[♪ INTRO]
Hi there!
It’s an exciting day today: Squeaks and I are going on a scavenger hunt.
[Squeaks squeaks]
It is going to be a super special scavenger hunt today, Squeaks.
We’re going to explore everything special about winter.
Winter is a really unique season.
In some places in the world, the weather is pretty similar year round,
or it might go from dry to very wet and rainy.
But in other places, like here at the Fort, winter brings a lot of changes
to the weather and what’s going on outside.
We don’t get as much sunlight, and there’s lots of cloudy days.
It gets very, very cold, and instead of rain, we might get snow.
The nights are longer, and it gets dark really early in the evening,
and stays dark for some of the morning.
[Squeaks squeaks]
Yeah, winter does have a lot of changes compared to other times of year at the Fort.
All of the things that live here have to change to survive.
Squeaks, have you noticed what I’ve done to stay safe during our scavenger hunt today?
[Squeaks squeaks]
That’s right!
I’m wearing special clothes to keep myself warm while we’re outside,
like a hat and a scarf.
Actually, that’s the first thing on our scavenger hunt!
We can mark off “A Warm Hat”.
Let’s see what else we can find.
The first section of our scavenger hunt is Winter Weather Signs.
We need to find some ice.
This time of year, it gets cold enough near the Fort for water to freeze into ice,
and there are lots of places to find it.
Squeaks, do you see any ice?
[Squeaks squeaks]
Oh nice!
Look at that - there’s a puddle over there that's frozen!
There’s a good layer of ice over the top.
And there’s some frost on the windows of some of the nearby houses -
that’s ice, too.
Do you see any other ice, Squeaks?
[Squeaks squeaks]
Whoa!
Those are some really cool icicles.
I love getting to see all the different forms ice can take in winter.
Alright, we found ice, should we try another section?
[Squeaks squeaks]
Okay, next we’re looking for some plants.
We need to find a tree with bare branches, some dried flower stalks,
and some crispy brown leaves.
[Squeaks squeaks]
Oh, these plants aren’t all dead, Squeaks.
Many of them are just dormant.
Green, leafy plants have lots of water inside them.
They depend on water to grow.
But if they stayed green and leafy during a cold winter,
the water inside of them would freeze.
[Squeaks squeaks]
Yes, like icicles.
That would really hurt the plants, so instead, many plants here drop their old leaves
and seem dried up for winter.
But there are some plants that stay green…
[Squeaks squeaks]
Yeah, we’re looking for an evergreen tree, too!
Most coniferous trees, trees with needles and cones instead of big leaves,
are evergreen, meaning that they keep most of their needles
and stay green even during cold winters.
[Squeaks squeaks]
They are beautiful trees, aren’t they?
An evergreen tree would also be a great place to search for some special signs
of animals out in winter.
We can look for animal tracks in the snow, or chew marks
from deer and rabbits on little twigs.
We might find special birds that aren’t here in the warmer seasons,
like snow buntings or rough-legged hawks, and birds that stick around all year
might be easier to see, like chickadees.
[Squeaks squeaks]
Ooh, that’s a good question, Squeaks.
I don’t know if we’ll see many bugs today.
Winter is too cold for most insects, spiders, and other bugs to be out and about.
Some bugs will hibernate, and sleep tucked away safe for the winter.
Other little creatures have just hatched from eggs, but stay in egg sacs
to stay warm through the colder months.
Looks like we’ll need to find some spider egg sacs to finish our scavenger hunt.
[Squeaks squeaks]
Alright!
There are so many great things to find out on a winter day.
Even though it might be colder and quieter outside, there’s still so many
living things to explore, and a ton of amazing experiences that are
only around this time of year.
And you could do a winter scavenger hunt, too!
You can use the one that Squeaks and I made by looking
in this video’s description, or you can make your own!
You and a grown-up can walk around your neighborhood, and mark down
special wintery things for people to find.
Share your scavenger hunt with a friend, and see how many they can find.
Squeaks and I are going to finish our own scavenger hunt.
Are you ready, Squeaks?
[Squeaks squeaks]
Good luck, and have fun exploring winter!
[Squeaks squeaks]
[♪ OUTRO]