Nature Swap
Nature Swap encourages children to observe the world around them for artifacts and natural materials. It provides the opportunity to trade “found” articles for those within the Zoo’s collection. It teaches children how to create collections – including what is appropriate for collection and what is not.
It fosters journaling and independent research about natural objects and phenomena. Points are given for accurate observations that are recorded in a journal and for information learned about what was observed. Sketches, photographs, and drawings are encouraged.
Nature Swap is open on Wild Wednesday evenings from 5:00-7:30 from the first Wednesday in June through the last Wednesday in August.
Points given for:
- sharing a natural object that you have ethically collected
- the object’s uniqueness and condition and your knowledge of the subject, presentation of information, and enthusiasm
- scientific drawings of natural items
- journal entries of experiences observing nature
- charts, graphs, reports on natural objects
We will trade:
- bark
- seeds
- pressed leaves and flowers
- shells
- arthropod sheds
- reptile sheds
- pieces of fur
- rocks
- casts of animal tracks
- cleaned skulls, bones
We will NOT trade:
- migratory bird feathers
- bird nests or eggs
- living plants and/or animals
- dead animals
- arrowheads
- petrified wood
- cave materials
- coral
- dried water animals
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