Open House Day – June 3, 2006
On June 3, the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History and partners showed over 50 kids and parents what the Young Naturalist Club wo
uld be like. Local experts on Nova Scotian birds, wildflowers, animals, plants and other natural phenomena were on hand, displaying specimens, sharing their knowledge and leading fun activities. Displays included a live bog (complete with carnivorous plants!), shells and sea creatures from the Bay of Fundy, and lots of photos and books about our amazing natural world.
In the afternoon, despite the heavy rain warning, a few families joined Nova Scotian naturalists for a guided hike at Uniacke Estate Museum Park. Participants learned a lot about local lichens, trees, flowers, and slime molds! It was a wet and wonderful event. Feel free to check out the trails of Uniacke Estate Museum Park for yourself (directions).
Past Meeting Reports
Key to Identifying Trees
(link to key created by Akhtar for our October 2006 field trip)
September 16 Meeting – by Cora-Lee
About Tidal Pools
What is a tidal pool? A tidal pool is a little puddle of sea water that comes in with the tides. Lots of sea creatures live in tidal pools. Tidal pools change twice daily. Creatures live, thrive and die in tidal pools.
About Tidal Pool Creatures
Lots of creatures live in tidal pools like crabs, barnacles, starfish, sea urchins, periwinkles, small fish and lots more! Crabs, water fleas, and barnacles are all crustaceans that live in tidal pools. Water fleas live in numbers. Snails are mollusks that live in tidal pools. The types of snails are moon snails and periwinkles. Starfish and sea urchins are invertebrates. They both throw out there stomachs to eat.
I love tidal pools!
Tips for Winter Survival…
January 28 field trip – by Bronwyn
- The first thing I learned was to not bring too many safety things because you may not be able to carry all of that stuff but bring things simple like a little kit like one of the leaders had.
- Also we learned to make a shelter!
- I learned how to make a fire, and that is all that I can think of for now.
“Survival”, by Toren E. Hynes.
Note: it is important to read both parts of this report.
“Winter survival”
The first thing to do when you are lost in the woods is to calm down. This is one very important rule: you cannot make anything if you lose your cool! The next thing to do is to build a shelter: you can build a shelter out of ods and ends, out of pine and fir needles and branches, or under a tree stump and cover the front with ice. If you have rope, use it. Do 
not eat all your food at once: eat it slowly: this way you will have enough food to last you. Then make a fire. Start with leaves, or birchbark from a dead tree. Next add very small branches, then branches a bit bigger, bit bigger, bit bigger till you come to short lenghts of middle-age dead trees. This way you will have a good fire. Then stay put: go with anyone which comes your way:do not run away.
“Summer survival”
In the summer, you can build a shelter out of the same materials as in winter. You cannot use ice. But other materials are now easier to get. You do not need a fire for warmth unless you are in a night in early to mid spring or mid to late fall. But a fire does more then give warmth: it also gives light and may give a sense of courage. Now you can fish easy without getting cold. You can make a fishook out of a paper clip. To tie it to a rod,all you would need would be a stick and some of your rope.Here again, if someone comes you should go with them.
Young Naturalists Club member Mitchell was inspired to create these drawings based on the bald eagle he saw during the February birding trip.
Mallard Duck
Top 10 Signs of Spring (for all the senses!)
From the YNC Field Trip to Purcell’s Pond March 25, 2007
- See and hear ice melting and cracking
- See and hear running water
- See new buds on trees
- Feels warmer (the air temperature, that is)
- See rabbit fur on ground (shedding winter coat)
- Feel water that is very cold running in brooks
- Hear more birds
- See and feel soggy moss
- See ferns growing
- See left over cranberries on ground
Other “cool” things we saw
- Frozen waterfall
- Jack pine cones (need fire to germinate)
- Bright orange rocks (slate with sulfur in it)
Salamander Night Hike
We went to Hemlock Ravine to find salamanders. We mostly saw yellow-spotted salamanders,but some people found a few red-backed salamanders. Most of the salamanders came out later in the trip. John (the guide) brought a couple yellow-spotted salamanders for us to hold.
When my dad and I were pulling out of the parking lot I rescued a yellow-spotted salamander off of the road and put it to the side of the road.
By: Emma
Drawing of a bald eagle release,
by Robyn
Contact the the Young Naturalists Club Coordinator (Karen McKendry) at
