Here’s an activity to get you started while you wait for the book!
Scavenger Hunt
Join our iNaturalist project to record and share your observations! Just have an adult download the iNaturalist Classic app and look for Wild Spaces’ Budding Naturalist!
Do you have a favorite tree or bug or bird? Do you enjoy watching the changes in plants through the seasons? Do you listen to birdsong and watch wild visitors in your yard as they scurry through? Then you are already a budding naturalist! Welcome!
A naturalist is someone who learns about plants, animals, and how they work together to create a healthy ecosystem for us and them to enjoy. We don’t have to be an expert in any one of these subjects; we just need to keep being curious and explore!
To get started on your naturalist journey, use your senses to observe plants, insects, and animals! Snap a pic and upload on the app!
See
Find something yellow. Maybe it’s a bird, butterfly or flower. Maybe it’s a leaf that’s changing color or something that looks yellow in the sunlight at dusk.
Hear
Close your eyes and listen. Follow any natural sounds you hear and try to see who or what is making it. Could be a cricket, frog, or trees swaying in the wind.
Feel
Find something fuzzy. Maybe it’s a plant you can touch, or an insect you can see is fuzzy. Some fuzzy insects, like caterpillars, are best not to touch. The fuzz can prick your fingers!
Smell
Close your eyes and take a breath in through your nose. Do you smell anything? Could be a fragrant flower, pine needles, the scent of deer in the forest, or even a caterpillar! Did you know some caterpillars release a defensive odor? See if you can track down the scent.
Well done! You are now a citizen scientist! Keep exploring and stay curious!
You can download and print this coloring page!
