ecoEXPLORE: Science exploration with kid-friendly technology

Looking for a free, fun and educational activity to engage the kids in? Look no more.

With hundreds of locations peppered throughout south eastern North Carolina, the ecoEXPLORE science program developed by The North Carolina Arboretum o ers children ages 5-13 a unique way to have fun and stay engaged while promoting remote collaboration, encouraging children to explore the outdoors.

According to Charlie Zimmerman, ecoEXPLORE coordinator, participants can help professional scientists understand changes in the environment and

Story by Ena Sellers

see how these changes impact plants, animals and other natural resources by becoming citizen scientists.

The program combines science exploration with kid-friendly technology that encourages participants to take part in a special mission by submitting information that can be used by professional scientists.

Completing challenges allows children to obtain badges and earn points, to redeem prizes from echo meter bat detectors, microscopes, and binoculars to an iPod Touch.

“Kids can learn about our program and score extra points towards free eld tools of their own by observing nature,” said Zimmerman.

The ecoEXPLORE program is free to all children and families in North Car- olina. In Duplin County ecoEXPLORE HotSpots can be found at Farrior Park at Boney Mill Pond, Joann Cowan Brown Botanical Garden, Dorothy Wightman Public Library, and Cabin Lake County Park.

Participants can explore by visiting any designated ecoEXPLORE HotSpot like the Farrior Park at Boney Mill Pond to nd wildlife species, including plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds, and share their ndings.

“The HotSpot sign is located on the Little Trail Loop, but pictures of wildlife can be taken anywhere,” said David Bizzell, Wallace Parks and Recreation Director.

Kids can help scientists by taking notes and photos of any species and uploading their ndings through their ecoEXPLORE pro le. A er the data submitted is approved, the information is shared with the iNaturalist Network which is used by scientists. Participants may use their own electronic device or check-out one available from their ecoEXPLORE LoanSpot. According to Zimmerman, Dorothy Wightman Public Library is an ecoEXPLORE LoanSpot where kids can checkout a Discovery Backpack with ecoEXPLORE eld tools for free. All ecoEXPLORE HotSpot signs have a QR code that people can scan to see what others have been nding in that area.

“There are HotSpots all over the state,” said Bizzell. “Their website (ecoexplore.net) has a map that shows all of the HotSpots available.”

Children can earn three types of badges. Field Season for the beginner level, which is recommended for ages 5 to 7; Field Focus, which is the intermediate level and is recommended for children ages 8 to 10; and Event Mission, which is the advanced level for ages 10 to 13.

While the program is not exclusive to homeschooling families, according to Zimmerman, “many of these groups have been especially avid participants in the program given the highly-structured, age-growth-oriented, and multi-seasonal learning model.”

“Our project has just recently passed the milestone of sharing 50,000 observations to iNaturalist, a global citizen science platform used by researchers around the world,” Zimmerman added.

To sign up for the ecoEXPLORE program or nd out the di erent HotSpots and LoanSpots nearby, visit www. ecoexplore.net

~ GARRETT STRICKLAND