Have you explored the Field Journals yet?

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Your Challenge

Volunteer at your local wildlife sanctuary for an hour, a morning or a day.

Stevie's Story

"Pete Bess and I were playing in the big park the other day, you know, the one next to the vulture sanctuary. What? You don't know what a sanctuary is? Well, it's a place where animals or birds or reptiles are looked after. Why? Because these animals are protected from the baddies like that guy who kicked a koala the other day; disgusting! Don't get me started....

At a sanctuary, such animals are fed, given a place to sleep, and medicine if needed. It's like a hotel for animals with a doctor and nurse to look after them. Pete and I spent an hour at the vulture place, and I tell you, those vultures are GINORMOUS! You won't believe it, but they have wings as wide as our car!! Yeah, those uglies are AMAZING! The people over there said spending time there is called 'volunteering'. They even gave us ice cream, stickers and badges - look, here it is.

Next time we go for a ball play, you should come with and then pop in to see what they do. You can go for a whole day if you want to. It is super fun! Well, ok, I know you live too far away, so why don't you find a sanctuary close to you?

When your teacher wants you to write a story again, write about the animals at the sanctuary - how big it is; is it a male or female; is it fat or thin; what they eat, is it old or young, ok? But best of all, write to me and tell me about it. Who knows? Maybe I'll visit your sanctuary too. Do you think you'll want to go again?

Look, Listen & Discover

Tell Stevie what you discovered‍ ‍***(write to Stevie - email sign-up)

• Which animal/bird/reptile did you like most?

• How big is it?

• How old can it get?

• Was it male or female?

• Would you visit again?

Your Explorer Mission

Write a one-page story about the animal. Draw a picture if you like.

After Your Adventure

Would you visit the sanctuary again to see more animals?

Explorer Challenge 01

Wildlife Sanctuary

Your Challenge

Follow a Bee. Discover the tiny world in your backyard.

Follow a bee in your backyard and become passionate about helping people appreciate the importance of odd, overlooked wildlife and take action to protect them and their habitats, whether in a distant place or your backyard.

Stevie's Story

I was playing ball in my gran's backyard last week, and guess what I saw? Yup, a whole bunch of slimy snails! She said I was lucky, because she had never seen snails in her garden, and I thought, Lucky! Are you kidding, Gran! Who would feel lucky to find snails?! Then she explained that snails are not so bad, but people kill them all the time. She said, 'Stevie, put down the ball and follow that snail for an hour, and you'll know what I mean.'

Man, you should try it! Well, maybe follow a bee. There are always bees in a garden. They are AMAZING! Maybe design a Bee Planner to help the poor bees. They are dying by the thousands, you know. What is a Bee Planner? Well, you can have stuff in it like how to grow bee food, or make a bee postcard and send it to a friend so they will also know how to grow bee food. Ok, ok, nobody writes postcards anymore, I hear you, but they are very COOL if you make them yourself. Ask the lady at the post office if you don't know what goes on it. Better still, send me a postcard and tell me if it was fun growing bee food, and don't forget to let me know what seeds you planted or what the postmaster said about your super smart postcard. I promise to send you a special Adventure Badge, ok?

Look, Listen & Discover

Tell Stevie what you discovered‍ ‍***(write to Stevie - email sign-up)

• Was it fun or boring?

• What bee food seeds did you find?

• What did the postmaster say about your postcard? Bet he/she likes it.

Your Explorer Mission

Grow bee food. Make a bee postcard and send it to a friend/family.

Ask your librarian about bee food.

Visit the post office and see what a postcard looks like.

After Your Adventure

Would you like to design a Bee Planner? It could have anything in it to help bees survive.

Explorer Challenge 02

Backyard Discovery

Your Challenge

Be a poet for a day. Write a poem about a tree in your garden, or a potted plant, on the sidewalk, in the forest or at school.

Choose a tree. Look closely. Then find the words.

Stevie’s Story

I was sitting in class last week while Mrs Gooseberry talked about how to write an essay, and all I heard was, blah-blah-blah. But then she said, if that was soooo boring, why don't I write a poem? Apparently, poems are like talking to my little sister, Suzie. Everything rhymes; something like this:

         I like ice cream

         and Jo-Jo likes to dream

         It's not so bad to write a poem

         because soon we'll go home

I was HOOKED! All day long, I tried new poems, until Mrs Gooseberry sent me outside, 'To talk to the trees.' And that gave me an idea: Why don't YOU write a poem about a tree, and in the rhyme say what it looks like, if it loses leaves and where it grows? You could also be cool like me and tell your teacher about the poem or read it to the class or even enter it in a competition. Ask your teacher how to do that, or find a poet in your town, or better still, write to me, and I'll help you find the answer. Then, when you've done the writing, and the reading, and the asking, tell me if it was fun, cool or amazing. By now you know I REALLY like to read, especially books, letters, postcards and poems.

Look, Listen & Discover

Tell Stevie what you discovered‍ ‍***(write to Stevie - email sign-up)

• Which tree did you write about? Was it tall, and what did it look like?

• What was fun about writing a poem

• Did you know you can write a poem like a story?

Your Explorer Mission

Tell your teacher about the poem/read it to the class/enter it in a competition.

After Your Adventure

Search online about poems/competitions.

Find a poet in your town and ask about their poems and why they write.

Explorer Challenge 03

Wordsmith

Your Challenge

Visit a nature strip/park/forest. Track a bird with a simple radio antenna. Can you track a bird without disturbing it?

Stevie’s Story

Last Saturday, Pete, Jo-Jo and I went to the forest behind Jo-Jo's house to kick stones. His dad gave him a radio antenna for his birthday, and he had no idea what to do with it, so I said, 'Jo-Jo, man, we should track a bird in the forest with that new antenna of yours.' I thought that was a very cool idea. Jo-Jo and Pete thought so too. Now, that was more than cool; it was FANTABULOUS!!

Maybe you can get hold of an antenna and track a bird in a park, or if you know someone with a big backyard like my gran, do it there. It's sooooooo fun, and even better when your friend goes with. Let me know how it went. I like to read, as you know, so write to me.

Look, Listen & Discover

Tell Stevie what you discovered‍ ‍***(write to Stevie - email sign-up)

• Where did you find your bird?

• Was it easy to follow, and did you use an antenna?Your Explorer Mission

• Find an old antenna.

• Make an antenna; look up how to do it online.

After Your Adventure

What will you track next, and who will you take with?

Explorer Challenge 04

Tracking