Becoming a Forest Explorer

🎂 3 + years ⏱️ 1 h 📍 Forest ⭐ easy

Explore the forest as a forest explorer and learn many interesting things about animals and plants. With each walk, you'll discover new aspects of nature's diversity. Investigate which plants grow in the forest and why they thrive here. Ask yourselves what life is like in the forest and what it has to offer. Find insects or identify trees by their leaves, bark, or fruits. The forest is a living classroom. Every discovery is a piece of knowledge you take home. Forest exploration is also a great opportunity to spend time together and create new experiences. Observe, explore, and enjoy the wonders of nature. Tip: Keep track of your discoveries in a research notebook and start a personal forest diary.

What you'll need

Explorer backpack
Picnic
Trash grabber and trash bags
Research notebook and pen

How it works

Come along, let's explore the forest together. Here are the main rules: Be considerate of the plants and animals living in the forest. Avoid disturbing or harming animals. Observe them from a safe distance. Do not leave trash or other items in the forest.
Find a spot in the forest where you can see many plants. Look for ants. They are small and hard to find. Take your time searching for and observing them. Pay attention to the movements, colors, and characteristics of the ants. Are they workers or a queen?
Look out for insects. Carefully lift stones and leaves. Insects also live in trees. Search in cracks and crevices for insects. Be careful not to harm them and return them to their original place.
Find three different leaves. Which tree has leaves with this shape? Pay attention to the number of leaf veins, the shape, and the size of the leaves. The color and smell of the leaves can also be important. You can document the leaves you find in your forest diary.
Find a tree stump with mushrooms. In the forest, you can find edible, poisonous, and inedible mushrooms. Mushrooms come in various shapes, colors, and sizes. They are living organisms and very important for the forest. Examine them closely.
Help keep the forest clean by collecting trash. Go on a search for litter. What trash do you find? Why is it there, and what impact does it have on the environment? Dispose of the collected trash properly. Now you deserve a reward, like a picnic in the forest.