Editorial Staff – Page 3 – Kids Discover Nature

Haunted Hikes in Vermont

by Editorial Staff

Connect to Nature this Halloween and maybe the Supernatural too!

If you want to connect to nature this Halloween, and do something spooky at the same time, this is the book for you (but not your little ones).

I have been searching for a topic to cover this Halloween that offers something unique for my readers — something different from the typical “how to use nature to decorate for Halloween” topic. Not that there is anything wrong with that, we enjoy taking Bean and Budder to the pumpkin patch every year, gathering leaves and gourds, creating spider webs and going batty for one of our favorite holidays. However, as true fan of Halloween I really, really enjoy the “supernatural” side of the holiday. Ghosts and goblins intrigue me. I love a good ghost story. Yes, I am a believer…as I’ve had my own experiences with ghosts. In fact, there is one ghost story I tell which is about my first-hand experience with a ghoul that brings tears to my eyes and raises the hair on the back of anyone’s neck who listens.

The thing is, with two children under seven, I can’t go there…yet. We do the basic Halloween stuff, of which ghosts and skeletons are natural part of it. But if there was a real understanding of what those symbols of Halloween really mean, there would be a BIG problem in our house! In other words, they would be sharing the ‘rents bed for the next 10 years. So, in a nutshell, I guess you can say I am ghost deprived.

Haunted Hikes in Vermont: A Book Review

Naturally, I was intrigued when I received the book entitled Haunted Hikes of Vermont to review. It awakened the inner ghost chaser in me. I also thought might offer an interesting way to get older kids involved in nature as it’s not the typical “corny nature activity” and I have had several readers mention they would like to learn more about nature activities for older children. But be warned, some of the haunted hikes covered in the book are not for the feint of heart, and they might even be too scary for high schoolers.

Upon reading the introduction, it was apparent that the author, Tim Simard, did a ton of first-hand research into hikes in Vermont that take you to haunted places. And we aren’t talking graveyards here! We are talking about real hauntings, where people have seen ghosts, heard the sound of a train where no tracks exist and lights flashing in the middle of the woods. It also covers places where there are doors to another dimension, where people have disappeared never to be seen again, and where monsters lurk in lakes. No matter you personally believe, parts of the book are truly creepy. So much so, that even I question whether I want to do any of the hikes, especially at night! In other words, ignorance is bliss and that’s the way I think I prefer it in this case.

The book is well written. Simard divides it into 13 chapters, each covering a different area of the state, beginning in southern Vermont then heading north. Each chapter includes a historical review of the area Haunted Hikes of Vermont including the related ghost stories and legends. If you enjoy a good ghost story, it’s worth reading the book for just that purpose. He also includes descriptions of each trail and directions to it, the level of difficulty, elevation, distance and time it takes to hike it. Additionally, he provides excellent details of each trail, how to access it in winter, and what specifically to look for, like beautiful limestone cliffs, rare and fragile alpine plants, moose, deer and little green men who just disembarked from their UFO.

Throughout the book, I couldn’t determine whether or not Simard believed all the tales he recounted. As he described his experience on there trail, he recounted strange occurrences, but also seemed skeptical of others. In the end I came to the conclusion that no matter what he personally believed, he was certainly more brave than I!

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, and as a New Englander, found the historical background quite interesting. It covers many of the most beautiful, difficult and breathtaking hikes in Vermont and could easily serve as the prefect trail companion in that respect alone. When you add the creepiness factor, those who like being scared, or are just downright interested in the supernatural, unexplained events, UFO’s and the like will appreciate it.

Since we’re on the topic, does anyone know a good ghost story???

Reptiles

Critterific! Spring Peepers

by Editorial Staff

Frogs that are a Peep Apart

Critterific! will now be a regular feature on KDN because, after all, I am a wildlife ecologist at heart! Additionally, it’s my opinion that learning about nature helps people become more invested, and thus more concerned. Part of the reason I write the blog is to encourage parents and children to enjoy nature and all its living creatures as well as become stewards of the planet we share. So now that you know the purpose behind Critterific! feature, here we go!

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
How many of you enjoy hearing the Spring Peepers? I look forward to it every year. Each spring, in the early evenings you can hear hundreds of them if you are lucky enough to live by wetlands, a vernal pool, lake or pond in the eastern United States or Canada. The sound is so pleasant, it’s easy to spend hours outside in the evenings listening to them.

What you are actually hearing is their mating call. If the population in the area is dense, the combination of all the calls sounds like sleigh bells. I have often tried to locate a peeper by tracking its call with my children, but we are usually unsuccessful. As soon as we get too close, the peeping stops and we are unable to locate the little guy in the reeds.

Check out this nice little video that displays the lovely call of the peeper.

Frogs, in general, are going through a tough time right now. Many populations around the world are suffering from disease and chemical run-off from farms and lawns and are in serious decline. You can help by using only eco-friendly fertilizers and pesticides for your lawn and gardens.

Do you have a favorite frog species?

Critter Corner

It’s Turtle Time: Lend a Helping Hand

by Editorial Staff

Turtles need a helping hand this time of year. Female turtles are on the move looking for nest locations. Many travel far distances from their home area in order to lay eggs. A turtle could end up in your yard even if you don’t live adjacent to a pond or lake.

You can support their efforts and rescue turtles that get into trouble. They don’t account for dangerous obstacles like roads, driveways, and lawns, they go where their instincts direct them. Here are some tips you can follow to help them navigate across treacherous areas.

If you find a turtle in your lawn leave it be, it may have found a place to lay eggs.

Be careful before mowing. Always check to make sure you do not see a turtle. Raise mower decks.
If a service cares for your lawn, warn the owner to be on the lookout for turtles.
If you see a turtle crossing the road and if you can do so safely, pick it up and place it on the other side of the road in the direction it was going. Caution — do not pick up snapping turtles, use a shovel. You can identify a Snapper by its sharp beak-like mouth. If you are unsure, use a shovel. It’s better to err on the side of caution.

If you do give a turtle a hand and have a camera handy, snap a photo and record the date/place/time. Many state fish and wildlife agencies collect turtle data. Often you can report your finding on the agency website. Many turtle species are threatened or endangered. You can help your state better understand the distribution of turtle populations and assist in the development of plans to manage the populations in your state.

How to safely help a turtle cross the road

Keep turtles safe

Please DO NOT POST LOCATION on social media. This invites poachers to capture turtles and sell them on the black market.

Critter Corner

Best Webcams for Spring Wildlife Viewing

by Editorial Staff

Webcams open up the amazing world of animals right before your eyes and provide a fantastic opportunity for observation and study. It’s especially cool in the spring when eggs are hatching and families are being raised. You and your children can enjoy watching Webcams positioned all around the country. They provide a great source of entertainment.

Here are the best webcam sites from around the United States and elsewhere. You can check out and bookmark the ones you like.

*Note: depending on the season and activity of the animal, many of the webcams are seasonal and the feed may not be live. Also, because animals are unpredictable, you may not see the wildlife you hope to see. Check back. You may also need special plugins to view the feeds.

Wildlife Forever’s Web site – links to some of the best of the Web
Your state fish and wildlife agency often has webcams set up. Check the agency website. Alaska Department of Fish and Game is a great example.
National Audubon Society has, you guessed, bird cams and gray seal cam.
National Park Service offers live webcams at many parks. This one of Bald Eagles is at the Channel Islands.
The National Wildlife Refuge System offers feeds, but many are offline.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers many feeds. Use “cam” in the search box and the Web site will display and a long list of what is available.
Explore.org offers an enormous collection of webcams. You can watch Giant Panda’s in China, Polar Bears in Canada, Hippos in Africa, Honey Bees in Germany, and Sharks in the United kingdom. It’s really awesome.

I hope you enjoy watching the wonder and awe of nature with your kids!

Nature Activities for Kids

Spring Fever? Plan Your Veggie Garden Now!

by Editorial Staff

We’ve all had Spring fever for awhile now — ever since Punxsutawney Phil looked for his shadow earlier this month. We normally love winter! We take advantage of all the fun outdoor activities it brings and don’t mind the constant view of a heavy white blanket of snow outside the window. However, this winter is a different story. After more snow days than I care to remember, water leaks in the house due to the ice dams on the roof, an insurance claim, a snowplow bill that will break the bank, weeks of bone-chilling cold, the utter inability to play outside due to the now thick sheet of ice that has formed on top of the snow, and the excitement of seeing Snow Drops bulbs peeking out of the frozen ground, we are ready for the colors of Spring! I’m willing to bet many of you are too!
My idea for this post was to help you and your children combat Spring Fever by providing instruction on planning a garden. In doing research on how to plan a garden, I came across the following excellent resource that provides hand-on planning ideas. Check out the following link that provides everything you need to help your children grow a garden.

Planning A Vegetable Garden For Kids: Make It Fun And Easy

Do you have any helpful tips on planning a garden? What are your favorite flowers and plants to plant and why?

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