Nature Inside Out Graphic

Camp Goes Virtual!

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Ryan D.

We’re taking the Mass Audubon nature camp experience online!

Join us virtually each week for a unique, engaging, and fun series of week-long nature-education experiences—both inside and out! Each one-week session will include virtual discussion and instruction; daily themed nature quests and activities designed to get you outside and exploring nature in your backyard or neighborhood; a “Wacky Wednesday” dress-up theme; a Thursday evening all-camp program; and more.

We’ll get to know each other through live virtual meetings and explore nature through images, videos, hands-on activities, and explorations at home and in your neighborhood.

What to Expect

Activities will be differentiated for each age group, K–Grade 2 and Grades 3–5. Upon registration, you will receive an email with the schedule for the week and links to our meeting times and videos. Each day, campers will receive a Nature Quest—this might be a game, activity, science experiment, cooking project, or even an art project.

Register Today!

Nature Inside Out Virtual Summer Camp

Session Themes

Click one of the sessions below to learn more and register your child today.

Session 1: Creature Power     

July 20–24, 2020

Each day, we’ll investigate a group of organisms and learn about their “superpowers,” like how pillbugs and worms create dirt, how chipmunks can carry piles of food three times larger than their heads, and how salamanders can breathe through their skin! You’ll create an insect scent trail or go on a plant adaptation scavenger hunt, learn about the types of amphibians that can be found in your neighborhood, and make a craft from a recycled paper tube. At the end of the week, unlock your own superpower to help take care of nature. 

Session 2: Water, Stones, Fossils, Bones

July 27–31, 2020

What gems of knowledge can we discover by studying dirt and soil? Explore rocks and minerals, bones and fossils, and even volcanoes! Uncover your inner geologist and archaeologist as you grow your own crystals, discover the recipe for soil, and make “glacier gloo,” volcanoes that erupt, and nature fossils. Each day, we’ll investigate concepts that help us learn about the foundations of the Earth.   

Session 3:  Habitat Detectives

August 3–7, 2020

What do grass, rabbits, fungus, rocks, humans, and ants have in common? We are all strands in a complex web of life. Become a habitat detective in your own backyard, in the middle of a city, or at a nearby park. The only tools you need are your keen observational skills as you take a close look and learn about the world around you and learn about the roles that both living and non-living things play in keeping nature in balance. Explore the layers of the forest, play meadow Simon Says, create a pond creature, make a web of life, and more! 

Session 4: Seussical Science

August 10–14, 2020

Inspired by a Dr. Seuss book each day, we will focus on the message of the story to investigate and learn about nature. Care about the smallest creatures like Horton and wonder what comes down from the sky like Bartholomew. Explore the biodiversity in your backyard, take a micro-hike to see tiny worlds, learn about states of matter, create your own special adaptation, and make some Oobleck. Older campers will take Fernie the Fish on an adventure while younger campers will “make it rain” in an imaginary town. 

Session 5: Things with Wings

August 17–21, 2020

Learn all about winged creatures! Birds, bats, butterflies, bees, and so much more—you will learn about how they fly, what they eat, and where they live. Create a new species of bird, learn how bats find their food and what they like to eat, discover what color of flowers to plant to attract butterflies, play a dragonfly life cycle game, and dance like a bee. 

Session 6: Go Green

August 24–28, 2020

Where would we be without plants and clean air? Spend the week discovering different plants, what they can be used for, and how important they are to keeping our Earth healthy. Learn how trees recycle nutrients and play a recycling game, discover the important job of pollinators in producing the food we eat, and see how composting leftovers can help the garden grow. 

There’s more to Summertime than Heat

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Rishya N.

You can’t miss the telltale sign of summertime: that classic spike in heat. We’re all probably feeling a little sweatier than usual, but the heat is more than just uncomfortable. 

That’s because temperature is directly linked to air quality and our health – and climate change aggravates that link. 

The Basics of Air Pollution 

Ozone is what we more commonly refer to as smog. Particle matter (PM) is a combination of incredibly small solids and liquids in the air that can get trapped in our lungs or bloodstream. Both of these pollution sources are directly associated with increased rates of asthma attacks, heart damage, lung cancer, dementia, and even pregnancy risks. 

State of the Air 

The American Lung Association (ALA) recently released their 2020 “State of the Air” report, which details that nearly half of all Americans live in counties with poor air quality. The report also finds that eight of the Commonwealth’s reporting counties demonstrated more unhealthy days of ozone levels compared to last year’s report. These counties are Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester. 

One of the Culprits is Climate Change 

Sources that spew greenhouse gasses, like cars and power plants, also spit out PM and ozone. As climate change continues to bring higher daily average temperatures, air pollution like ozone increases. In fact, the three years studied in ALA’s most recent report (2016-2018) comprise three out of the five hottest years in the United States, correlating with both climate change’s warming effects and the report’s findings of increased unhealthy days of ozone levels.  

Differences in Impact 

We all don’t feel climate change’s impacts on air quality the same. Certain vulnerable populations, such as people of color (especially Black Americans) and low socioeconomic status communities, have shown to suffer disproportionately from public health impacts like increased air pollution.  

A recent systematic review makes this link even more clear. The review’s research team examined over 32 million U.S. births and found a direct connection between exposure to extreme levels of heat, air pollution, and pregnancy risks like underweight or stillborn babies. But they also found that Black mothers and babies across the country suffered these risks at a much higher rate than the rest of the population.  

Breathe Easy, We Can Help 

Albeit in different ways, climate change affects every one of us. Coming together to fight the crisis means acting to protect our communities, our neighbors, and our most vulnerable populations. Anyone can make a difference, here’s how: 

  1. The EPA is rolling back environmental regulations that protect us, wildlife, and plants by refusing to hold polluting companies responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution accountable. Use your voice to oppose these rollbacks and protect the health of our environment. 
  1. Those who suffer a greater burden from climate change and air pollution tend to be marginalized communities, like people of color. Learn more about climate change and racism and why it’s important to act on climate with equity in mind. 
  1. Take a Climate Pledge to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by yourself or with your friends, family, and community. 
  1. Sign up for our newsletter, Climate Connection, for climate information, action, and community solutions. We’ll send you monthly updates on climate change and how you can make a difference.