Celebrate Camels

 

What comes to mind when you think about camels? The desert? Christmas manger scenes? 2024 is the United Nation has proclaimed 2024 as the year of the Camelidae. Learn why and lots more about camels and their relatives with these fun websites.

 

CONNECT:

• There are different types of camels: read fun facts about them at https://www.coolkidfacts.com/camel-facts-for-kids/
• Camels have been the main way to travel across the desert sands. See how camels adapt to their environment at https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/camels/san-diego-zoo-kids/
• Campers are members of the biological family Camelidae, which also includes llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. Find out what connects and distinguishes these family members at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF4UYaiSFms      For a more extensive history of Camelidae, including the 2024 celebration, watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAolb2DYDo8

 

CREATE:

• Many quotes mention camels. You might make posters or a t-shirt using some of these quotes: https://www.wisesayings.com/camel-quotes/
• There are many ways to create a camel. Which one do you want to try? Check out 17 possibilities at https://www.teachingexpertise.com/arts-and-crafts/camel-crafts-and-activities/
• Play a Happy Camel game at https://springroll-tc.pbskids.org/happy-camel/c01ef930ff95427b3d797687fc8ffb7e611ef75c/release/index.html

 

CARE:

• Camels can get aggressive, so what are good practices in connecting with camels? Get some tips at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8F9y7BCnzQ&t=214s
• Can you “read” camel? Watch how to at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ2FNBjH_EM
• Did you know that the wild camel is the 8^th most endangered large mammal on the planet? Discover the details at https://www.wildcamels.com/

 

CAREERS:

Are you curious about camels and care for them? How about a camel career? You could be a scientist, a veterinarian, a camel farmer, a camel racer, a tour guide, are even a camel artist! See some of the possibilities here:

• https://www.camelchannel.com/
• https://thefootnotes.com.au/the-humps-of-a-career-in-camel-farming/
• https://www.vetpracticemag.com.au/meet-camel-veterinarian-margie-bale/
• https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/14/sport/camel-racing-robots-uae-thoroughbred-hussain-al-marzooqi/index.html#:~:text=Deep%20in%20the%20heart%20of,be%20upwards%20of%20%242%20million.

 

Penguins, Please

 

Happy Celebrate National Penguin Awareness Day: January 20! Discover what’s special about these unusual birds as you explore the following activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch the facts about penguins at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8qilxaBR20
• Get details about different kinds of penguins at https://kids.kiddle.co/Penguin
• Explore Emperor penguin families at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/emperor-penguin
• Not all penguins are black and white; learn about some unusual penguins at https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/penguins/unusual-penguins/

 

CREATE:

• Celebrate National Penguin Awareness Day, January 20, with these penguin activities: https://handsonaswegrow.com/penguin-activities/
• Try some of these fun penguin crafts at https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/49375/penguin-activities/
• Here are activities about penguins for preschoolers: https://www.childfun.com/themes/animals/penguins/

 

CARE:

• Several types of penguins are endangered. Find out about their threats and ways you can help at https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/penguin
• Help scientists understand penguin population changes by counting penguins and their eggs at https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/penguintom79/penguin-watch
• Penguins can be so cute; wouldn’t you like one as a pet? Is it safe – or even legal? Get your answers at https://petkeen.com/penguin-as-a-pet/

 

CAREERS:

Here’s a hot idea: making a career out of working with penguins: https://careertrend.com/info-10067059-jobs-interacting-penguins.html

Go Fish!

The kingdom of the sea is the realm of fish. Consider your pet goldfish as a land visitor. Fish for these fun activities.

CONNECT:

• Do fish sleep? Do fish breathe air? Can fish swim backwards? Here’s a bouillabaisse of fish FAQs: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/faq/
• Experience an aquarium online in real time at http://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/webcam/
• At the bottom of the ocean where does light come from? Fish make their own light: bioluminescence. Shed some light on these DEEP water animals at http://ocean.si.edu/bioluminescence
• Seahorses aren’t horses. Sea horse dads give birth to their babies. What else makes seahorses special? Round up details about seahorses at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/seahorse/

 

CREATE:

• Create a trivia fact game using the information from Shark Sider: http://www.sharksider.com/shark-facts/
• Try your hand at tying fishing knots by following the directions at http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page6-1.html
• Learn how to fish in 9 easy steps: http://www.mykidsadventures.com/how-to-fish/
• Ever hear of folding fish? Try create origami fish by following the directions at http://www.origami-resource-center.com/origami-fish.html

CARE:

• Learn how to make an aquarium and take care of your pet fish by consulting http://www.tetra-fish.com/Splash.aspx
• Take care of your aquarium too; http://www.aquariumcarebasics.com/
• Use this web tool to diagnose your pet fish’s health: http://www.fishyportal.com/diag/
• Over 50 species of fish are threatened or endangered in the U.S. Leran how to help them keep around at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/. Type “fish” in the species search box to identify your favorite finny friend.

CAREERS:

Fishing for a good career? Your future may look watery – but fun!

• Consider volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/refuges/about/youth.html
• Meet an oceanographer: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/05auster/welcome.html
• See the range of jobs in the fishing industry: http://www.fishingindustryjobs.com/fishing-index.asp

This Land is Your Land; This Park is Our Park

The U.S. National Parks belong to all of us. They are public lands set aside for conservation purposes.  Check out how your tax dollars are being spent – and how you can enjoy that investment.

CONNECT:

• Join Sesame Street at they visit national parks: http://www.nationalparks.org/connect/npf-kids
• How does land become a national park? Find out the process at http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/history.htm
• Discover the Power of Parks; check out National Geographic Society’s free guides or download their free app and start exploring! http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/
• The Mapping the National Parks collection documents the history, cultural aspects and geological formations of areas that eventually became National Parks. The collection consists of approximately 200 maps dating from the 17th century to the present, reflecting early mapping of the areas that would become four National Parks, as well as the parks themselves. https://www.loc.gov/collection/national-parks-maps/about-this-collection/ See if you can tell from the maps that the area would make a good park.

CREATE:

• Take a quiz about U.S. national parks at http://blog.elmonterv.com/index.php/rv-camping-quizzes/u-s-national-parks-quiz/
• The National Park Services has thousands of facts and figures: http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/factsfigures.htm.  Make your own trivia game using those data.
• Wonderland is in the US: at the first national park: Yellowstone. Explore its resources and treasures on this eTrip: http://www.windowsintowonderland.org/
• Are you a fourth-grade (or 9-year old home schooler)? This is your lucky year: you and your family can receive an Every Kid in a Park pass that will give you free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year. Get your pass at http://www.nps.gov/kids/features/2015/everyKid.cfm
• Not close to a national park? Become a webranger by taking part in activities similar to what might be provided in on-site Park Ranger programs. http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/entry_gate.cfm

CARE:

• Foxes on islands? Yes, Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of Southern California, is the home of the island fox. But those foxes are increasingly rare.. Learn about factors contributing to their decline, and about what is being done to recover this rare and unique species. And find out what you can do to help: http://home.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/island-fox.htm
• Foxes aren’t the only endangered species in national parks. Find out how the National Park Service’s Biological Resources Division provides scientific expertise and technological assistance to support the sound management, protection, conservation and preservation of biological resources and related ecosystem processes in our national parks: http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/
• Just recently this Alaskan national park was renamed: from Whitney to Denali. Find out the history of that naming, and why it is so important: http://www.livescience.com/52056-mount-mckinley-renamed-denali.html
• Learn how you can take charge to help protect our national parks for future generations by visiting the National Park Conservation Association: http://www.npca.org

CAREERS:

Did you know that national parks employ more than 28,000 people? Think of all the jobs that are needed to maintain a park: rangers, scientistis, landscapers, architects, facilities staff, security, firefighters, educators, communications specialists, food staff, sales people, technicians. http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htm

Like the great outdoors? Consider becoming a park ranger: http://www.parkrangeredu.org/