And the winners of our Christmas in July contest are…

Wild Wire Blog

Earth Rangers

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December 4, 2023

And the winners of our Christmas in July contest are…

All the way back in July, we invited Earth Rangers across Canada to send us their very best artwork showcasing the beauty of trees in wintertime. And wow, did you all deliver! The top twenty artists had their work displayed at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)’s National Forest Week reception back in September. Canadian forestry leaders and government officials voted on which artwork they liked best. How cool is that?

After all that voting, we’re so pleased to finally announce the winners of this year’s Christmas in July contest.

In first place: Earth Ranger Helly, age 11, who lives in Manitoba!

Helly will have their artwork featured on the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) holiday card this year. They also won a fantastic prize pack courtesy of FPAC and Earth Rangers.

Check out Helly’s winning artwork below, along with a few words about what inspires her as an artist and a conservationist!

Earth Ranger Helly

What inspired you to create this artwork?

Forests and Earth Rangers inspired me to create this artwork.

What’s your favourite thing to do in the wintertime?

My favorite thing to do in wintertime is skating and playing in the snow too.

Why is it so important for us to protect trees?

Trees are important to protect because trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals.

What’s your advice for other kids who are interested in conserving trees?

My advice to kids is to plant more trees to have better oxygen.

And let’s give a very special shout-out to our runners-up!

In second place, we have Earth Ranger Revaan, age 6, from Manitoba. Fun fact: they’re Helly’s sibling!

And in third place? None other than Earth Ranger Madison, age 11, from Alberta.

Comment below to congratulate the winners, and keep your eyes on the Earth Rangers app for more holiday fun!

This contest was generously supported by:

Caption This: What is this otter thinking?

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December 1, 2023

139

Caption This: What is this otter thinking?

We need your help! This animal is trying to tell us something but we can’t figure it out! Do you know what this otter is thinking?

Post your ideas in the comment section below.

Tap here for more cool stuff like this!

Help River Otter with a Wildlife Adoption!

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

Celebrating the Endangered Species Act

podcast

Earth Rangers

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November 30, 2023

109

Hi everyone! This is Emma. We’re posting this episode in honor of the Kids Podcast Party! A bunch of kids podcasters are doing an episode to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Check out the Nat Geo Kids Greeking Out podcast and their episode featuring all wolf stories! They will tell you about another podcast participating.

But first – I’m going to eat this epic burrito…

It’s the 50^th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA for short) and Earth Ranger Emma is SO excited. It’s all she can think about! She and the Earth Rangers HQ are posting this episode in its honor!

Thanks to a spicy snack for dinner, Emma is swept up into a super-vivid dream. She’s somehow found herself on an incredible journey back through time! Through her adventure, Emma learns all about the events that precipitated the ESA and started the environmental movement as we know it.

Where did Emma go?

During her time-traveling dream adventure, Emma ends up visiting Congress in 1914 and seeing the creation of the Lacey Act. Then she finds herself in 1962 New York City on the day a very important book was published. Finally, she ended up in Washington on the day the Endangered Species Act was signed into American law.

Why is the Endangered Species Act so special?

Some of you might be asking: “Why was the ESA created?”

Its goal was (and is) to protect endangered plants and animals and save them from extinction. Some of the first animals the ESA protected were the Humpback Whale, Black-Footed Ferret and Bald Eagle

Celebrating the ESA!

When Emma wakes up, she does some more research about the ESA. Although there have been some tremendous successes, sadly, there’s still a lot of work to be done.

As Earth Rangers, we know how important it is to care about the environment and all the living things in it. If you’re looking for inspiration or ideas about how you can help, you can check out the Missions section of the Earth Rangers app!

What an adventure! Did you enjoy this little dream-escape? Were you aware of the ESA before this?
Can you name an endangered animal from the list?

Moose Card

Creative Corner

Earth Rangers

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November 30, 2023

51

Moose Card

Time:15 min

Difficulty:Easy

Cards are perfect gifts for friends and family. Why not hoof it, grab some moose-paper and get crafting?

Here’s what you need:

Acrylic paint
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Black and white marker
Cardstock paper
Cardboard, like a cereal box
Paper scraps: old magazines, newspapers, mailers, or seasonal cards (whatever you can find!)

Here’s how you make it:

Step 1: Cut out several circles from your paper scraps: One big, one medium, and four small.

Paint two small circles in a color you want for your moose’s eyes, and the rest in the color of your moose’s fur.

Step 2: While your paint is drying, trace the outline of your hand on the cardboard. You will need to do this at least two times. Cut out these hand shapes.

Paint your moose’s antlers. What color do you want them to be?

Step 3: Stick the medium circle to the bottom of the big to create your moose’s head and muzzle. Next, add your moose’s eyes and glue the remaining tiny circles to the edges of its nose.

Step 4: Once the antlers are ready, glue them to the back of your moose’s head! Use your marker to draw on some eyes and nostrils.

Step 5: Lastly, fold your cardstock paper in half. Glue your moose’s head on the outside and you’ve got yourself a cool card! Just the right kind to gift someone!

**What colors did you pick for your a-moose-ing craft? Let us know in the comments!**

Help Moose with a Wildlife Adoption!

Head to the Adoptions Section in the App!

Would you Rather #55

Earth Rangers

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November 27, 2023

171

Would you rather…

Sleep in a bed of mushrooms or a field of flowers

Tell us which one you pick in the comments!

More “Would You Rather” Questions!

Pixel Puzzler #36: The Great Reveal

Earth Rangers

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November 24, 2023

36

We got 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 Seal! How did you do? Tell us in the comments!

Tap here for more cool stuff like this!

Pinecone Investigations

Creative Corner

Earth Rangers

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November 23, 2023

31

Pinecone Investigations

Time:60+ min

Difficulty:Easy

We’ve got quite the cone-undrum for you! Can you be a master investigator and crack the case?

About the game:

Objective: Investigate what happens when pinecones are submerged in water.
Players: 1 or more players

Here’s what you need:

3 or more pinecones
3 glasses, bowls or mason jars
Water
A notebook or paper to take notes
Something to write with like a pencil, pen, or marker

Here’s how you play it:

Step 1:

If you don’t have any already, head out to your favourite outdoor space to gather some pinecones. You’ll need at least three for this experiment.

TIP:
Make sure you don’t disturb any animal habitats while you gather your materials!

Step 2:

Grab three glasses, bowls, or mason jars. These need to be big enough to fit your pinecones into.

Fill one glass with cold water, and leave the last one empty.

Step 3:

Put a pinecone in each, and watch what happens. Don’t forget to write down notes about what you discover!

TIP:

See what happens if you leave the pinecones for an hour or two. Did anything happen while you were away?

What did you discover in your pinecone investigations?
Let us know in the comments!

Earth Rangers, You Squashed the Gross Out Challenge!

Earth Rangers

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November 20, 2023

17

Earth Rangers, You Squashed the Gross Out Challenge!

Congratulations, Earth Rangers! You’ve successfully out-slimed and out-grimed the Gross Out Challenge! Together, you’ve logged over 120,000 climate-friendly habits, and to celebrate, we’re going to introduce you to someone who knows a LOT about slimy creatures: earthworm researcher Stephen Paterson!

*Meet researcher Stephen Paterson, sampling for earthworms in northern Saskatchewan.* *Photo Credit:* Aaron Bell

The Mysterious Earthworm

It might surprise you to find out that we don’t know a whole lot about many species of earthworm. We know they come in different colors. Some live in trees, some live in lakes, and one type of Australian earthworm can grow to be up to three meters long! We know that the roles earthworms play in their ecosystems are complex. (They’re sometimes called ‘ecosystem engineers.’) That’s why it’s important to understand HOW earthworms are distributed and what effect they’re having on the ecosystems they’re in.

*This is Stephen Paterson recording habitat data at a sampling site in the Yukon. He records lots of information about the habitat and soil properties to understand where earthworms like to live.* Photo credit: Samantha Bennett

Invasion of the Earthworms

First, let’s talk about how earthworms came to Canada. There were almost NO earthworms in Canada after the last ice age. People brought them here from Asia and Europe because earthworms are often great for gardens and agriculture – they aerate the soil and they make nutrients more available to plants. But it’s not all good news. When non-native species are brought to a new place, there can be consequences.

Meet field assistant Samantha Bennett, in a northern Saskatchewan forest, sampling for earthworms. Photo credit: Stephen Paterson

Into the Woods

Earthworms can become a problem when they end up in our forests. They decompose leaf litter, a thick layer of decaying leaves that native plants and animals rely on. Earthworms do it much faster than native decomposers. This can cause biodiversity loss and the release of greenhouse gases – two things we definitely DON’T want.

This is Dendrobaena octaedra, a common non-native earthworm species in the Canadian boreal forest. Photo credit: Stephen Paterson

But HOW do earthworms end up where they’re not supposed to be? Blame it on people. Earthworms are often spread when people use them as fishing bait, put them into their gardens, or move soil or plants around.

*Earthworms collected as samples.* *Did you know that scientists have found over 7000 different species of earthworm…and they think there are probably about 20,000 more species to be discovered!* Photo credit: Stephen Paterson

We can appreciate the good work worms do in our gardens, but make every effort to keep them out of the forests where they can do harm. Avoid moving soil or wood into forests because worms can hide in even the smallest amounts of both. And, if you’re going fishing, definitely do not leave your bait behind.

A New Friend!

Everyone who logged a habit during the Gross Out Challenge will unlock a special Worm Buddy for your avatar in the Earth Rangers App! Visit the Community Rewards section of the Challenge to learn more. We’re proud to support the work Stephen Paterson is doing, so in honor of our Gross-Out Challenge, we’re making a donation to contribute to his important research.