Time:15 min
Difficulty:Hard
We’ve got some punny animal jokes for you! Can you figure out the punchline? Use the decoder key below!
Earth Rangers has been committed to kids’ environmental education for many years and is proud to be a founding member of the Nature Education Collective (NEC).
NEC is an initiative of Earth Rangers, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Outward Bound Canada, and Project Learning Tree Canada. Together, we champion quality nature education for children and youth to ensure they become environmentally literate and build generations of sustainability-minded, action-oriented, and resilient people.
On May 29th, 2023, NEC hosted a day-long meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It brought together delegates from governments, ENGOs, formal and informal educators, and youth to talk about the future of nature education in Canada. It was a very encouraging and hopeful day.
Keeley Raffey, a level 78 Earth Ranger, was among the crowd. She was there to represent the voice of young people. With stories of the actions she’s taken, like recycling batteries, participating in Earth Hour, and spreading awareness, she was truly an inspiration to everyone present. Way to go, Keeley!
Nature education is needed to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our country. The Nature Education Collective is confident that with everyone working together, we can make this a reality.
Because it’s too far to walk.
We need your help! This animal is trying to tell us something but we can’t figure it out! Do you know what this little gorilla is thinking?
Time:45 min
Difficulty:Easy
We’ve got a soap-prise for you: a new type of tennis that’s simply absorbing. Time to make your racket and get playing!
To make your racket, tape your sponge near the top of your stick. You’ll want the sponge to stay put when you move the stick around.
Start playing! Your goal: Keep that balloon up in the air and don’t let it touch the ground. Work together to keep it up for as long as you can!
Looking to cool off? Just dip your sponge in water and get ready to make a splash as you play!
Stop right there, plastics! Don’t you dare try to escape!
Oh hey! You’re an Earth Ranger, right? Can you help me? I need to capture some bad plastics! Who am I? I’m Pickles of course! Sheriff Pickles. It’s nice to meet you.
My job as sheriff of this forest is to protect the animals that live here. That means looking out for baddies, like the Single-Use Plastic Gang. They all cause trouble but today I have three of them in my sights! I need your help to stop The 6-Pack Bandit, Victoria Baggins, and The Wrapper.
All three of these baddies pretend to help us:
But things are not always as they seem! These plastics are not our friends, especially to me and my animal buddies. You know those super strong rings that the 6-Pack Bandit has? They can easily get tangled up around an animal’s legs or neck. What about Victoria Baggins and The Wrapper? They can trap animals too, but worse, they can also smell like food. One sniff and a hungry animal might gobble them up. And trust me…they aren’t tasty or good for them!
If you find any of these baddies wandering the wild, pick them up! At home, try to not use them at all. That way they can’t escape and hurt us. It might sound hard, but here are some tips to help you get started:
The 6-Pack Bandit: This one is easy! Choose products that don’t come in 6-pack rings. There are lots of different drink brands that don’t use this bandit.
Victoria Baggins: Say NO to plastic bags when you’re at the store. Bring your own reusable bag instead! Backpacks or tote bags are really great for carrying food.
The Wrapper: Use a reusable container instead! This will help keep your food protected just as much as plastic wrap.
These are small changes you can do that will make a big difference to me and my animal friends.
Help Sheriff Pickles stop the entire Single-use Plastic Gang with the More Plastic More Problems Mission! Look for it in the Mission section in the Earth Rangers App!
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 giraffe! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!
Time:20 min
Difficulty:Easy
Don’t get caught in a snack lemur-gency!
Step 1: Toast your bread!
Step 2: Spread the cream cheese over your toast. Make sure it gets to all the corners and isn’t too thin!
Step 3: Prepare fur patches and details. Cut the following shapes out of your seaweed sheets: a small square, two small triangles, two ovals, and one circle. Then cut all your fruits/veggies in half.
Step 4: Lay the small triangles on each corner at the top of your bread to make the lemur ears. Add the square piece in between the ears to make a forehead.
Step 5: Place the ovals under the forehead and ears. Add your fruits/veggies on top to make the eyes.
Step 6: Finally, add the nose! Lay the circle on the bottom half of your toast and add the other fruit/veggie to finish!
You don’t need to travel far to see awesome creatures and interesting plants! Just visit your nearest garden, park, pond, or field. You’ll be amazed at how much cool life is living in your own backyard. AND it could make you a winner!
The Backyard Biologist contest is back. Submit your best nature photo and you could take home one of this year’s super duper, amazing, and fantastic prizes: a Canon Rebel T7 Camera!
This year’s categories are…
From ocean views to mega mountains, and all the forests in between, this category is all about landscapes. Snap a picture that makes us feel like we’re out in nature with you.
Do you love bluebells? Can’t get enough of red foxes? Or are rainbows more your style? This category is all about colours! You could focus on one colour or all of them. Just make sure it’s a picture that makes us go “WOW!”
When it comes to animals, we just can’t get enough. For this category, we’re collecting pictures of all kinds of wildlife. Send us pictures of creepy crawlies, cute mammals, funky fish, brilliant birds, and more. We’ll take them all! NOTE: no pets allowed!
The winner from each category will get 1 of 3 Canon Rebel T7 Cameras! It’s a small, beginner DSLR camera that’s easy to use and worth $650 each! It’s great for anyone who wants to take amazing shots and grow as a photographer.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! The winners will also get a chance to have their photograph put on display at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
The Backyard Biologist Contest is generously supported by:
In partnership with:
© 2025 | Earth Rangers is a registered charity: 8922 00528 RR0001 | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
