2024 Adventure Challenge in Wisconsin State Parks - Ages 9 and Up
Tailored Adventures for All Ages and Groups
Animal Tracks
Go on an early morning walk with an adult. Look for clues in animal tracks! Deer tracks have two pointed toes and a rounded bottom. Raccoon tracks have five toes with claw marks. Chipmunk tracks are small and have four toes. Squirrel tracks look like tiny hands. Coyote tracks are similar to dog tracks but have a distinct "X" shape between the toes. Photograph a few animal tracks.
Animal Bones
Finding bones can help identify Wisconsin forest animals! Look at the size, shape, and structure. For example, deer bones are large with long leg bones. Raccoon skulls have distinct eye sockets and sharp teeth. Chipmunk bones are smaller and more delicate. Find traces of forest animal bones
Trees and Animal Homes
Observe trees for signs of animal homes! Look for holes or nests in trunks, branches, or hollows. Listen for chirping or rustling sounds. Watch for squirrels, birds, or even owls going in or out. Look for chewed bark or gnawed branches. Trees offer cozy homes for many creatures. Keep exploring and enjoy the wildlife! Draw the tree and the clues that animals may have or are living in it.
Rings in Trees
Tree rings are nature's history book! By counting the rings, we can learn a lot about a tree's age. Each ring represents a year of growth. Wider rings indicate favorable conditions, while thinner rings indicate tougher times. Tree rings also reveal past events like fires, droughts, and even human activities. Count the number of rings found in a tree stump
Tell Tale Trees
Listen closely for trees that hold captivating tales. Venture into forests, and campgrounds to unravel the mysteries they hide. Seek the tree enigmas as you uncover their secrets. How many of these mysteries can you find? Embark on this tree-filled adventure and let their stories unfold before you!
Weather Lore
Back before fancy weather technology, being weatherwise was a must! People had to spot signs in nature, notice patterns, and remember how seasons changed. Survival depended on it. They had cool sayings too, like "Red sky at night, sailor's delight," "Rainbow in the morning, take warning," and "When leaves show their undersides, be very sure that rain betides." Be weatherwise, stay prepared!
Folks used fires to read the air pressure. If the smoke went up high, it meant high pressure and clear skies ahead. If the smoke stayed low, it meant low pressure, and rain might be on its way. They were weather wizards!
Can you create a weather report based on this weather lore?
The North Star Leads to Constellations
To find the Big Dipper's stars, look at the side opposite the handle. Imagine drawing a line through them, going out the open end of the bowl (1). Keep extending the line about five times the distance between those stars, and you'll spot a star as bright as the Dipper stars. That's Polaris, the North Star! To find more constellations, like the Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, or Vega, use Polaris as your guide.
To use the North Star (Polaris) to find the Summer Triangle, start by locating Polaris in the northern sky. Once you find Polaris, imagine drawing an imaginary line from Polaris to the bright star Vega, which is one of the three stars in the Summer Triangle. From Vega, trace a line to the other two stars, Deneb and Altair. Now you have found the Summer Triangle using the North Star as your guide! Can you find the Summer Triangle?
Spotting Satellites
The coolest time to spot satellites is around one hour after the sun sets. Unlike planes with blinking lights, satellites only show up when they catch sunlight. When it gets dark on Earth, the high-flying satellites still get lit up. Most satellites move from west to east, but at night, keep an eye out for polar-orbiting ones that travel from pole to pole. How many satellites can you spot?
Mapping
Listen to "Three Days in a Canoe by Vera B. Williams. Here is the link. Create a map of your visit to the state park.