Have you ever headed out to your favourite beach, lake, or
river for a day of fun in the sun, only to be shocked by the amount of garbage
that’s lying around? It can really put a damper on your day, but for the
animals that live there, all that trash is ruining their homes. That’s why it’s
so important that we do what we can to make sure we keep our favourite shorelines
clean and healthy!
Litter does more than just ruin pictures, it can hurt the animals we love!
You might be thinking, “I already do my part by making sure I
always pick up my trash when we leave the beach”, but there’s another sneaky
source of shoreline scraps that you may not have thought of: fishing leftovers!
Not only can animals get tangled in discarded fishing line and nets, they can
become seriously injured if they swallow fishing hooks and lures that look like
tasty treats. So the next time you head to your favourite fishing hole, keep
these tips in mind to make sure you have a responsible day on the water!
This is the most important thing to remember the next time
you’re on the water! Make sure you dispose of bait, fishing line, and other
materials properly. If you’re using lead weights and jigs, these must be
disposed of at your local hazardous waste collection centre.
It’s important to make sure you’re only catching fish that
are in season, and that also have a healthy population! Check with your region
before you head out so you know what you can and can’t catch.
Did you know that different rods, tackle, and fishing line
work best for different fish? That means you should only be fishing with the
proper gear designed to catch the fish species that are in season. No matter
when you fish, though, you should always try to use non-lead tackle.
Learn more about being a Shoreline Saver by accepting the Mission in the Earth Rangers App today!
Cars are super convenient, but this easy travel comes with a price: greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Did you know transportation is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada?!
Luckily there are some easy ways that you can help reduce these emissions right from the passenger seat!
Before you hit the open road again, become an Eco-Driving Expert!
Step 1: As a family, take the Eco Driving Test. Each driver should have their own copy of the test, but answers can be discussed together.
Step 2: Mark the written test(s) together using the answer key, then head out for the driving portion of the test!
Step 3: Once you’ve reviewed your family’s answers, accept the Stop and Go Green Mission in the Earth Rangers App for tips on how your family members can improve scores!
But there’s more!
Be one of the first 10,000 Earth Rangers to accept the Stop and Go Green Mission and we’ll mail you a Green Driving Package to help inspire your family and other drivers to be green driving machines! You’ll get some helpful green driving tips and a super cool bumper sticker for your family vehicle!
Snap a photo of your completed Mission and share it with us, tagging one of our official social media pages along with the hashtag #SummerEcoActivity for your chance to WIN an Earth Rangers mystery prize pack! Make sure you also like and share the official contest launch post and follow Earth Rangers to complete your entry!*
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
Brother vs sister… neighbour vs neighbour… bestie vs bestie… it’s time for the a TIMED TRASH PICK-UP! What better way to celebrate #FriendshipDay than with some friendly competition?
International Day of Friendship has been celebrated on July 30th since 2011, when the United Nations decided to recognize a day to involve young people in community activities that can include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity. You can be a leader in your community by getting out and leading some friendly competition that helps our planet!
All you really need is someone to time two (or more) competitors to see who can fill a bag of trash the fastest! Your competition can be even be done remotely, between two households. Get creative and snap a pic of your contest, share it (and tag us) along with the hashtag #SummerEcoActivity for your chance to win! Don’t forget to follow our page and like the official launch post to qualify for your chance at a prize!*
Mark your calendars! On Tuesday August 11 and Tuesday August 25, we’ve got special interactive versions of our Facebook Live happening, thanks to our friends at BASF! Start collecting your ingredients now so you can join in the fun with Playful Polymers and make your very own SLIME!
5 tbsp of Elmer’s glue
¼ tbsp of baking soda
Food colouring (2-3 drops)
½ tbsp of contact lens solution (Renu brand)
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
*Must be following at least one Earth Rangers official Facebook,Twitter, and/or Instagram page to qualify. No purchase necessary. This contest giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram/ Facebook/ Twitter. Entries close at 11:59pm EST on Aug 30, 2020 and the winner will be chosen at random based on entry requirements and contacted via direct message. Winners will have 1 week to claim their prize and confirm shipping details once contacted, after which prize will be given to another eligible candidate.
Hello Earth Rangers! Today is a special day for Earth Ranger Emma – it’s her ranger-versary! (her anniversary of becoming an Earth Ranger) and she decides to go celebrate it in her favourite place – her neighborhood forest. Come and join her on a trip deep into the woods. Don’t worry – It’s actually really nice.
Click the play button on the player below to listen to today’s episode!
Have you guessed what type of animal we heard in today’s “Who am I” game? Click here to see a photo of this colourful songbird!
In today’s episode, Emma talks to Darren Sleep from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Darren talks about the important work SFI does in order to save this amazing habitat! On the right is Darren’s favourite kind of owl, do you know what this species is called? (Hint: Listen to the interview to find out!)
What do you like about forests? What’s your favourite forest animal? Have you ever been on a forest adventure? Did you catch the name of Darren’s favourite owl?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Don’t forget to send your own animal story to enter our brand new contest!!
Thanks to Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Project Learning Tree Canada for their collaboration on this episode.
Today is World Nature Conservation Day, and to celebrate we’re asking you to help some powerful pollinators in need of a new hive! Western bumblebees were once one of the most common and widespread bumblebees in western Canada, but their populations are shrinking as good habitat is becoming harder to find. That’s where you come in! You can help them along with more than 40 other bumblebee species in Canada.
Here’s what you’ll need:
a ceramic flower pot with a hole at the bottom
a small shovel
hay or wood shavings
a cover to protect the pot from rain (try a piece of wood, plate, or patio stone)
rocks
Here’s how to build your bee habitat:
Dig a hole in the ground that’s deep enough to fit an upside-down flower pot inside
Sprinkle hay or wood shavings in the hole. This will attract the Queen Bee.
Put the upside-down pot in the hole, making sure none of it is sticking out of the ground.
Put rocks on the ground around the pot and place a cover on top. Chose rocks tall enough to give space between the pot and the cover. The queen will need to be able to crawl in between and enter through the pot’s hole.
Once finished, give your nest plenty of space. Bumblebees are very peaceful but may try to protect themselves if they feel threatened (that’s where they get their stinging reputation from!)
Share a photo of your Earth Rangers in action with the new BEEautiful habitat, tagging our official page & #SummerEcoActivity for a chance to WIN an Earth Rangers mystery prize pack! Make sure you also like & share the official contest launch post & follow our page to complete your entry!*
Want to really be a bumble bestie? How about getting a very cuddle-able new friend through our Wildlife Adoptions program, in support of the western bumblebee?
Plushie kits include an adoption certificate and a poster, and when you make your purchase through the Earth Rangers App your child will also earn points to help them level up on their Earth Rangers journey—plus a set of virtual rewards they can show off!
Are Digital Adoption packages more your style? They’re only $10 and an Earth Rangers App exclusive! These include a virtual badge, a virtual animal to accompany your avatar on the home screen in the app, a cool avatar bonus item, and a virtual adoption certificate!
Mark your calendars! On Tuesday August 11 and Tuesday August 25, we’ve got special interactive versions of our Facebook Live happening, thanks to our friends at BASF! Start collecting your ingredients now so you can join in the fun with Playful Polymers and make your very own SLIME!
5 tbsp of Elmer’s glue
¼ tbsp of baking soda
Food colouring (2-3 drops)
½ tbsp of contact lens solution (Renu brand)
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
Renewable energy is also known as “clean energy” or “green energy”, and as you can probably already tell by their names, they are a lot better at not polluting the air or water than some of the more traditional energy sources. These renewable energies come from natural resources that will never run out, like the sun and the wind! Renewable energy is starting to be used more and more around the world to decrease pollution, slow down climate change, and help reduce the pressure on our planet’s resources.
You have probably seen some of these renewable energy sources in action! Maybe you were driving somewhere with your family and noticed those tall, towering windmills—or wind turbines—in your neighbourhood, offshore, or in big fields along the highway. These wind turbines have a rotor with blades that is connected to a shaft. As wind energy hits the blades, the rotor turns, which causes the shaft to turn as well. As the shaft turns, it produces energy. The more wind that hits the blades, the more the rotor can turn and the more energy the wind turbine can produce. About 6% of the electricity used in Canada actually comes from these wind turbines. That’s enough to power almost 3.2 million homes!
While it may be tough to make an energy-producing windmill (that’s a job for a professional engineer!), you can experiment with the wonders of wind by making your very own pinwheel. A great way for budding scientists to explore the power of our amazing air! Plus, it can make some lovely DIY décor for family gardens, backyards, and more.
You’ll need:
Scissors
Pencil
Craft paper or recycled paper, cut into a square. This will be used to make your blades!
1 straw or stick for the stand (aka the shaft)
1 pushpin (aka the rotor)
Optional: ruler
Don’t forget to snap a photo of you + your pinwheel in action and share it with us, tagging one of our official social media pages along with the hashtag #SummerEcoActivity for your chance to WIN an Earth Rangers mystery prize pack! Make sure you also like and share the official contest launch post and follow Earth Rangers to complete your entry!
Check out this article on the Wild Wire to learn about how alternative energy sources, like wind and solar, can help reduce greenhouse gasses. Being able to identify and stop the energy wasting culprits in YOUR HOME is a great way to save energy and help to slow down climate change. By accepting the Operation Conservation Mission in the FREE Earth Rangers App, you can do just that!
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
As Earth Rangers we know you care about all the ways that YOU can make a difference for the Earth and the awesome animals that we share it with, but, did you know that there might be some unknown energy-wasting and climate change influencing villains lurking in your OWN HOME! That’s right, even if you don’t always know it, there is water and energy waste in many homes across the country and these also contribute to climate change! The good news is, with a little more information on these energy stealing culprits and how you can recognize them, you will be able to defeat them and keep your home running efficiently in no time.
Earth Ranger Marshall completes the Operation Conservation Mission
These most wanted energy wasters like the
Power Phantom, steal energy from your home through your unused electronics
being plugged in and on standby without you even knowing! Or, like the Devious
Draft, which allows cold air into your home through small cracks under your
doors or windows, which causes you to use extra energy to keep your house warm!
While this is all happening right under your noses, your house is having to
work overtime to produce more energy to make up for this waste which in turn
means more energy needed from the planet’s resources! As well, this energy is a
lot of work to produce and is a big contributor to greenhouse gas
production which creates the greenhouse effect.
If you haven’t heard of the greenhouse
effect before, here is what it means and how it is affecting the earth. The
greenhouse effect is MAJORLY to blame for climate change, and that is
because greenhouse gases like CO2 or carbon dioxide, are being
released into the atmosphere. The sun also shines down on us through the
atmosphere and then hits the earth giving us that much needed warmth and
energy. BUT, sometimes those sneaky greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can trap
some of the sun’s energy and this is what causes the temperature on Earth to
rise. This increased temperature affects everything on earth, especially many
habitats where animals live which makes it harder for them to adapt and
survive! So, the more energy we use in our homes, the more energy the planet
needs to produce, and the more greenhouse gases that can be produced as well
which we now know are a big contributor to climate change.
We can see evidence of this greenhouse gas
effect and climate change in places like the Arctic, where the sea ice is
melting due to the warming temperatures and this sadly, has had a negative
impact on a lot of animals such as the polar bear. They rely on these huge ice
sheets to hunt for seals but as the ice melts it is becoming much more
difficult for them to find food and survive. This isn’t only affecting the
animals on land either, with more space opening in these waters due to lack of
ice sheets, more large boats have access and can add chemical pollution to the
waters as well as noise pollution. This causes sea animals like the beluga
whale difficulty when trying to communicate with each other.
Being able to identify and stop the energy
wasting culprits in YOUR HOME is a great way to save energy and help to slow
down climate change and by participating in the Earth Rangers: Operation
Conservation Mission, you can do just that! When you participate in this
challenge you will learn easy ways you can save energy at home, like unplugging
all electronic devices and small appliances when they are not in use, or by
turning off the tap while brushing your teeth to save water or by taking
shorter showers! While those are fantastic ways to help the climate change fight,
there is also no way to completely stop our use of energy in our homes, as it
is very important for many things, BUT when we do use energy its always better
if it comes from sources that impact the planet a lot less. This is where renewable
energy comes in! Renewable energy is also known as “clean energy” or “green
energy” and you can probably already tell by their names, that they are a lot
better at not polluting the air or water more than a traditional energy source,
like oil. These renewable energies come from natural resources that will never
run out like heat from the sun and the wind! These are currently starting to be
used more around the world to reduce pollution, slow down climate change and to
help reduce the pressure on the planet’s resources, and you have probably seen
where these renewable energies come from! Maybe you were driving somewhere with
your family and noticed those tall windmills or wind turbines which use the
wind to spin their blades and in turn this powers a generator to create
electricity! Or maybe even your own family has solar panels on the roof of your
house, which harness solar energy or the energy from the sun and convert it to
electricity that people can use to power their homes! This is one of the cleanest
sources of energy as it produces no pollutants at all! Pretty incredible
technology right? There are more renewable energies being used as well, which
you can find out more about in the Operation Conservation Mission!
Now that you know all about energy use and its impact on climate change, its YOUR turn to help! In the Operation Conservation Mission on the new Earth Rangers App, you can work with the polar bear Captain Conservation to help stop the 7 energy-wasting culprits that have snuck into your own home without you even realizing it! This way you too can help reduce the waste of energy and water across the country and foil Power Phantom and those other villains plans once and for all! So, what are you waiting for? The planet needs Earth Rangers like YOU!
Attention Earth Rangers: We’ve just released a BRAND NEW Mission! We want YOU to become an eco-driving expert to help “greenify” the way your family gets around to shrink your carbon footprint! Are you up to the challenge?
When cars became popular in the early 1900s, they really changed the world. Not only was it easier to get from point A to point B, but cars also let people travel farther and more often. For a lot of us, cars are still the most common way we get around, but that easy travel comes with a price: greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Did you know that you can make a big difference just by changing the way you drive? It’s easy! Accept the Stop and Go Green Mission and you’ll get:
A Mission Brief filled with tips to help you and your family become lean, green, driving machines
An Eco-driving Expert Pledge and License that you can print out and display with pride
An Eco-driving Test and Driving Tracker you can use to see how green your family really is behind the wheel!
Feeling the summer heat these days? Take some time to chill out with this polar bear wordsearch! A perfect way to PAWS at home in ice-olation! Hopefully you don’t get brain freeze while working through this polar puzzle!
Snap a polar pic of your Earth Ranger with their completed wordsearch and share it with us, tagging our official page & #SummerEcoActivity for a chance to WIN an Earth Rangers mystery prize pack! Make sure you also like & share the official contest launch post & follow our page to complete your entry!*
You can help support important research to protect Polar Bears by purchasing a Wildlife Adoption kit through the Earth Rangers App! Plushie adoption kits are only $40 and include a certificate and a poster, and when you make your purchase through the Earth Rangers App your child will also earn points to help them level up on their Earth Rangers journey—plus a set of virtual rewards they can show off!
Now that you’ve cooled down inside, time to get back out there into nature! Do you have any thirsty trees nearby that could use some love? How about crafting them a tree bucket buddy to help give their roots what they need to feel fresh and healthy this summer?
Tree Bucket Buddy
Trees need water just like we do in order to stay hydrated and healthy! Growing new leaves and roots, transporting nutrients, and completing photosynthesis all require water. It can even help trees manage pests and disease!
Young trees that have just been planted (maybe you’ve recently completed our Just 1 Tree Mission!) especially need help getting enough water. But all trees can benefit from a good drink! Since they take in water slowly, it can be hard to hydrate without waste! Standing around with the hose pointed at your tree trunk usually just ends up with water bubbling up and spilling around the lawn, before the roots have barely sucked any up
Earth Rangers is here to help you with a little DIY fun to make your very own tree watering system: A Bucket Buddy!! All you need is a big ol’ pail (we recommend a five-gallon one) and something to carefully puncture holes in the bottom. A drill or a hammer and nail will do just fine, but make sure that you get an adult’s help to do it safely!
Here’s how it’s done:
1. Make a half-inch hole near the outer edge of the bottom of your bucket.
2. Fill your bucket all the way to the top with water.
3. Find the area directly under your tree’s “drip line”—that’s the area right under the canopy’s furthest reach. Place your full bucket here!
4. After the water has slowly drained into the tree’s soil, move the bucket to the opposite side of the tree to give the roots on the other side a good slurp! Alternatively, you could use two buckets in step 3: one on either side!
5. Repeat 2-3 times per week in the hot summer months so your tree can drink up 20-30 gallons of water! It’s a well-deserved treat for providing us with clean air all season long!
Remember to always ask for an adult’s help when using power tools! Pro tip: When it’s raining, pull your buckets out from under the trees so that you can collect rainwater to use! It’s a great way to save water! Just make sure that you temporarily plug the holes while you’re collecting it so you can use it later to help out thirsty trees.
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
*Must be following at least one Earth Rangers official Facebook,Twitter, and/or Instagram page to qualify. No purchase necessary. This contest giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram/ Facebook/ Twitter. Entries close at 11:59pm EST on Aug 30, 2020 and the winner will be chosen at random based on entry requirements and contacted via direct message. Winners will have 1 week to claim their prize and confirm shipping details once contacted, after which prize will be given to another eligible candidate.
Today is world snake day!! Ssssscelebrate by ssssnacking on sssnake inssspired refresssshments!
What’s all the fuss about? Snakes are sssssuper important in balancing out ecosystems all over the world! They often sit somewhere in the middle of local food chains, taking roles as both predator and prey. Plus, they help keep pest populations down by feeding on small rodents that can damage crops and carry disease. Don’t worry, the ssssnake ssssnack we have in mind is quite different than what’s on their menu! Breadssssticks anyone?
Materialssss & Ingredientsss:
1 package store-bought bread dough
10 wooden chopsticks
3/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
20 whole black peppercorns
Ressscipe:
Preheat oven to 350F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Divide bread dough into roughly 1/4 cup portions.
On a lightly floured surface, roll portions into long, round snakes! Keep one end slightly larger (for the head), and roll the other end to a thinner point (for the tail).
Wind each ‘snake’ around a chopstick. Place them on the baking sheet so that the head is facing upwards.
Place 2 peppercorns on the head of each snake to make the eyes, and sprinkle the parmesan cheese on the snakes evenly (and generously).
Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Serve with melted butter, marinara, or your favourite dipping sauce!
Snap a photo of your completed activity and share it with us, tagging one of our official social media pages along with the hashtag #SummerEcoActivity for your chance to WIN an Earth Rangers mystery prize pack! Make sure you also like and share the official contest launch post and follow Earth Rangers to complete your entry!*
Hungry to help Canadian snake populations and other awesome animals who share their habitat? For a limited time, digital Eastern Milksnake Wildlife Adoptionssss Packagessss are 20% off!
Adopt an Eastern Milksnake in the Earth Rangers App to help support the Meadoway Project! Since females usually only lay eggs once every two years, eastern milksnakes are especially vulnerable to population declines because it takes them a long time to recover. Read this article on the Wild Wire to learn more about the Meadoway and how protecting this year-round habitat will help hundreds of species!
The Earth Rangers App is where kids go to save animals! It’s free to join and you’ll have access to real-world Missions like this one. Plus, you can adopt an animal to support conservation projects, and learn all about animals in the Wild Wire Blog.
Find activities like this, and so much more in the App!
