Make a resolution to engage more with the natural world
As youth social media time remains a worldwide topic,
faculty in the University of Rhode Island College of the Environment and Life
Sciences offer some last-minute shopping suggestions for family activities or
pastimes that get children — and their family members — off devices and out of
the house.
Lots of Boomer kids (like PC's editor) got these
for Christmas
Mindful gift planning can build science literacy and future
scientists as well as offer connection and benefits for adults looking to
minimize their own screen time in the year ahead, say faculty members, drawing
on not only professional expertise, but also their off-campus roles as parents,
grandparents, aunts and uncles.
“There are a number of ways to encourage science interests
in young people from an early age,” said Becky Sartini, the college’s associate
dean. “We don’t have to wait for kids to be in high school to give them
opportunities to try science or explore.”
Looking at the world around you
Scott McWilliams, professor
of natural resources science, says a simple pair of binoculars is a
great idea for a holiday gift. “It changes the way kids see the world and also
makes them feel like a real birder,” he said.
McWilliams, an expert in birds and their migratory patterns,
says the first foray into birding can start in one’s own backyard. He likes the
bird feeders that come with a camera so children (“and adults that behave like
kids”) can see their feathered friends up close. Likewise, he says a dissecting
microscope can open up a whole new world for a young person. He also is a fan
of collection display cases; future geologists might use them to store rocks —
McWilliams’ grandson uses one for bugs. Bug boxes are fun to get or give, too.
Other gift suggestions from faculty include microscopes,
mineral kits, a bird field guide, nature journal, a plant or tree ID guide, a
lupe magnifying tool, nature notebook, or a plant press to start a dried plant
collection (heavy books and old newspapers can also be used).
Michelle Peach, a clinical assistant professor in the
Department of Natural Resources Science, enjoyed many outdoor activities with
her own children and says that nets make a fun gift for younger kids to catch
insects or frogs. Children might also find the idea of a butterfly garden
appealing, she says, and can learn
about which plants attract butterflies by contacting the University’s
Cooperative Extension Gardening Hotline at gardener@uri.edu.
Faculty members also suggested ways for Rhode Island
families to be more active or set adventures in the year ahead that don’t
require shopping.
“Many places offer free educational opportunities for kids and families such as Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Kettle Pond Visitor Center, Block Island Maritime Institute, and more,” Peach says. “Families, or anyone, can also look at organizations like FrogWatch for volunteer opportunities.”
“You can join local citizens science projects such as
Watershed Watch here at URI or the American Chestnut Foundation,” adds her
colleague professor Laura Meyerson, “volunteer for the Rhode Island Natural
History Survey, Bioblitz, or iNaturalist to photograph and identify plants,
animals, and fungi, contributing to global biodiversity data. As scientists we
rely on data and the movement toward opportunities for crowd-sourced data is
something fun and exciting that families and young people can get involved in.”
Meyerson’s colleague, Sarah Kienle, a mom of two, says that
experiences or annual passes make a great idea for family gifts. She’s used
several with her own family at Save the Bay Aquarium, Roger William Park Zoo,
and Norman Bird Sanctuary (and chances are good, you might run into an alum of
the college working there).
Armchair nature
Though she’s an Antarctic researcher, Kienle knows everyone
may not be keen to get outdoors on the chilliest days. You can also explore
nature from your own home; she recommends getting the books 100 Things
to Know About Planet Earth or 100 Things to Know About Saving
the Planet from your local library or playing a game of Outfoxed or
Match a Pair of Birds (though she probably won’t want to play McWilliams for
that). You also can’t go wrong with humor: scat is a subject of animal study
and also the subject of a book, sure to please the kid set, especially those
curious to know Whose Poop is That.
Leopard seals, bobcats and lizards, oh my!
To see research from URI’s College of the Environment and
Life Sciences in action all year long (on the topics above and more), follow
@uri_cels on social media for videos, tips and information on public-interest
projects. URI’s Cooperative Extension program also offers a variety of programs
and activities for a range of ages. Contact the Gardening and Environmental
Hotline (401-874-4836) with your gardening questions or sign up for the
Extension mailing list to hear about programs coming up in the new year: email
coopext@uri.edu or visit https://web.uri.edu/coopext/.
