Join WXXI Education to get involved in community science by observing and participating outdoors in activities. Here are some resources to get you started.
Enjoy this list of FREE nature-exploring activities and resources that families and educators can use.
Exploring nature is a great opportunity to infuse some curiosity and science learning into your day! We’ve collected some great resources from our community partners, like New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to share with you. Now, choose one and get outside and explore!
What to do:
Participate in the ongoing WXXI Community Nature Observation Challenge This project is ongoing! So get outside (yes, even in the winter!), explore, observe and participate as many times as you’d like!
Observe and identify plants and animals while out for a walk or hike.
Take your nature knowledge up a notch with Seek! Use the power of image recognition technology to identify the plants and animals all around you. Earn badges for seeing different types of birds, amphibians, plants, and fungi and participate in monthly observation challenges. Get the free app here & Learn more
NYS DEC Nature Activities
Our friends at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have created a stellar list of nature-exploring printable activities! From outdoor observation journals, to seek and find hikes, to New York State bird profiles, and so much more!
Find all of their downloadable and printable nature activities here: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/education/kids-go/nature-activities
3. PBS Nature
This collection of science videos and media-enhanced lesson plans draws from PBS Nature. The collection can be viewed via PBS LearningMedia NY, and includes topics such as: American Spring LIVE, Earth Science, Human Impacts on Earth Systems, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, Science and Engineering Practices, and more.
Find the full collection here: https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/nat/
5. Bird Cams
Our friends at Cornell Lab Bird Cams connects viewers worldwide to the diverse and intimate world of birds. They have created a virtual opportunity to watch birds all over the world, from wherever you are!
- All bird cams: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/all-cams/
- Bird guide: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/
- Sounds & Songs: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/browse/topic/sounds-songs/
