Take a Child Outside

Seek Challenge "Animals and Insects"

Sunday, September 27, 2020

It's Take a Child Outside week! Each day, a new activity will post on the event calendar to inspire your family with ideas and activities to get outside together.

Let's have a scavenger hunt at the next level! So often on a scavenger hunt, we just ask participants to find an acorn or find a butterfly. Dive deeper into what you are finding by using a cool app like "Seek by iNaturalist."

While I've used "iNaturalist" before, Ms. Joy shared "Seek" with me recently and I'm hooked! The app is very friendly to use. I signed in using my iNaturalist account which is quick to set up if you don't already have one. Once in the app, I found September's challenge - the Herbivore Challenge. You can join in the challenge if you like a to do list (like me!) or just open up the camera and start exploring what you see around you.

The nice thing about this type of scavenger hunt is that you can get help identifying what you see on your nature walks whether in your neighborhood or out in a local park or natural area. It is a great way to go from "look for a butterfly" to "you've found a black swallowtail butterfly!"

black swallowtail

Sunday's Challenge

Whether you decide to download the app or not, Sunday's challenge to go outside and observe 10 animals or insects. This might be more difficult since you will have to be at your super-stealthiest to sneak up on the animals and insects. Good luck!

If you do take your phone with you, tag #TakeAChildOutside and #JCRA so you can share with us what you are doing this week with your families.