After a two-year hiatus, Earth Ranger’s school assembly program is returning and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Our presenters and animal ambassadors will be in person and in front of thousands of children across the country this fall.
Like many others, we needed to get creative when the pandemic first hit and challenged ourselves to find innovative ways to connect with kids. And guess what happened? We created something new that was an instant hit. Our virtual school shows allowed us to engage with students and educators from coast to coast in hundreds of communities.
The good news is, now there are two options. Our school assembly program has always been a fundamental part of what we do here at Earth Rangers. Whether it’s in person or online, our shows teach kids about the environmental issues facing our planet while empowering them to take action. And trust us when we say, when Linus the hawk flies across the gym or when Shelley, the midland painted turtle moves in for her close up, it makes an impact!
It’s been months in the making and now it’s ready! We’ve built a new portal called Homeroom. It’s packed full of resources designed just for educators. This website is a one stop shop for science based curriculum materials, lesson plans and classroom inspiration.
“We highly value our partnership with teachers across the country. We wanted to build something that would help make it easier to access engaging science focused content”, said Tovah Barocas, President of Earth Rangers. “We know how busy educators are so we were mindful in our design to make it user friendly.”
The site also features our NEW eco-anxiety course. Earth Rangers has been at the forefront of the growing issue of eco-anxiety in children. After conducting extensive research in this area, we created an eco-anxiety guide to support parents as they navigate challenging conversations with their children about the future of the planet. We have now designed a course for teachers full of best practices to assist in addressing eco-anxiety in their students. Our goal is to help teachers tap into children’s realistic optimism about the future and empower them to take action.
You might also know me as a grey jay, but I think my other name suits me better. I go by Canada jay because I’m a true Canadian songbird! I love winter so much, I never want to leave! While some birds fly south for the winter, I stay right here.
Since I brave the cold and snow every year, I need a really good shelter to keep me and my nest safe! You see, my chicks are born at the end of each winter, so it’s very important that I find somewhere to nest that’s safe and hidden.
That’s why I love coniferous trees! They’re the kind of trees that have needles all year long. Oh boy, do those needles come in handy! They protect us from the wind and keep us well hidden. Once my baby chicks hatch, these tree will keep my family nice and cozy until my little guys are ready to leave the nest in the spring.
Photo Credit: Dan Strickland
Coniferous trees are great for storing things too! I spend my summers hiding food in them. If I can’t find anything fresh to feed my chicks in the winter, these sashes of food are super handy.
I’m not the only one that likes coniferous trees! Lots of different animals depend on them all year, like chipmunks, downy woodpeckers, chickadees, pine butterflies, and more. The trees’ seeds and needles keep us all fed, no matter the season! Plus, these trees have plenty of little spots where we can build our homes.
See? Coniferous trees are awesome! Are you ready to plant one of your own?
But wait…don’t you have to plant trees when it’s hot and sunny out? Nope! Turns out, trees like to be planted in the spring and fall, so you’re just in time for some fall planting!
The mix of cool air and warm soil is exactly what a young conifer wants. The warm soil lets the tree roots spread out so it can get nice and sturdy. The cool air does the opposite: it makes sure the tree itself doesn’t grow too fast before the tree trunk can handle it. When things start warming up in the spring, the new tree will be ready to grow big and strong!
Will you plant a tree for me?
Planting just one tree can make a big difference for animals AND help fight climate change at the same time! Accept the Just 1 Tree Mission in the App to learn more!
Take a look around you right now. Notice any gadgets? You might see TVs, tablets, toys, lights, or even the class projector.
What do all of these things have in common? They use ENERGY! From the moment your alarm clock rings each morning, to when you flip off the lights before bed, there’s energy all around you!
So where does all this energy come from, anyway?
You’ll have to accept the We’ve Got the Power Mission to find out!
For this Mission, we want you to learn all about renewable and non-renewable energy. But that’s not all! You’ll also get to make some DIY renewable energy sources—one you can even use to make a delicious treat. YUM!
To complete this Mission, you must:
Read through the Mission Brief to become a renewable energy expert.
Follow the instructions to make your own DIY device and see renewable energy in action. Build one or all of them—the choice is yours!
Show off your creations to your family and friends, and teach them how they work.
When you’re done, mark the Mission as complete in the app and let us know how you did. Don’t forget to include a picture of you doing your Mission!
Look for We’ve Got the Power in the Missions Section of the Earth Rangers App!
If you’ve been wondering about any Sasquatch sightings lately, there’s a podcast for that. How about getting the most out of your BBQ smoker or a beginner’s guide to bathroom renovations? There’s a show for that too. There’s just an endless amount of podcasts waiting for someone to drop by and have a listen. Podcasts have been growing in popularity for more than a decade but thanks to a massive shift in the landscape, content has exploded. The pandemic certainly played a role in the amount of choice now available but industry observers point to another reason. Last year, Amazon joined Google in the Canadian podcast arena. A flood of new shows hit the airwaves including a ton of content for children. When it comes to kids and podcasts, new research by Media in Canada tells an interesting story. The podcast audience for young listeners has remained steady over the last four years but the children who do engage with shows, listen a lot! With so many podcasts to sort through, where’s a good place to start? Just like when a new show debuts on a streaming service, it’s helpful to get the lowdown. The usual approach is to see if there’s any buzz surrounding the content and ask around for any feedback. Think Netflix recommendations by your work colleagues before a meeting starts. If the podcast is for your child, it’s important to investigate if the subject matter is age appropriate and worthwhile.
EnterSound Carrot. Tristan Welch and his 10-year-old daughter Maya, are podcast enthusiasts. Picture a typical busy home with podcasts playing in the background – almost like a family soundtrack. Maya is a science lover and avid reader with an insatiable curiosity. When it comes to podcasts, she can’t get enough of them. Tristan soon realized the massive amount of choice wasn’t just a problem for older listeners. “Some of the podcasts geared for kids weren’t very good and more importantly, not age appropriate,” said Tristan. “It was starting to dampen Maya’s interest so I began curating a list of some of the best of the best.” With a background in digital production, Tristan set about creating a website that would act as a portal for awesome kids’ podcasts. The initial intent was to make it easy for Maya to quickly find great things to listen to but Tristan soon realized many others could benefit from a curated kids’ podcast catalog. The website recently went live and continues to grow. The list of handpicked podcasts now features more than 200 titles. “One of our favourites is Earth Ranger Emma,” said Tristan. “I love that Maya sees women portrayed in science and it’s incredibly well done!” Earth Rangers The Big Melt is also on the list.
Sound Carrot is built for parents and kids but teachers are also included. Podcast creators are also encouraged to reach out and connect. With so much to choose from, what would make a podcast stand out for this discerning team? They have to pass the “dad test” and Maya has to give them the thumbs up. “We look for a spark,” Tristan explained. “Great storytelling doesn’t need to have slick production values,” Tristan insists. “We’ve found a wide variety of styles and a ton of material created by kids themselves.” This passionate podcaster also feels there’s something unique about listening to a show together as a family. “You can interact with the story and talk to each other about what you’re hearing. It’s also great for toothbrush time.” What about the name Sound Carrot? “Maya came up with it.” Tristan said. “It just sort of worked!”
Equipping parents with information, resources and thoughtful content is a priority for us here at Earth Rangers. We are thrilled to be launching a new feature. Our parenting blogger, Karen Horsman, is the former national parenting columnist for CBC radio. For more than a decade, she interviewed experts from around the world, seeking insight and advice to help support parents on their journey.
Karen is looking forward to continuing her mission to connect parents with meaningful content through a story telling lens. From how to nurture independence to embracing the great outdoors, you’ll find a wide variety of topics in her blog posts. Happy reading!
No instruments? No problem! Get the gang together and head on outside to play some tunes, with a little help from nature. It’s time for a symphony!
Here’s what you need:
Friends or family to join your orchestra
Your favourite outdoor space
Here’s how you play:
Step 1:
Make your way to your favourite outdoor space. It could be your local park, a walking trail, or even your backyard!
Step 2:
Take some time to track down your instruments. Get creative with it! Anything you see laying around is fair game. A pinecone xylophone, a blade of grass as a kazoo, a fallen bundle of leaves as maracas, small rocks to clap together like a cymbal… the sky is the limit!
TIP:
Make sure to respect your environment by only using natural items you find laying around instead of ripping up living plants.
Step 3:
Once you have your instruments, gather ’round and start playing! Pick a song and decide who will play each part.
