutter ant’s mandibles are dull they take up a new role on the delivery crew where they carry the leaves back to the colony.

Meet Scarlett!

The planet needs our support and we know children are ready to jump in to help! We call those kids Earth Rangers and the world needs more of them. Sharing inspiring stories is one way to spread the word about the power of eco-action. 
1. What excites your child the most about being an Earth Ranger?
Matt: Scarlett is excited about helping change the world through fun activities like the ones in the app. She’s been working through the Rangers vs Plastics Challenge recently. She also loved being a clean plate champion in the All Taste, No Waste Challenge. It was really important to her. 
2. Can you tell us about a Mission that Scarlett connected with?
Matt: More Plastic, More Problems is the Mission she has put the most effort into so far. 
3. Has their eco-action had a ripple effect on the family and friends?
Matt: Absolutely! Scarlett has been vocal in making sure we use less plastics and create less waste. She has been asking about adding a food composter in the back yard. 
4. What do you think is one of the most important things your child has learned as an Earth Ranger member?
Matt: I think she has become more aware of the resources being used around the house and at school. 
5. As a parent, what do you think of Earth Rangers programs?