Tree Hugger BINGO
Take your outdoor adventures to the next level with Tree Hugger BINGO! Bring this BINGO card with you when you head outside and see how many squares you can fill. Do it by yourself, work as a team, or challenge a friend to see who can get BINGO first!
Click here for a printable version!
This BINGO card is one of the awesome rewards from the Tree Hugger Challenge. It was unlocked after our amazing Earth Rangers logged 25,000 habits!
We’re SO close to reaching our final goal. When we reach 100,000 habits, we’ll help plant a whole bunch of trees in honour of everyone’s hard work.
Will you help us get there?
We want to see your BINGO card! Share with us on social media or send a photo to
membership@earthrangers.com!
Top Ten Animals Getting Better Sleep Than You
We all know sleep is important, whether you curl up for a quick nap or really snuggle down for a full night’s sleep. Check out this Top Ten of animals that have found the perfect place for a little shut eye!
Cat Nap!
Ahhhh…just going to rest my eyes for one minute…zzzzz.
This works.
Too tired…can’t go on…zzzzz.
Oh, this is nice.
Do not disturb!
Rocks can make good pillows!
Snug as a…monkey in a tree.
Sshhh…a perfect spot for an afternoon nap.
This looks like a good spot to curl up.
Pixel Puzzler #16: 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 grasshopper! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!
Tap here for more cool stuff like this!
Can You Decode These Riddles?
Can You Decode These Riddles?
Time:15 min
Difficulty:Hard
Do you think you can figure out the punchline to these hilariously punny animal jokes? Use the decoder key below to find out!
What do you get from a pampered cow?
Why are fish so easy to weigh?
Think you got them all? Flip your device upside down for the answers!
Would You Rather #23
If you were a tree, would you rather have…
Colourful leaves that you lose in the fall or needles that stick around all year?
Tell us which one you pick in the comments!
More “Would You Rather” Questions!
Trees are TREErific allies! They give us shade, food, air to breathe, all while absorbing greenhouse gases and helping us fight climate change. Don’t you think they deserve a big thank you? Look for Tree Hugger in the Challenges section in the app!
Pixel Puzzler #16: 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!
Tap here for more cool stuff like this!
Worms in Dirt
Worms in Dirt
Time:15 min
Difficulty:Easy
Ice cream, anyone? We’ve got the perfect sweet treat for you, with a… squirmy surprise?! Don’t worry, we’re only talking about gummy worms. Here’s a super easy chocolatey recipe for Worms in Dirt!
Here’s what you need:
Psst: Not in the mood for brain freeze? You can use pudding instead of ice cream. Simply follow the instructions on a pack of instant pudding mix, then follow these same steps for your Worms in Dirt!
Here’s how you make it:
Step 1:
First, you’ll need to prepare your “dirt”. Remove the cream from inside your cookies and put the cookie pieces into a sealable bag (bonus points if you reuse it later). Crush up the cookie pieces using a rolling pin.
TIP: don’t have a rolling pin? You can crumble them up with your hands!
Step 2:
Time to assemble your terrarium-style treats! Fill up your cups by layering the ice cream, cookie crumbs, and gummy worms. Of course, you could make one big mud pit for your worms, instead!
Step 3:
Assemble the rest of the cups however you’d like!
Step 4:
If you’re making these ahead of time, place them in the freezer until they’re ready to be enjoyed.
That’s it — your super easy sweets are ready to go!
Tracking and Traces 101
Some animals are experts at hiding. It’s one of the ways they stay safe from predators (and us). But, if you look closely, you can usually see a clue or two that will tell you if an animal has been nearby. Use these tips the next time you’re on an outdoor adventure:
Look down!
An easy way to find out who was hanging around is to look at the ground. You know how you leave footprints when you’re walking through mud or snow? Animals do too!
If you spot footprints or tracks (lots of footprints) in mud and want to get a better view, stand between the tracks and the sun! It will cast a shadow on the tracks and make them stand out. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a clear footprint and you can look online to find out what type of animal made it.
Lots of broken twigs and damaged plants off the beaten path might mean that a big animal passed by! Little trails in wooded areas that aren’t too close to our bigger human-made ones can show you the routes our woodland friends like to take.
Look up!
Another way to gather clues is by looking up! Plenty of creatures like to hang out right over our heads. Do you see any nests nearby? Do you hear anyone rustling in the leaves?
Some animals like to snack on tree bark, like mice, squirrels, and porcupines. That might be hard to spot as you walk by, but you might get lucky and see a tree that looks like Swiss cheese—a sure sign of a snacky woodpecker!
Even if there are no trees nearby, you might be surprised to find little homes in unexpected places! Some birds and bees like to settle down on or under balconies, bridges, and lampposts. Sometimes you might even find them in little nooks on tall buildings!
When you’re out exploring, snap a couple of pictures while you’re at it!
It’s not Magic, it’s the Great Outdoors
I’ve got to come clean. I have a pretty strong bias when it comes to the benefits of spending time outside. If truth be told, it’s always been that way. When I filled out my career questionnaire as a teenager, it came back with a very clear direction for my future. According to the test results, I was destined to be a forest ranger. I was a bit surprised since my heart was set on journalism but there’s a good chance I skewed the results with my love of building forts and my aversion to meetings.
We’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of connecting with nature these last couple of years. There have been countless news reports suggesting stepping away from our computers and getting some fresh air helps with our mental health. A massive review by Pediatrics found this is also true for children. And just in case anyone wasn’t quite sure, the researchers looked at a whopping 269 studies that all came to a similar conclusion:
Access to greenspaces, nature and parks helped improve children’s overall wellbeing. The review found that in an ideal world, these spaces would be near a child’s home or school.
Researchers also suggested that not all outdoor time is equal. They concluded connecting with nature in a meaningful way was more beneficial than simply running around a parking lot. This is where that pretty strong bias I mentioned earlier comes in. I believe any kind of outdoor time is extremely valuable. Getting a lung full of fresh air and feeling the sun on their face can do a child a world of good. The emphasis on a meaningful connection with nature makes sense, but a more holistic approach could be another way of helping kids feel the benefits of connecting with the outdoors. Let’s look at a range of options:
- Modeling: Let the kids know you personally love being outside or at least that you’re trying to get out more. Whether it’s for a mini-break on the balcony or a bike ride, share how it makes you feel to be outdoors. If you have a few stories from your childhood about things like capture the flag or fort building you can share, all the better. Kids LOVE hearing about when their parents were young!
- Get out there: You may have to hop in the car or take the bus for this one, but hit a hiking trail nearby and focus on the sights, sounds and smells all around you. It’s amazing how often we forget just to listen or take a big breath. Talk to the kids about what you’re experiencing as you explore nature.
- Write or draw: Want to take it up a notch? No need to go far. Why not get the kids to write something about what they see outside or take the crayons to the park to draw a picture? Sidewalk chalk can also be a ton of fun.
- No pressure air time: Just open the front door and walk outside. Take a breath, hang out on the driveway or sidewalk. Throw a ball around or open a lawn chair. You simply can’t go wrong!
It’s immensely encouraging to read so many stories talking about the benefits of nature for children’s mental health. There’s value in big and small connections with the outdoors.
As it turns out, I didn’t end up becoming a forest ranger after all. I’ve spent many years tapping away on a computer instead but I spend every spare moment I have in the great outdoors. Nature trails and exploring are a fundamental part of my parenting and so is the driveway lawn chair.
