Think you know who’s moving through the woods? Prove it. This camp for 6th–8th graders goes beyond the basics, turning campers into amateur wildlife biologists. We’ll dive deep into the science of "reading the landscape" to identify Iowa’s most elusive residents—from the elusive bobcat and coyote to our native birds of prey.
\nThe Tracker’s Toolkit:
\nGait & Pattern Analysis: It’s not just about the footprint; it’s about how the animal moves. We’ll learn to distinguish between "gallopers," "bounders," and "waddlers" to determine an animal’s speed, direction, and behavior.
\nThe "Casting" Lab: Find a perfect print on the trail? We’ll use professional plaster-casting techniques to create a permanent, 3D record of local tracks that you can take home.
\nScat & Signs: We’re getting into the nitty-gritty. Campers will learn to identify "scat" (animal droppings), "scrapes" on trees, and "kills" or "caches" to understand the predator-prey relationships happening right in our backyard.
SUMMARY:My County Parks - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade - Signs of Wildlife & Tracking PRIORITY:3 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR