January -Water Cycle –
We don’t think about the water cycle much when it’s cold out but it’s there all around you in some form. During or just after a snow, go sit in a meadow or prairie and be as still as you can. Observe how this frozen part of the water cycle can make everything so quiet, peaceful and beautiful.
February -Lifecycle of a raptor – Take a hike in the woods as you can and look for tall tree trunks that have been broken off by a storm, or a strong fork at the end of a large branch. These are the perfect home for a raptor who are beginning to raise their new family this time of year! See if you can spot a mama owl at the top of a tree cavity or hawk feeding her young in her large nest.
March -The Cycle of Hibernation - Life in the water is starting to wake up! Visit a wetland area and see if you can find salamanders or a few fairy shrimp who look a little tired for their long winter nap.
April - Cycle of Photosynthesis –what evidence there is of photosynthesis you see emerging form the spring growth?
May -The Cycle of Life - “Watch Me Grow in the Spring!” Sometime this spring or summer, find a bird’s nest that has eggs in it if it’s close enough to the ground where you can safely see into it without touching. Create a journal and every day when mama and daddy bird are not around, gently observe how their little birds emerge and grow. Record what you see each day and before you know it they are grown up and moved away. You can also take pictures if you want to as part of your journal. Remember to be very careful and respectful as you observe these little creatures. And if a baby bird falls out of the nest, it’s ok for you to gently return them to the
June (An open field anywhere) Seasons and time cycle – June 21st is the longest day of the year. It starts the summer solstice or, when we officially change our season from spring to summer. Be the early bird this year and get up just before the sun does and find a nice quiet place to watch the sun come up on this longest day of the year. Observe how long it takes from the time you just start to see the sun until it is in full sight. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have time to go on a walk to start your day off right!
July (in your neighborhood) Water cycle, summer style! “Where does your Rain Go?” We’ve all heard about the water cycle and now’s your chance to be a part of it in your neighborhood! Playing in the rain can be so much fun for everyone if you dress for it. When it starts raining sometime this month, grab your poncho and your family head out to learn about your neighborhood’s (watershed) drainage system. Are you uphill or downhill? Whose yard flows onto your yard? Where is the nearest ditch? What stream does that ditch flow into? What river does that stream flow into?
August Rock cycle – With your family, wade in a stream, get some sure footing and then pick up a rock that’s staring up at you. What part of the rock lifecycle journey is it on? Does it look rough like a brand new rock? That would be an igneous rock (new rock from magma). Is it going through changes as a metamorphic rock (changes made from heat and pressure), you might see some crystals there. Or is it at the end of its cycle as a smooth sedimentary rock (layers of old rock deposits)? Is the water you are standing in helping it on its journey? And can you find any little aquatic friends clinging on the bottom of the rock? Talk about it with your family and see what everyone thinks. Take a close look at life in the water.
September Carbon Cycle – Take part in a campfire event this month. Have some fun with your friends and family as you observe this part of the carbon cycle. As you watch the beautiful shapes and colors of the flames, remember that you are actually seeing part of the carbon cycle at work. As the fire releases the energy that is trapped in the wood, carbon is being released into the air as CO2. The green leaves of the living trees will breathe in this CO2 and recapture the carbon, then naturally breathe out clean oxygen for us …for free!
October Decomposition cycle- In nature, life is born, as we witnessed a few months ago, and it dies and turns back into healthy soil. Walk the gravel lane until you reach the woods. Stop, close your eyes and take a deep breath. What do you smell? The fall leaves? Open your eyes and silently look around. What do you see? Gorgeous color? You are actually witnessing the decomposition cycle! Nature’s way of recycling death so there can again be life. As you walk the trails and by the cabin of this beautiful park, look at the color and falling leaves all around you. Are they green because they are still filled with chlorophyll and making food? Are they showing their true, brilliant color? Or are they turning brown because they have begun the decomposition part of their life? There is no better time of year to experience this part of the life cycle!
November Physiological cycles (Activity and rest) – Ever wonder what the frogs do in the deep cold of winter? Where do they go when it’s icy or snowing? You never see them jumping on top of the snow. Wood frogs hibernate inside logs, burrows, under rocks or leaf piles just like you see at Garbry Big Woods. Our local Leopard frog is aquatic and likes to hibernate underwater, dug into the mud or at the bottom of a pond or the stream. When in hibernation, they actually stop breathing, their heart stops and ice crystals form in their blood. When the weather warms, they defrost, and their lungs and heart go back into action. This month, walk through the woods and see if you can find a good place for a wood frog to “chill out” for the winter. And take a walk around the pond and look into the water. Can you spot a sleeping Leopard Frog? Yep, they’re in there.
December (An open field anywhere or your backyard) Lunar cycle – December is a great time to enjoy a crisp evening to look at a full moon and the star constellations! Take advantage of the clear winter nights by putting on your winter gear and take the family outside to see these awesome sights. Look up what day the full moon is this month and view it with your binoculars. Or better yet, be a part of the Stillwater Stargazers at Brukner Nature Center. They meet every 3rd Saturday of the month at dusk (5995 Horseshoe Bend Rd. Troy, Ohio 45373). Phone 937-698-6493 for details. There are many other local stargazing clubs as well. Find one near to you on line.