UPCOMING UNPLUG EVENTS

The weather for our unplugged event proved to be a bit chillier than expected so we set up in a barn at the Zimmerling Family Farm. Six (6) kids had a great time examining in detail a variety of sample bird feet, beaks, and wings. There was also an opportunity to dissect (during the event or at home) sterilized owl “fur balls” containing undigested fur and bones that, as we learned, owls cannot digest. 

Our very knowledgeable teacher Patty, from the “Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center”, instructed everyone on how to properly focus binoculars for optimal bird watching. Everyone then had an opportunity to use their newly found binocular skills to do their best to identify different types of bird pictures posted strategically in the yard. A free online tool called Merlin was introduced to the kids to help them easily identify the various bird species they saw.

Held at the Zimmerling’s farm, this event saw 3 kids (new to Unplug from Arnprior & Braeside) plus the 3 young Zimmerling kids working on some new material!  This activity appealed to kids ages 5 to 11. Enid reports it was chilly weather but with everyone moving around [& with their UNPLUG wool socks], it was good. After an introduction by Ryan (support by Zach), groups shoe their survival tools, hunted for a good site and built a shelter from materials found in the forest. Then they built a fire: matches were provided, birch bark, twigs and logs were gathered and laid; and the warmth was enjoyed!