Though dog sledding has been around for some time, with records dating back to the 10th century, dogs became a common form of transportation in the North thanks to the Gold Rush of the late 1800s. During the mid-1900s, races such as the Iditarod and Yukon Quest were developed to commemorate the important role dogs played throughout history. Continue the tradition at home. Learn the basic terms and commands to train your dog, build a sled and become a musher. Mushing creates a unique relationship between human and animal well worth the hard work it takes.
Bats have a bad reputation because of their long fictional history and mythical relationship to vampires. However, bats are truly beneficial creatures to have around, especially if you are growing a garden, as they eat the insects that could be harmful to plants and help pollinate flowers. Around the month of May, females begin looking for safe homes in which to have their pups. Help attract these useful mammals by building a bat box.
Measure out equal amounts of three kinds of birdseed. Fill three identical feeders, each with a different seed, and hang them in the same area. Over the course of a week, watch for birds and record both what type and how many eat from each feeder. After the week is over, carefully measure the amount of seed left in each feeder. Using the information gathered, determine which kind of birdseed was most popular and for which type of bird.
Get young children excited about nature by going out and exploring. During a stroll, look for clues about what kinds of animals have been there. Carry a basket and collect items such as feathers, snake skins and egg shells -- whatever might be available. Then get a photo album or scrapbook and attach the items, one per page. Below each item, write a brief description about what it is, what animal it was from, where it was found and so forth. The book may become a keepsake animal study that can be added to after every outdoor exploration.