Second Nature

"If children don't grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don't understand it, they won't protect it. And if they don't protect it, who will?" — David Attenborough With summer in full swing, there's no better time to head outside with your family — no screens required. The backyard (or a nearby park or playground) is teeming with the most diverse group of animals on Earth: insects. Bugs are accessible, fascinating, and endlessly thought-provoking. Children as young as two will be brimming with "why" questions before you know it, and the curiosity sparked outdoors is the foundation of a lifelong love of the natural world and the desire to protect it. Enjoy exploring the world of entomology with your budding naturalists! One screen exception worth making: download iNaturalist or Seek on your smartphone to help identify what you find. BugGuide.net is also a wonderful resource for deeper dives. Your Bug Explorer KitYou won't need much — here's a simple kit to get you started: Magnifying glassBug box with magnifying lid, or jars with holes punched in the lidsWhite sheetNotebook and pencil for recording observationsSpoon or stick for gently transferring insectsPlastic cupTrowelLibrary books about insects Before You BeginRemind kids that some bugs can sting or bite, so the first rule is to look with your eyes before you touch. If you don't recognize a bug, admire it from a distance. This is also a great moment to talk about respecting wildlife — we are visitors in their world. Also, don't forget tick safety. They're common in grassy and wooded areas, but easy to guard against. Wear long sleeves and tuck pants into socks, and apply a tick repellent before heading out. Quick tick checks during and after your explorations, and a thorough head-to-toe check each evening, are great habits to build. Bug SafariStart with your white sheet. Drape it under a bush or small tree, give the branches a gentle shake, and watch insects fall onto the sheet. Suddenly counting and identifying becomes much easier! Use a spoon or small stick to transfer one insect at a time into your jar for a closer look. (One at a time so they don't hurt each other!) Once you've observed your find and perhaps sketched it in your field notebook, tip the jar and let the bug crawl or fly away in the same spot where you found it. Flipping over rocks and logs is another great way to discover what's living just out of sight. (Always return the rock or log to where it was.) Turn it into a scavenger hunt! Challenge kids to find:A bug that jumpsA bug that crawlsA bug with wingsA bug with pincersA bug that is camouflaged A bug that is colorfulA bug with spots or stripesA bug that lives in a colonyA bug in its pupa stageA bug in its larva stageA bug that makes a noise Learn the Body Parts — With a Song!Teach kids the anatomy of an insect with this tune, sung to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes": Head, thorax, abdomen, jointed legs Head, thorax, abdomen, jointed legs Antennae, wings and exoskeleton Head, thorax, abdomen, jointed legs! Act Out the Life CycleAdd some movement and act out complete metamorphosis together: Egg: Curl up in a tiny ball.Larva: Wiggle on your belly, pretending to eat.Pupa: Hold very still, arms wrapped around yourself, and whisper: "I'm changing, I'm changing ..."Adult: Hatch into a flying or crawling insect!Lay eggs: The cycle begins again.Return to the earth: Sink slowly to the ground and become part of the soil once more. DIY Pitfall TrapWant to see what's active overnight? Try this simple trap: Dig a hole with a trowel, just big enough to sink a plastic cup, and deep enough so the top is level with the soil surface.Leave it overnight.Check in the morning to see what you've caught!Observe your visitors, then release them nearby. Second Nature is submitted by the naturalists at Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center (BEEC) in West Brattleboro. Come take a walk on the trails, open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Join us this summer and learn more about programs for all ages at www.BEEC.org. BEEC is a member supported non-profit organization.