wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation...

Dis

covering

Secrets

your name

date

Name of park

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Wood VioletWisconsin’s State Flower

American toad

yellow jacket

flicker feather

cicada nymph

trap door spider

field cricket

raccoon track

Wisconsin State Parks, Forests, Trails, and Recreation Areas

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Have fun! Explore! collect a patch!Look at all these things you can do. Pick something and do it!

Flashacodetoafirefly(page3).Foolacricket(page4).Searchforinsects“talking”(page5).Detectpuzzlingpatterns(page7).Findnumb3rsinn8ture(pages8-9).Exposethesecretidentitiesofbirds(pages10-12).Explorethemoon(page14).Watchthemoon’sphases(page16).Untanglethemysteriesofspiders(page17).WitnessWisconsin’swonders(pages20-23).Findthehiddenanimals(page24).Hideyourselfatyourcampsite(page25).Readamilkweedplant(page26).Lookatlichens(page27).

To earn a patch: Complete7to14oftheexplorationslistedabove.Attendanatureprogramortakeanaturehike.Pickuplitter,sharenaturediscoveries,orrideabikeandwalkmore(seepage27).Fillouttheevaluationformwithagrown-up(foundoncoloredinsertofthisbooklet).

To receive your patch (choose one method):Giveyourevaluationtoaparkstaffpersonandtellhim/herwhatyoudid.VisittheWisconsinExplorerswebsite.Goto<www.wiparks.net>andlookfor

“WisconsinExplorers.”Completeandsubmittheevaluationformfollowingthedirectionsonthewebsite.Thepatchwillarrivebymailin2-4weeks.

Mailtheevaluationform,yournameandaddress,andaletterorjournalentrytellingaboutyourexplorationsto:WisconsinExplorersProgramPR/6,DepartmentofNaturalResources,P.O.Box7921,Madison,WI53707.Thepatchwillarrivebymailin2-4weeks.

For more information, call (715) 365-8966 or email [email protected]

The Wisconsin Explorers program is an interpretive program of the Wisconsin State Park System madepossiblebythegeneroussupportoftheNaturalResourcesFoundationofWisconsinandthefollowingdonors:BongNaturalistAssociation,FriendsofBuckhornStatePark,FriendsofDevil’sLakeStatePark,FriendsofHartmanCreekStatePark,FriendsofInterstatePark,FriendsofKettleMoraine,Inc.,FriendsofKohlerAndraeStatePark,FriendsofNewGlarusWoodsStatePark,FriendsofRockIslandStatePark,FriendsofWhitefishDunesStatePark,MenashaCorporationFoundation,R.D.&LindaPetersFoundation,andoneverygenerousanonymousdonor.

Wisconsin Explorers - Discovering Secrets (Ages 9+up)© 2008 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - PUBL-PR-477 2014

WrittenanddesignedbyBethMittermaier

Borrow an explorer Pack!

Askparkstaf

fforapack

filledwith

exploringtoo

lsandbooks

.

3© 2008 WI Department of Natural Resources - Wisconsin Explorers - discovering Secrets (Ages 9 and up)

crack the codeIfyou’vebeenaroundpets,youknowthatanimalscommunicate.Dogssniffeachother,birdssing,catsrub,andguineapigswheek.Insectscommunicate,too.Theyusesounds,touches,chemicals,andvisualcluestorecognizeotherinsects,defendtheirterritories,andattractmates.Insectcommunicationisn’talwayseasytounderstand,becausesometimesinsectscommunicateinsecretcodes.Tryreadingthissentence: Nscts hv t cmmnct. Frfls flsh lghts, crckts mk chrpng snds, nd stnk bgs smll bd. Onceyoufigureoutthecode,it’snotthathard.(Hint:somethingismissing.)Readaheadtostartexploringthewaysfireflies(thispage)andcrickets(page4)talktoeachother.

Flash a codeGetasmallflashlight(anLEDisperfect).Gotoatallgrassmeadoworforestatdusk.Watchthefireflies talkforawhilebeforeyoutrytojoin.Doyouseeanyoftheflashpatternsshownbelow?

think about it!Ifatoadatealotoffireflies,woulditglow?

Malesareflying;femalesareontheground.Itmightbemorefunto“fly”aroundandpretendtobeamale,butitwillbemoreinterestingtositinthetallgrassandbeafemale.Watchafemaleinthegrass,thenimitateherflashcode.Pointyourlightdownintothegrass.Ifyourlightistoobright,coveritwithaleaf.Ifyouarereallygood(andlucky),amalefireflywilllandonyourflashlight!

Differentspeciesoffireflieshavedifferentflashcodes.Thecodesdifferbycolor,lengthofflash,pattern,speed,andtimebetweenflashes.

© 2008 WI Department of Natural Resources - Wisconsin Explorers - discovering Secrets (Ages 9 and up)4

Find out MoreTohearrecordingsofinsects,visitSinging Insects of North America <http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/>Tolearnadifferentwaytomakecricketsounds,check out the book MouthSounds byFredNewman.

Fool a cricketTofoolacricket,youwillneedtospeak cricket.Youcan:

Openandcloseahingeorsomethingthatmakesahigh-pitchedsqueak.

Whistleacricketsoundbysuckinginshortburstsofairwhilelettingyourthroatvibrate(likeyou’resnoring).

Playafluteorrecordersoitsoundslikeacricket.

Rubafileagainsttheedgeofametalcan,orrubyourfingernaildowntheteethofacomb.

Findsomecricketscalling.Fieldcricketsusuallycallfromgrassyplacesbothdayandnight.Treecricketsusuallystartcallingfromtreesandshrubsafterdark.Asyouapproach,theywillstop.Sitdownanddon’tmove.Howlongdoesittakeforthemtostartcallingagain?Makeasmallnoiseandtheystop.Nowtryyourcricketcall.Dotheyanswer?Keepadjustingyourcalluntilitworks.Whileyouarelistening,youmightnoticethatsomemalecricketsmakethreekindsofcalls:

Callingsong-fairlyloud;attractsfemalesandtellsothermalestostayaway.

Aggressivechirp-loud;warnsnearbymalestogetoutofitsterritory.

Courtingsong-quiet;invitesnearbyfemalesto mate.

chirpingAmalecricketcallsbyliftinghiswingsandrubbingthemtogether.

femalefieldcricket

malefieldcricket

Tellthestory.Didyoufoolacricket?

ovipositorusedforlayingeggs


search for insects “talking”Firefliesusevisualcommunication(light),andcricketsusesound.Otherinsectsrelyontouchorchemicalstocommunicate.Asyouexploreforests,meadows,andwetlands,lookfortheinsectsonthispage.Checkthemoffasyoufindthem.Canyoufindfourinarow,fourinacolumn,allfourcorners,orallofthem?

Touch visual chemicalSound

stink bugGivesoffastrongsmellwhenthreatened.

grasshopper(male)Rubsitslegagainst its wing to make raspysounds–tellingothermalestostayoutofitsterritory.

cicada(male)Vibratestymbals(drums)onitsabdomento call to females.

mosquitoBuzzeswingstoannoypeople(notreally,but it seems thatway).

antIdentifiesotherantsby touching them with its antennae.

honeybeeShowsotherbeeshowtofindnectarbydancinginthedarkhivewhiletheotherbeestouchit.

fireflyFlashes light signals tofindamate.

tigermothMakeshigh-pitchedsoundsthatconfusebatstryingtocaptureit.

swallowtail caterpillarSticksastinkyforkedscentgland(osmeterium)outofitsheadwhenattacked.

ladybirdbeetleOozessmellyliquidfromitslegswhenattacked.

cecropiamoth(female)Releasesstrongodor(pheromone)thatattractsmalesfrommiles away.

molecricket(mother)Recognizesheryoungintheirundergroundhome by touching them withherantennae.

dragonflyDisplaysbrightmetalliccolorstoattractamate.

underwingmothSpreadsitswingstorevealbrightunderwingsandlargeeyespots–scaringoffpredators.

whirligigbeetleFeelstheripplesonthewatermadebyotherwhirligigsastheyallswimintightcircles.

bumblebeeUses yellow and blackcolorstowarnpredatorsofitsstinger.


Try Morse CodeInsectsaren’ttheonlyanimalstocommunicatebysecretcodes.LongbeforetheInternetorcellphoneswereimagined,peopleallovertheworldtalkedtoeachotherusingMorsecode.YoucancommunicatewithMorsecodebyusingaflashlight,tappingonsomeone’shand,orevenblinkingyoureyes.

Herearesomethingsyou’llneedtoknow:Thealphabetismadeupofdotsanddashes.Onedashisequaltothreedots.Thatmeansadash

should last as long as the time it would take to signal threedots.

Betweenletters,pauseforthetimeofthreedots.Betweenwords,pauseforthetimeofsevendots.

decode these jokesWhathas6legs,bites,andtalksincode?

X - - - - - - X - X XXX X - - X - XX - XX - - - -

Whydobeeshum?

XX - X - - - X - X - - X - - - - - XXXX X X - - - - - X - X - XX XXX

Whatgoes“zzub,zzub,zzub”?

- XXX X X XX - X X - XX - X - - XX - X - - X - XXX X - - X - X - X - X - - X - X - X - XX XXX

Whatdidonefireflysaytotheother?

- - X - - - - - - - - - - X X - XX - - - X - - - X - - - X - -

bUZZ IN OTHER LANGUAGESOfcoursebeesbuzz.Butifyouspokeadifferentlanguage,beesmightnotbuzz. . . German summ summGreek zoum zoumSwedish buzz buzzJapanese boon boonHungarian bzzz Italian zzzz Russian zh-zh-zhSpanish bzzz Turkish vizzz

Icrackedtheinsectcommunication

code by . . .

Flashingacodetofireflies.

Foolingacricket.

Searchingforinsects“talking.”

A B C

D E F

G H I

J K L

M N O

P Q R

S T U

V W X

Y Z

X - - XXX - X - X

- XX X XX - X

- - X XXXX XX

X - - - - X - X - XX

- - - X - - -

X - - X - - X - X - X

XXX - XX -

XXX - X - - - XX -

- X - - - - XX


detect puzzling patternsFromtreeringstoturtleshells,nature’spatternsarebothbeautifulandperplexing.Whydothingsformpatternsastheygrow?Isthereasecret?Istheirgrowthpredictable?

Look for designs in natureWalkaroundthecampground,visitthenaturecenter,orhikethroughtheparklookingforpatterns.Didyoufindanyofthepatternsdescribedonthispage?Writeaboutordrawpicturesofthepatternsintheboxesbelow.

spiralpatternsLookforsnailshells,galaxies,sunflowerseedheads,spiderwebs,andcurledupmillipedes.

compactpatternsNaturetriestomakethebestuseofspace.Lookfortight-fittingpatternsinhoneycombs,flowerseedheads,andpinecones.

explodingpatternsYoucanfindpatternsthatreachoutinmanydirectionsbylookingatseedheads,mushroomgills,coniferneedles,androsettes(likedandelions).

overlappingpatternsAnimalsdependontheirbodycoveringstoprotectthemfromwind,rain,andcold.Lookforoverlappingpatternsonfish,birds,andreptiles.

__________patternsDrawpicturesordescribeotherpatternsyousee.

branchingpatternsAslivingthingsgrow,theymaybranchout.Lookatthearrangementsofleavesonatwig.Checkoutlightningboltsandbarkbeetlecarvings.


Finding numb3rs in n8tureSomeofthepatternsyoufindinnaturearemorethanjustartisticandperplexing.Somepatternsseemtofollowmathematicalequations.Ifyougolookingfornumb3rsinn8ture,youwillfindthem!TakeFibonacci(FEEbuhNAWchee)numbers,forexample.IntheFibonaccisequence,eachnumberafterthefirsttwoisthesumoftheprevioustwonumbers.

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, . . .

Startlookingforthesenumbersinnature,andyouwillfindawholenewwaytoexploretheoutdoors.

Count flower petalsCountthenumberofpetalson5to10differentflowers.Trackyournumbersintheseboxes.CircletheFibonaccinumbers.DidFibonaccinumbersshowupmoreoftenthanyouexpected?

13petalsmarigold

Sketchflowerswithdifferentnumbersofpetals.Remembertotakecareofallwildflowers.Sketch,don’tpick!

3petalsiris,lily,trillium

5petalsviolet,buttercup,rose,columbine,milkweed

8petalscoreopsis,delphinium

Drawflowersyoufoundwith4,6,7,or9petals.ThesearenotFibonaccinumbers.

21petalsblack-eyedsusan,chicory,aster

34,55,or89petalsplantains,daisies,asters,sunflowers


Eat some fruitDotheflowersofallediblefruit-bearingplantshavefivepetals?Cut an appleinhalfthroughthemiddle. What doyousee?Surprised?

check out spiralsFibonaccinumbersalsoshowupinthenumberofspiralsfoundonseedheads(likesunflowers)andpinecones.Findapineconeandlookatitfromthebottom.Countthenumberofspiralsgoingfromthecenterofthecone(whereitattachedtothetree)totheoutsideedge.Countthespiralsinbothdirections.TheresultingnumbersareusuallytwoconsecutiveFibonaccinumbers.Intheexampleshown,thereare8clockwisespiralsand13counter-clockwisespirals.Canyoufindapineconethatdoesn’tfollowthispattern?

Find out moreBy Nature’s Design byPatMurphyIfyoulikemathandwanttolearnmore,visitFibonacci Numbers and the Golden Section (ProfessorRonKnott’swebpage)<www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci>

Isearchedandcounted.IthinkFibo

nacci

numbersare...

Absolutelyamazing!

AbizarrecoincidencethatisWAY

overrated.

Idetectedpuzzlingpatternsby... Lookingfordesignsinnature. Countingflowerpetals. Checkingoutthespiralpatternsonpinecones. Lookingatapplesandotherediblefruits. Eatingpineappleandasparagusaftercountingthespirals!

Think about it!Natureiscomplicated.Ifyoulooklongenoughyoucanfindexceptionstoeveryrule.Justspendsometimelookingforafour-leafclover.Youknowthatmostclovershavethreeleaves.However,ifyouarepatientandlucky,youwillfindafour-leafclover.Thesameistrueofotherpatternsinnature.Ifyoulooklongenough,youwillfindaplantoranimalthatbreakstherules.Itmighthavetoomanypetals,growtootall,orbethewrongcolor.That’swhatmakesnaturesoexciting.Nomatterhowmuchyousee,thereisalwayssomethingnewtoexplore.


Expose the secret identities of birdsHey,whatjustflewby?Diditlooklikeabirdyouhaveseenbefore?Whatcolorwasit?Howbigwasit?Didithavestripesorspots?Asyoulearntoidentifycommonbirds,you’llgetbetteratnoticingthesedetails,butfirstyouhavetogetcloseenoughtoseethem...

find a BirdYou’veheardthattheearlybirdgetstheworm.It’salsotruethattheearlybirder(birdwatcher)seesthebird.Mostbirdsareactiveintheearlymorningastheylookforbreakfast.Moveslowly,talksoftly,wearearth-coloredclothes,walkwiththesunatyourback,andlookforaplacetositdownandwatch.Remembertogivethebirdsspace.Watchfromadistanceanddon’tdisturbnestsornestingbirds.

Field NotesWhenyoufindb

irds,usethesetrickstoget

themtocomecloser.Don’t

overuse

thesetricks.Duringnesting

season,coldspells,extreme

heat,anddroughts,birds

mustusealltheirenergyto

survive.Theydon’tneeda

birdwatcherdistracting

themfromfindingfoodand

avoidingpredators.

Trythe‘kiss’method

You’renotreallykissingthe

m!Youareimitatingthesou

ndsbirdsmakewhen

theyareintrouble.Sometim

esbirdscomeclosetoseew

hat’sup.Whenyoukiss

forbirds:• Makethesq

ueakypartofthekiss.Don

’tletyourlips“pop.”

• Trykissingdifferentparts

ofyourhandtomakediffe

rentsounds.Startwith

asoftsoundbykissingthek

nucklesofyourfist.Ifthatd

oesn’tworktrythe

backofyourhand.Tomake

theloudestsound,kissthep

almofyourhand.

• Trytosoundlikeasmall

birdchirpingorarodentsq

ueaking.

• Makeeachsqueakthree

tofivesecondslong.Waitatleastam

inutebefore

squeaking again.

Pish Ifyou’renote

xcitedaboutkissingyourha

nd,trypishing.Withyourteeth

together,gentlyblowairou

t.Whileyoublow,openandclo

seyourlips.Youcan

makethe“pish”soundsoft

orloudbyadjustingtheam

ountofairyoublow.You

canchangethepitchbyma

kingyourlipstightorloose

.

Makeahomemadebirdcal

l

Taketwopopsiclesticks,a

wide

pieceofgrass,andarubber

band.Putthegrassbetween

thepopsiclesticks.Wrapthe

rubberbandaroundoneen

d.

Blowonthesideofthecall

likeaharmonica.Youmight

havetoseparatethepopsic

le

sticksjustalittle.

Iexposedthesecretidentitiesofbirdsby...Takinganearlymorningbirdwalk. Kissingorpishingforbirds. Makingapopsiclestickbirdcall. Sketchinganunfamiliarbird. StartingalifelistofthebirdsI’veseen.


sketch a birdWhenyouseeabirdyou’veneverseenbefore,watchitclosely.NoteallthethingsmentionedintheField Notesonpage12.Drawandlabelapictureofthebird.Makenotesaboutitscolorsandmarkingssoyoucancoloritlater.Writedownwhatthebirdwasdoing.

Birds’bodiesaredrawnaroundtwoovals.Theovalschangesizeandpositionbasedonthetypeofbird.Lookattheexamples,thenstartsketching.


Field NotesLookatthebird,notatthebook!Ifyouarefortunateenoughtohaveafieldguidetobirds,trynottouseitrightaway.You’lllearnmoreaboutbirdsbywatchingandsketchingthemfirst.Askyourselfthesequestions:

Howbigisit?Isthebirdsmalllikeachickadee,medium-sizedlikearobin,orlargelikeacrow?

Whatareitsfieldmarks?Birdersknowthatthecolors,stripes,andotherfieldmarksonabirdwillhelpthemidentifyit.Startattheheadandworktowardthetail.Askyourselfthesequestionsandremembertheanswers:•Doesthebirdhavestripesonitshead?Aroundtheeyes?Whatcoloristhecrownofitshead?• Isthebillshortorlong?Thinorthick?• Isthebird’sbreastplainorstreaked?Whatcolorisit?•Dothewingshavebars?Arethewingtipsadifferentcolor?• Isthetaillongorshort?Doesitfork?Aretherebarsacrossthetail?

Whatisitdoing?Isthebirdwadinginwater?Walkingupatreetrunk?Doesitbobitstailupanddown?Isitaloneorinaflock?

Bird Date&placeIsawitAmericanrobinEuropeanstarling*YellowwarblerCommonyellowthroatSongsparrowNortherncardinalRed-wingedblackbirdCommongrackleBrown-headedcowbirdAmericangoldfinchHousesparrow**ThesebirdsarenotnativetoWisconsin.

Bird Date&placeIsawitCanada goose MallardGreatblueheronTurkeyvultureRed-tailedhawkGreathornedowlMourningdoveBluejayAmericancrowTreeswallowBlack-capped

chickadee

bill

tail

crown

eye/eyestripe

Start a life listBirderskeeptrackofallthebirdstheyhaveeverseen.Startyourlistwiththesebirds.TheyarefoundalloverWisconsin,butitmightnotbeeasytofindalloftheminonesummer.

cheek

back

belly

rump

breast

throat

wing


Solve a puzzleAtangramisanancientChinesepuzzle.Copyortracethisbigsquareontoapieceofpaper.Cutout along the solid lines. Arrangethepiecestomakethebirdsshownhereandmanyotheramazingfigures.

Bird Date&placeIsawitTrumpeterswanAmericanblackduckOspreyNorthernharrierSolitarysandpiperWhip-poor-will

Bird Date&placeIsawitRed-headedwoodpeckerWoodthrushHoodedwarblerFieldsparrowEasternmeadowlark

Spot rarer birdsIfyouwantachallenge,tryspottingsomeofthesebirds.ScientistsputthesebirdsontheSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed(SGCN)listbecausetheirpopulationsarelowordeclining.Tofindthesebirdsyouwillhavetobeattherightplace(habitat)attherighttime.Theyarenotimpossibletofind,buttheyaren’tlistedasSGCNfornothing!

find out moreIfyoustartfindingbirdsthataren’tontheselists,youneedabetterlist!Askforabirdchecklistattheparkyouarevisiting.Someparkshavefieldguidesyoucanborrow.Visit<dnr.wi.gov>andseachfor“Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail”forastatewidechecklistandregionalviewingguides.Tolearnaboutbirdsongs,checkoutBird CallsbyFrankGallo.ToreadsomeAfricanfolktales,tryWhen Birds Could Talk and Bats Could Sing byVirginiaHamilton.Forrelaxingmusic,listentoSongbird Symphony,byNorthWordPress.TofindoutaboutJohnJamesAudubon,readThe Boy Who Drew Birds by JacquelineDavies.


Explore the Moon Inourworldofstreetlights,nightlights,headlights,andspotlights,wehardlynoticethemoonanymore.It’sfuntogetawayfromthelightswhileyouarecampingandtakesometimetoexplorethemoon!

Observe earthshineLookforthecrescentmoonnearthehorizonatsunset.Canyouseetheghostlyshapeofthefullmoon?LeonardoDaVinciwasthefirstoneto

realizethatthisglowwascausedbyearthshine(sunlight

reflectedoffoftheearthontotheunlitportionofthemoon).

discover cratersIfyouhavegoodeyesightandaclearnight,youcanseethemoon’scraters.Apairofbinocularsletsyouseesmallercratersandcratersinsidecraters,formedwhenmeteroids,asteroids,andcometshitthe moon. Whenthemoonisfullandlookslikeaflatdisk,itisagoodtimetolookattheraysthatradiatefromcraters.Themostrecentcratersaresurroundedbybrightrayscreatedwhenpowderedrockblastedoutwardfromtheimpact.Overtime,morethingswillhitthemoonandworkthispowderbackintothemoon’ssurface.Inthephotoonthenextpage,Tycho,Aristarchis,andCopernicusareyoungcraters.

find out moreDot to Dot in the Sky: Stories of the Moon by JoanMarieGalatHow the Moon Regained Her Shape by Janet RuthHellerCheckoutspaceonlineatAstronomy for Kids <kidsastronomy.com>

LeonardoDaVinci’sdrawingofearthshinefromthe1500s.

Iexploredthemoonandsaw... Tycho Earthshine The

terminator! Ancientrocks

Craters Seas Rays Seaof

Serenity

Check out old and new rockThemoon’ssurfaceismadeupofbrightanddarksplotches.Thebrightareasareplaceswherethemoon’sancientcruststillexists.Thedarksplotchesareplaceswherelavahaseruptedfrominsidethemoon,flowedoverthesurface,andformednewerrock.Peopleoncethoughtthesedarkareaswereseas.

Locate the TerminatorBefore,during,andafterthequarterphases,thesun’srayshitthemoon’ssurfaceatanangleandmakelongshadows.Thisisagoodtimetolookatcratersintheterminator(thelinethatseparatesthelit and unlit sidesofthemoon).

Galileo Galilei’s drawingofthelastquartermoonfromthe1600s.

terminator


name that craterScientistsnamedalmosteverynook,cranny,crater,and“sea”forsomebodyorsomething.Theynamedcratersafterfamousscientistsandseasafterweathereventsorstatesofmind.Butdon’tletthatstopyourcreativity!Whatifyouwereinchargeofnamingthingsonthemoon?Whowouldyouhonor?Whatshapesanddesignsdoyousee?Findaplacewhereyoucanseethemoonandfinishnamingthelandmarksonthisphoto.Afewlineshavebeenaddedtogetyoustarted.

Aristarchis

SeaofSerenity

SeaofCrisis

SeaofTranquility

Tycho

Copernicus


Watch the MoonItshouldn’ttakeadetectivetofindthemoon.Youjusthavetoknowwhereandwhentolook.Themoonalwaysrisesintheeast,followsthepathofthesun,andsetsinthewest.Watchforonemonth.Canyoufindeachofthesephases?

Iwatchedthemoonforawholemonth.Thethingthatamazedmethemostwas...

(Can’tseeit)NewMoon

Phase Lookslike Whenandwheretolook Dateyousawit

Risesatsunriseandsetsatsunset.

Waxing Crescent

Risesinthemorningandsetsintheevening.

FirstQuarter

Risesaroundnoon,ishighintheskyatsunset,setsaroundmidnight.

Waxing Gibbous

Risesintheafternoon,ishighintheskyintheevening,setsbeforedawn.

Full Moon

Risesatsunsetandsetsatsunrise.

Waning Gibbous

Risesintheeveningandsetsinthemorning.

Last Quarter

Waning Crescent

Risesbetweenmidnightandsunriseandsetsintheafternoon.

Risesaroundmidnightandsetsaroundnoon.

9


untangle the mysteries of spidersWhydon’tspidersgetcaughtintheirownwebs?Howdoesaspiderwithpooreyesightcatchanything?Doallspidersspinwebs?Canyousay,“Wisespiderswillweavewebswonderfullywell,”fivetimesreallyfast?Trysomeofthesuggestionsonthispagetodiscoverafewspidersecrets. Find a webWebsareeasiertofindinthemorningwhentheyarecoveredwithdew.Websalsoshowupbetterinthemorningandeveningbecausethesunisn’trightoverhead.Differentkindsofspidersspindifferentkindsofwebs.

Go on a nighttime spider safariGrabaflashlightandagrownupandheadoutsideafterdark.Gofarawayfrombrightlights.Puttheendoftheflashlightonyourforehead-rightbetweenyoureyes.Startlookingaroundinthegrassandbushesfortinysparklinglights.Those“lights”arespidereyesreflectingthelightofyourflashlight.Besuretoshinethelightstraightoutfromyourhead.Don’tmovetheflashlight-moveyourwholehead.Oruseaheadlamp!

Find a spider shedTogrowbigger,aspidermustsheditsexoskeleton(hardoutsidecovering).Everytimeitmolts(shedsitsskin),itleavesbehindanemptyskin.Canyoufindone?

Read about spidersAnansi the Spider byGeraldMcDermottCharlotte’s WebbyE.B.WhiteThe Spider and the FlybyMaryHowitt

Trick a spiderCanyoufoolaspiderintothinkingthataninsectiscaughtinitsweb?Takeapieceofgrassandgentlytouchtheweb.Eithervibratethegrassgentlyorrollitbetweenyourfingers.Wigglethewebforafewseconds,thenrestforafewseconds.Repeat.Ifyoudoitjustright,thespiderwillcomechargingfromitshidingplace.Ifitdoesn’tworkthefirsttime,tryagainwithadifferentweb.

Feed a spiderFindalargewebthatlooksnew.Capturean insect like a grasshopperorcricket.Place the insect in thestickyspiralsoftheweb.Stepback and watch whathappens.Doesthespiderinjecttheinsectwithvenomfromitsfangs?Doesitwraptheinsectwithsilk?Howlongdoesittake?

orbwebLookintallgrassand woods.

funnelwebLookinrockpilesandfirewood.

cobwebLook in old buildings andontreetrunks.

trianglewebLookintrees.

sheet webLookinthegrass.


abcdefghijklmnopq

rstuvwxyz! ,-

solve a puzzleExceptforhuntingspiders(likewolfspidersandjumpingspiders),mostspidersdon’tdependontheireyesighttofindandcaptureprey.SolvethispuzzlewritteninBrailletofindouthowtheyfindfood.Foranextrachallenge,turnthepaperoverandpressthebackofeachbolddotwithapenorpenciltomakearaisedbump.Canyousolvethepuzzlewithyourfingers?

Spin a webCanyouspinanorbweb?Thesizeofyourwebdependsonwhatmaterialsyoucanscrounge.Findsticks,poles,ortreesforsupports.Usethread,yarn,shoestrings,orropeforsilk.Takeitapartafteryoushowittosomeone.

a bcdefghijklmnopq

r stuvwxy z! ‘,-.?.

capital

spiders hunt by touch!.__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

1 Thespiderspinsoutapieceofsilkthatthebreezecarriestoanearbysupport.

2 Thespiderstrengthensthislinebylayingdownmoresilkontopofit.Thenshedropsdownonapieceofsilktoformthreerays.

3 Thespideraddsthemainframeofthewebandmorerays.4 Thespidercontinuestoaddraysuntilthedistancebetweenthe

raysissmallenoughtocross.

5 Startinginthecenter,thespiderlaysdownatemporarynon-stickyspiral.

6 Whenitreachestheoutsideoftheweb,thespiderturnsaroundandfollowsthenon-stickyspiralbacktothecenter.Asitgoes,iteatsthetemporaryspiralandlaysdownastickyspiral.

1 2 3 4 5

6

a hd


spiders hunt by touch!

FIELD nOTESNotallspide

rsbuildwebstocapture

theirprey.Hereare

threeweb-lesshuntersyo

umightfindatthepark.

crabspidersThesespider

scanwalkbackwards,

forwards,orsideways-ju

stlikeacrab.

Lookforthemhidinginfl

owers.

wolfspidersThesecomm

onspiders

arelarge.Lookforthem

walkingaroundduring

theday.Theyhavetwo

largeeyes,andtheirlegs

arealittlehairy.

jumpingspiders

Theycanreallyjump!

Sometimestheirsmallbo

dies

arebrightlycolored.They

havelargeeyes.

Iuntangledthemysteriesofspidersby...

Findingatleastoneweb-makingspiderandonehuntingspider.

Searchingforspidereyesafterdark.

Feedingaspider.

Sketchingorbuildingaspiderweb.

Weave a storyUsedrawingsandwordstotellaboutthespidersandwebsyoufound.


Witness wisconsin,s (not so) Secret wondersTheSevenAncientWondersoftheWorldweretrulyamazing.Howmanycanyourfamilyname?Itwouldbegreattoseethoseamazingthings,butimpossible,sincemostweredestroyedordisappearedlongago.Wouldn’titbenicetohavealistofwonderfulthingsthatyoumightactuallybeabletoseeinonesummeroratleastinalifetime?Wisconsinisfullofamazingplacesandnaturalwonders.SomeareveryfamiliarliketheWisconsinDellsandDoorCounty.Othersarewell-keptsecrets.Herearesomelistsofthingsthatyouandyourfamilycandiscovertogether.PickalistandstartenjoyingWisconsin’sWonders!Whenyoufindsomething,checkitoffandwritedownwhenand/orwhereyousawit.

Seven Ancient Wonders of the WorldPyramidsofEgypt,HangingGardensofBabylon(destroyedbyearthquakes),StatueofZeusatOlympia(disapearedwithnotrace),TempleofArtemis(destroyedinAD262),MausoleumatHalicarnassus(someremainsinamuseum),ColossusatRhodes(destroyedin224BCearthquake),PharosofAlexandria(destroyedin13thcenturyearthquake).Wisconsin’s Historic WondersVisitthesestateparksandforeststoseesomeofWisconsin’sarcheologicalsitesandhistoricalstructureslisted on the National Register of Historic Places. Aztalan State Park 1 __________ alsoaNationalHistoricLandmark Prehistoricvillagestockade

Brule River State Forest 4 __________ Brule-St.Croixportage

Copper Culture State Park 3 __________ Prehistoricburialgrounds

High Cliff State Park 6 __________ Effigymounds

Peninsula State Park 8 __________ EagleBluffLighthouse

Point Beach State Forest 5 __________ Rawley Point Light Station

Roche-a-Cri State Park 9 __________ Prehistoricpetroglyphs

Rock Island State Park 2 __________ ThordarsonEstate Prehistoricandhistoriccampsites

Tower Hill State Park 10 __________ Leadshottower

Whitefish Dunes State Park 20 __________ Prehistoricandhistoricvillages

Wyalusing State Park 7 __________ Effigymounds

Wisconsin’s CCC WondersFrom1935to1942,theCivilianConservationCorps(CCC)hiredyoungmentorevitalizeAmerica’sforests.Theybuiltrusticbuildings,stonesteps,retainingwalls,towers,andotherparkfacilities.YoucanstillfindandenjoyevidenceoftheirhardworkatthesestateparksthatservedasCCCcamps:Copper Falls State Park 11 __________Devil’s Lake State Park 12 __________Interstate State Park 13 __________Pattison State Park 14 __________Peninsula State Park 8 __________Perrot State Park 15 __________Rib Mountain State Park 16 __________Wyalusing State Park 7 __________


Wisconsin State Park System SuperlativesVisittheseparks,forests,andtrailstoseethebiggestandbestthatWisconsinhastooffer!Highest waterfall __________ in the state 14

BigManitouFallsatPattisonStatePark

Oldest lighthouse __________ in Wisconsin 2

PotawatomiLighthouseatRockIslandStatePark

Largest state park 12 __________ Devil’sLakeStatePark

Oldest state park 13 __________ InterstatePark

Longest continuous bike __________ trail in the state 18 Mountain-BayStateTrail

Looks like the highest __________ hill in the state 16 RibMountainatRibMountainStatePark-Timm’sHillis

thehighestpoint,butRibMountainstandshigherabovethesurroundingterrain.

Highest point in __________ southern Wisconsin 17

BlueMoundatBlueMoundStatePark

One of the oldest inhabited __________ sites in the upper Midwest 19

RaddatzrockshelteratNaturalBridgeStatePark

Longest staircase __________ in a state park 9

303-stepwoodenstaircaseatRoche-a-CriStatePark

Highest sand dunes __________ in the state 20

WhitefishDunesStatePark

Longest tunnel __________ on a state trail 21

Three-quartermiletunnelontheElroy-SpartaStateTrail

2

Superior

Ashland

Rice Lake

HudsonChippewa

FallsMenomonie

EauClaire

Osseo

LaCrosse

Prentice

EagleRiver

Rhinelander

Tomahawk

11414

13

SturgeonBay

Manitowoc

5

20

8

3

6

Gills Rock

Sheboygan

Milwaukee

RacineKenosha

Lake Geneva

Beloit

Janesville

Madison

BeaverDam

1

12

9

17

19

7

15

16

WausauAbbotsford

Marshfield

StevensPointWisconsin

RapidsAppleton

GreenBay

Oshkosh

Fond du Lac

Prairiedu Chien

Platteville

Dodgeville

Tomah

ViroquaRichland Center

Portage

Wisconsin Dells

10

21

18

Pembine

Find these Wisconsin Wondersonthemapbymatchingthenumberstotheplacenameson the lists.

Bayfield

Hayward

Grantsburg

Marinette

PortWashington

citystate park or foreststate trail


Wisconsin’s small wondersAmazingthingsdon’thavetobebig.Someofthemostamazingthingsinnaturearerightoutsidethetentflap!Daddy longlegs __________ Smellthemuntilyoufindonethatsmellslikepeppermint.

Doesithaveredspotsonitslegs?

Click beetle __________ Turnoneupside-downonahardsurface.Doesitclickto

turnitselfupright?

Spotless ladybird beetle __________ Canyoufindonethathasjustemergedfromitspupal

case?Itwon’thaveanyspots.Youcanwatchthemdarken.

Woodlouse (roly poly) __________ Amongallthepillbugsunderstones,canyoufindthe

onesthatcanrollthemselvesuplikearmadillos?

Ruby-throated hummingbird __________ Listenforit!Wisconsin’ssmallestbirdhumsbyfast.

Pygmy shrew __________ Lookunderlogsandinleaflitterforananimalthatisa

littleover3”long(includingitstail)andweighs2to4grams(sameas2to4paperclips).

Tadpole with legs __________ Itmuststillhaveatailtocount! lEAVE WHAT YOU FIND

WhenyouaresearchingforWisconsin’sWonders,youmayfindsomethingsyouwouldliketokeep.Remembertwothings:first,lawsprotectresourcesonstateproperties;andsecond,Wisconsiniswonderfulbecauseithasamazingnaturaltreasures.Leavethosetreasuresforotherkidstoenjoy,too.

Wisconsin’s Wonderfully Disgusting AnimalsHowmanyofthesestinkyanimals can you smell while visitingaWisconsinStatePark,Forest,Trail,orRecreationArea?Gartersnake __________ Smearsanoilymuskonpredators(andyou)when

handled.

Opossum __________ Oozesanasty-smellinggreenmucousfromitsanuswhen

playing dead.

Stinkpot (musk turtle) __________ Emitsafoulmusktoescapepredators.

Porcupine __________ Releasesapungentwarningodorwhenthreatened.

Turkey vulture __________ Pees on its own legs to cool down!

Striped skunk __________ Spraysblindingmuskindefense.

Stink bug __________ Releasesasmellyodorwhenhandled.

Multicolored Asian lady beetle __________ Oozesstinkyfluidfromitslegswhenstressed.

Grasshopper __________ Vomitsupbrownishliquidwhenhandled.

Swallowtail caterpillar __________ Displayssmelly“stinkhorns”toescapepredators.

Earwig __________ Squirtsfoul-smellingliquidwhendisturbed.

earwig

multicoloredAsian lady beetle

stink bug


__________________ Seven Natural wonders of wisconsinSitdownwithyourfamilyorfriendsandmakealistofyourfavoriteoutdoorplaces.Itdoesn’tmatteriftheyarepopulartouristattractionsoryourownsecrethideaways.Youcanlistplacesyou’vebeenorplacesyouwanttovisit.Labelyourfavoritespotsonthemaponpage21.

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Iwitnessedthesecret(andnotsosecret)wondersofWisconsinby...Findingeverythingononeofthese lists. Seeing at least one thing on eachofthelists. Makingalistofourfavoritethings.


Find the hidden animals

Looking like a plantMany insects lookliketwigs,leaves,andthorns.Findawalkingstick,treehopper,katydid,orotherinsectdisguisedasaplant.

ChangingcolorSomecrabspiderschangecolortoblendinwiththeflowersonwhichtheyhide.Snowshoehareschange coats with the seasons. Findacolor-changeanimal.

DisplayingcountershadingAnimalsthatliveinwaterandairareoftendarkaboveandlightbelow.Thiscolorpatternhelpstohidethemfrompredatorsattackingfromaboveandbelow.Findabird,frog,orfishwithcountershading.

BeingtransparentWhatbetterwaytohidethantobesee-throughlikeaphantommidgefloatinginthewater?Canyoufindatransparentanimal?

DressingupCaddisflylarvaehideinunderwatercasesthattheybuildoutofpebblesorplantparts.Findananimalthatmakesitshidingplace.

Looking disgustingGiantswallowtailcaterpillarslooklikebirdpoop!Findananimalthathidesbylookinginedibleorgross.

ActingWhen predatorsarenear,theAmericanbittern(bird)pointsitsbillupandswayswiththeplants.Canyoufindananimalthatusesitsbehaviortohide?

WearingcamoAnimalslikethethirteen-linedgroundsquirrelblendinbecauseofspots,stripes,andcolors.Findananimalthat is wearingcamouflagedfur,feathers,orscales.

BlendinginThecolorsofmanyanimalssimplymatchtheirbackgrounds.Lookforgraysquirrels,greenfrogs,brownsnakes,orotherblenders.

ThemostamazinghiddenanimalIfoundwas...

Animalshideforalotofreasons.Preyneedtohidefromhungrypredators.Predatorsneedtohidesotheycansneakuponprey.Tofindtheanimals,youhavetoknowsomeoftheirsecretsforhiding.Checkoffthesecretsyouuncoverasyouhikeinthepark.


Ifoundthehiddenanimalsby . . . LookingforanimalsinplacesIneverthoughtofbefore. Camouflagingmyselfatourcampsite. Sneakingupon

animals while camouflaged.

hide yourselfMostofthetechniquesweknowaboutgoodcamouflage,welearnedfromnature.Testsomeoftheseideasbycamouflagingyourselfatyourcampsite.Telloneadultofyourplanaheadoftime.Howlongcanyouremainhiddenbeforesomeonefindsyou?

BreakupyouroutlineUseclothesofdifferentcolorsorplantsstickingoutfromyourbodytohideyourhumanshape.

HideyourfaceUsefacepaint,charcoal,ormudonyourforehead,nose,cheekbones,chin,andears.Useirregularpatterns.Breakuptheshapeofyoureyeswithstripes.

ReduceglareTherearen’tmanyshinythingsinnature.Besuretohideyourbinoculars,eyeglasses,jewelry,orwatch.

FreezeinplaceIfyouthinkyouhavebeenseen,don’tevenblink!

Find AnimalsYoucanusemanyofthehintsdescribedonthelefttohelpyouhuntanimals.Whetheryouareusingacamera,binoculars,orhuntingequipment,youcangetcloserifyou...

Stick to the shadowsStayawayfrombrightlylitmeadowsandforestclearings.Walkalongtheshadededges.

StaylowandwatchyoursilhouetteDon’tletyourhumanshapebeoutlinedagainstthesky.

WatchyourshadowAsyougetclose,besureyourshadowdoesn’tfallon the animal.

EliminateodorAvoidcandy,gum,perfume,fragrantshampoos,andcosmetics.

Watch the windApproachananimalwiththewindinyourface,sothatyourscentiscarriedawayfromtheanimal.

Tapeaphotoormakeadrawingofyouinyourhidingplace.


Decipher plant warnings

Idecipheredplantwarningsby... Searchingforozonedamageonmilkweedleaves.Checkingoutthekindsoflichensgrowingatthepark.

find out moreForalistofthingsyoucandotokeepozonelevelsdown,visitEEK!<dnr.wi.gov/eek/earth/air/you.htm>Milkweedleavesandlichensareonlytwobioindicators.Scientistsstudyamphibians,bacteria,aquaticinsects,fish,andmanyotherspeciestomonitorthehealthoftheplanet.Findouthowyoucanmonitorpopulationsandstudytheeffectsofglobalclimatechange.VisitJourney North <www.learner.org/jnorth/>andCitizen-based Monitoring Network of Wisconsin <wiatri.net/cbm>

verylittleozoneintheair

some ozoneintheair

alotofozoneintheair

Someplantsandanimalsareextrasensitivetopoorairquality,temperaturechanges,andchemicalsintheenvironment.Scientistscalltheseorganismsbioindicatorsbecausetheycanbeasignof(indicate)small changes that could affectlife(bio)onthe whole planet.

read MilkweedCommonmilkweedisabioindicatorofozoneintheairwebreathe.Whileozoneisagoodthingwayuphighintheatmosphere,itisabadthingclosetotheground.Badozoneformswhenpollutantsfromfactories,gasolineengines,andpaintfumesgetbakedinthehotsummersun.Milkweedleavesareexposedtobadozone24/7.Theozonereactswiththefood-producingcellsontheuppersurfaceofthemilkweedleaves.Itcausespolkadot-likeinjuries.Byrecordingthechangestosensitiveplantslikemilkweed,scientistscanmonitorlocalairquality.Lookformilkweedplants.Checkleavesonseveralplants.Lookatmilkweedgrowingnearroads.Doyouexpecttheleavesnearroadstoshowmoreorlessozonedamage?

common milkweed

Ifthepolkadotsyoufoundmatchallthecharacteristicsbelow,theyareprobablycausedbyozonedamage.Thedotsmustbe:smalllikeaperiod.blackordarkpurplish.onlyonthetopoftheleaves.missingalongtheveinsoftheleaves.


Look at lichensLichensarealgaeandfungilivingtogether.Thealgaeprovidethefood;thefungiprovidethehabitat(bycatchingmoistureandprotectingthealgaefromwindandsun).Ifyoulookatacross-sectionofalichenunderamicroscope,youcanseethetinycellsofalgaesurroundedbyfungi.Whilelichensaretoughandslow-growing,mostarealsosensitivetopollutantsintheair.Inthemostpollutedareas,youwillprobablynotfindanylichens.Thekindsoflichensyoufind(anddon’tfind)tellyousomethingabouttheenvironmentalhealthofwhereyouare.Lookforlichensonrocks,trees,andsoil.Ifyoufindcrustose,foliose,andfruticoselichens,youareprobablyinanareawithoutmuchairpollution.

fungus

algae

morefungus!

Crustoselichensarenotverysensitivetoairpollution.Theyareflatandcrusty.

Folioselichensaresomewhatsensitivetoairpollution.Theyareleaf-like.

Fruticoselichensaremostsensitivetoairpollution.Theyareshrubbyormoss-like.

substrateTherock,bark,orsoilon which the lichen is growing.

Drawsomeofthelichensyouseeonahike.Givetheminterestingnames.Whatdothelichenstellyouaboutairpollutioninthepark?

find out more!Toidentifylichens,checkoutLichens of the North Woods by Joe Walewski.Ifyoulikelichens,youwilllovethewaterbearsthatoftenliveinsidethem.OntheInternet,goto<pathfinderscience.net>andsearchfortardigrades.

firedotlichen

moonglow lichen

Britishsoldiers

pixiecups

reindeermoss

shadow lichen

Printed with soy ink on recycled paper.

PUBL-PR-477 2014

GO!Get Out!

Get Outdoors! Wisconsin!Get moving! get energized! get a little dirty!

just . . . get out there and explore!

Wi sconsin

Explorer

Become a Wisconsin Explorer. Go to a nature program.Hike or bike a state trail.Recreate at a state recreation area.Go camping.Take a bird walk.Snowshoe or ski through a forest.Find a geocache.Ride a horse.Canoe or kayak down a river.Go fishing.

The grown-ups in your life need you to help them stay active as they get older. Spending time exploring nature with you will help everyone's health and fitness. Look for ways to get out! How many of these activities can you do together this year?

Wi s con

si n

Expl o

rer

Find out what's happening outdoors by visiting <www.dnr.wi.gov/eek/nature/season/calendar.htm>Find out about activities in the state parks by visiting <www.dnr.wi.gov/eek/nature/camp/index.htm>

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.) upon request. Please call 608-266-0866 for more information.

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesBureau of Parks and Recreation

P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707

wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation...

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