The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a proud member of the Children and Nature Network.
Have you had your Green Hour today?
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Create Memories in Nature – And Help Us Build a Cool Image Mosaic!
Children with the Boy & Girls Club of Greater Washington participate in an outdoor photography at Constitution Gardens in Washington, DC.
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This Fourth of July, and all summer long, celebrate freedom and independence from the indoors by visiting a national wildlife refuge, a national fish hatchery -- or even a stream or woods in your own neighborhood - and then share your best photo of you and your family enjoying nature with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its "Let's Go Outside" photo project. Watch your image, and thousands of others become part of painting created by one of the world's greatest wildlife artists, Robert Bateman.
Click here to get started.
Capturing Your Memories in Nature is Easy
Bald Eagle
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You don't have to be a professional photographer to get great shots of birds, plants, trees or anything else you see in the natural world. We've got a host of tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your walks, hikes, bird watching and other journeys into nature. So grab your camera and check out our digital photography “how-to’s”, including a video featuring one of the Service’s most active nature photographers. Then – get outside, point your camera, and shoot!
For a fun and inpirational look at nature photography, click here for a 3 minute video presentation
Matt Poole, with the Service's National Conservation Training Center, talks about all the great places to photograph nature - from wilderness areas at national parks and national wildlife refuges, to the hidden gems in urban and suburban areas, such as cemeteries and parks. Click here to listen to Matt provide tips and advice that will inspire YOU to start playing with your digital camera and watch as your view of the outdoor world can be captured forever with just the click of a button.
Go Red, Wild and Blue!
Moose in the Wild
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This 4th of July kicks off a great season of outdoor recreation opportunities across the country - especially at America's national wildlife refuges. Better yet - most national wildlife refuges are FREE, and some only have a nominal fee. So celebrate your freedom and independence from the indoors by visiting a national wildlife refuge or a national fish hatchery. Here's some events happening near you:
See eagles.
Throughout July ? Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Take a volunteer-led eagle-watching tour at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Guided tours leave at 6 p.m. by four-wheel-drive van from the visitor center at 3815 American Blvd. East. Bring binoculars and wear walking shoes. To reserve a place, call 952-858-0740 at least 24 hours in advance. A $5-per-person donation is requested. For more information: or 952-854-5900.
See pelicans.
July 4, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. - Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Florida: Celebrate another successful year of the Cedar Keys Refuge's rookery open house on Seahorse Key in the Gulf of Mexico. Look at young pelicans through a spotting scope atop the observation tower, or tour the historic Cedar Keys Light Station. Bring your own boat, or buy a ticket for a tour boat to the open house. Bring drinking water. For more information, email lowersuwannee@fws.gov or call 352- 493-0238. For more information, go online to www.fws.gov/cedarkeys
For more information: or ray_brown@fws.gov or 207-454-7161.
See the eagles.
June and July − Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Take a volunteer-led eagle-watching tour at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month through July. Guided tours leave at 6 p.m. by four-wheel-drive van from the visitor center at 3815 American Blvd. East. Bring binoculars and wear walking shoes. To reserve a place, call 952-858-0740 at least 24 hours in advance. A $5-per-person donation is requested. For more information: or 952-854-5900
Click here for more events:
Seeing Nature Through a Young Hunter's Eyes
Macyn outdoors with gear
Image credit: Mike Carpenter, Wildlife Biologist, Sacramento NWR Complex
As dark gave way to the rising sun the first bird to talk was a robin. My 13-year old
daughter Macyn and I identified eight other species of birds by their calls before we heard the first turkey. We watched the turkeys fly down from their roost trees to the meadow. The males (called gobblers) started displaying for the feeding hens making for an incredible show. They eventually wandered off and shortly after, a coyote walked by hunting rodents. Although coyotes can catch turkeys, rodents such as mice are much easier prey.
It was a cold morning, so we kept moving to warm up. Since she was little I've taught Macyn to look for signs of wildlife. It might be a feather or track, but there are many clues to be found! She soon pointed out a deer trail and we found where a buck (male deer) had rubbed his antlers on a tree last summer. Later we found his shed antlers. Some people don't realize that deer grow new antlers every year. It's the fastest growing bone known to mankind.
As it got warmer we started seeing snakes and lizards basking in the sun. When a gobble ripped through the air we suddenly remembered we were hunting turkeys. The two of us quickly sat down, hid and I started making hen turkey calls. Soon there were turkeys displaying in front of our decoy and Macyn saw first-hand how quickly the colors can change on a gobbler's head. The white and blue colors on the five jakes (young males) changed quickly to red when the four toms (older males) chased them off. After patiently waiting for a clear shot, Macyn harvested a beautiful tom, which would provide our family several naturally healthy organic meals.
A good hunter is also a naturalist who can tell you a lot about wildlife and their habitats. When I take my kids hunting, we often spend more time just watching wildlife and exploring the habitat. It's also fun to write down how many bird and animal species that you can identify. Even if your family doesn't hunt, a friend that does might be willing to take you. Also take advantage of the special junior hunts that most states offer. Whether you harvest something or not, hunting is a wonderful way to experience the great outdoors.
Reminders of Nature Photography Etiquette
Armed with a digital point and shoot camera, a seven year old takes a picture of an American kestrel.
FWS image: Matt Poole, NCTC
Respect the routine needs of animals.
Learn patterns of animal behavior.
Know when not to interfere with animal life cycles.
If an animal shows stress, move away.
Acquaint yourself with the fragility of the ecosystem.
Stay on trails that are intended to lessen impact.
Treat others courteously.
Avoid preventable mishaps.
Report inappropriate behavior to the proper authorities.
Don't argue with those who don't care; report them.
Putt Golf and Fish?
Left to right: Deborah Burger, Hatchery Manager, Crystal Thomas, Program Assistant, both of Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery, and Student. Deborah Burger discusses fish barriers with the student as he attempts to putt his golf ball across the simulated "fish ladder".
taken by Joe DiPietro, Blue Ridge Trout Unlimited/Freelance Outdoor Writer/Photographer & Guide
Are you wondering what the connection is between putt-putt golf and fish? Both will get you outside, especially at Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery in Suches, Georgia. Imagine you’re a fish trying to swim upstream hoping to defeat the barriers ahead in order to reach your spawning ground. You and your fishy friends set off on your journey up the rolling rapids. The cool water massages your scaly skin as you speed excitedly through the water. You make a few jumps to catch a look at what’s ahead. Then, suddenly, you see something in the distance. What is it? It’s a barrier! Should you and your fishy family and friends try to swim around it, over it or under it? What if you don’t make it to the spawning grounds? Who can help and how?
The putt-putt golf game was designed by Tom Sinclair, Deputy ARD-Fisheries in Atlanta, Georgia, several years ago. The purpose of the putt-putt course is to teach young and old alike about fish barriers. Like a fish, the golf ball must reach its destination, the cup, by navigating across the simulated “river” barriers. The course is difficult as is a fish’s journey! It is up to you to make a difference. The future of the “golf ball” lies in your hands!
For additional information, contact Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery @ 706-838-4723.
A Lesson in Digital Photography for Luddites
Stewardship camper Brandy Merculief and friend take photos of tide pool creatures on St. George Island, Alaska, July 2008.
Photo by Tom Collopy and Mary Frische
I admit it; I am something of a Luddite. If you are unfamiliar with this term, it comes from the Industrial Revolution when weavers began destroying textile machinery in a desperate attempt to protect their artisanal jobs but today has simply come to mean one who opposes technological change.
In general, I am one of many environmental educators who believes that technology is not our friend when it comes to connecting people, especially kids, with nature. Computer games, television, I-pods, Facebook and all the rest seem to me like major culprits in keeping our kids indoors, increasingly obese, and much too clean.
But I also believe in challenging my own beliefs and taking risks in the name of doing better work.
The “People in Nature” conference held last December at our National Conservation Training Center worked its magic on me. Matt Poole, a trainer with NCTC and a photographer, challenged the Luddites in the audience to re-think our condemnation of technology. He argued that appropriate technology can be part of our toolkit to help connect people with nature.
He also reminded us that to ignore technology as a part of the solution to getting kids outside was at our own peril since kids and technology are inextricably intertwined. Digital cameras and computers can be an appropriate form of technology to connect people with nature, he argued. I took his words to heart this summer, and I am now utterly convinced that this piece of technology should be part of all of our toolkits.
For more than a decade, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge has partnered with nearby tribes, Native corporations and communities to conduct island-based stewardship camps for local youth. We provide funding, instructors and science content for these camps every year alongside tribal elders who pass on cultural traditions. The camps are a very successful endeavor for both the refuge and the communities as they help youth learn to care for their resources, both natural and cultural.
After the winter workshop at NCTC, I decided to request challenge cost-share stewardship camp funds on digital cameras and other related equipment for digital nature photography classes at these stewardship camps. I realized that I am a very utilitarian photographer, versed in the basics of composition but mostly ignorant of how to make the best use of the gadgets with real kids in the field. Thankfully, the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges came to my rescue.
The Alaska FWS regional office works with the Friends group to help provide volunteers for science camps. The Friends and the refuge worked together to bring Homer, Alaska-based professional photographers and Friends members Tom Collopy and Mary Frische into the project. Tom and Mary run their own company, Wild North Photography, and they became my instructors, mentors, and colleagues in connecting kids with nature using digital photography.
Next month: Planning pays big dividends as kids “point and shoot” in nature
Bridging the Child and Nature Gap with Digital Cameras!
Aspiring Wildlife Photographer Focuses on Nature
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Each summer, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) joins with the Potomac Valley Audubon Society to host a one week digital nature photography day camp for ten local teens. First offered during the summer of 2006, the idea for the camp began with the simple idea that, rather than viewing technology as an impediment to getting kids outdoors, digital cameras and computers could serve as “carrots” for getting them out into nature.
Provided with loaner DSLRs (digital single lens reflex cameras), the ten campers spend the week learning and practicing the fundamentals of photography and image editing. Local field trips (or photo safaris) afford many opportunities for capturing beautiful images of the natural world. The kids also learn about conservation during a field trip to a nearby national wildlife refuge. Half of the fun of digital photography is editing images on a computer. Needless to say, the campers thoroughly enjoy their time in NCTC’s computer lab!
A hallmark of the camp model is the fact that every camper experiences success through their photography. By week’s end, each camper has assembled a small portfolio of their favorite images. The camp’s director then selects one image from each of the portfolios for printing and framing. The prints are proudly displayed at NCTC for next year.
The camp is built around a core instructional model. This model can be easily adapted to take the form of a junior photography club, refuge-based family photography day, or other format. A variety of instructional materials have been developed to support the camp. These materials are available in the form of a nature photography toolkit.
For further information about the camp or the instructional materials, please contact Matt Poole.
Through the Lens of a Camera
Aspiring photographer taking a snap shot of the tall, tall grass at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Valerie Rose Redmond
If your child is suffering from nature deficit disorder, an easy way to generate interest and build appreciation for the outdoors is through the lens of a camera. Magical things can happen when you put a camera in the hands of a young person and take them out into nature. A crooked tree, an orange-yellow ribbon sky, a cotton wood’s bloom in a summer’s breeze or a Monarch butterfly feeding on a milkweed, all suddenly become objects of wonder and excitement because they want to impress either themselves or others with the image that they’ve captured.
Creative energy begins to take over as the prospect of getting a beautiful picture coupled with the immediate gratification of digital cameras engages them on a number of different levels. Number one, it’s fun. Number two, that beautiful shot and the moment that it was taken is forever captured in time and memory. Number three it’s educational and informative.
Digital cameras can be purchased at discount stores for less than $20. The world of photography is a great vehicle to help your child connect with nature.
Pictures by the Sun
Graphic if the Sun.
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Did you know you can make photographs without using a camera simply by using the energy from the sun? They are called sun prints! Grab an adult and follow these simple steps to start making your own sun prints today!
1. Go on a nature walk to collect objects to use on your print such as rocks, bark, grass, leaves, flowers, nuts, etc. REMEMBER not to collect anything that is alive!
2. Select a few items that you have collected and place them on a dark-colored piece of construction paper.
3. Put your construction paper with the objects on them in direct sunlight for at least 5 hours. This can be done indoors by a window in the direct sun, or outdoors.
4. After 5 hours, remove the objects to discover how your sun print turned out.
For more information on sun prints check out this cool website:
http://www.mississippirivermuseum.com/uploads/educationplans/LP_conservation_3_8.doc
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Learn before you go.
