Nature Swap Quest of the Month

Spring is here! As the weather gets warmer, it’s the perfect time to get out there and search for some of nature’s treasures.

If you’re new to Nature Swap, located in Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard, you can bring in natural “found” items such as rocks, shells, acorns and more. Each item is worth a certain number of points that can be exchanged for even more interesting nature-related items such as fossils, fancy shells, or unique and colorful rocks.

You can also earn some extra points by telling a Zoo staff member about your experience finding the item, what you know about it and presenting it in a cool and exciting way. Each month has its very own quest of the month that follows a special theme and an opportunity to add some big points to your collection.

In January, we celebrated the Chinese New Year and swappers took photos in front of the Zoo’s various species that fit each animal in the Chinese calendar such as the Komodo dragon, goats, and monkeys.

February, the focus was on Groundhog Day, and swappers had the chance to earn 5,000 points for sending in facts about groundhogs.

Each month also includes a new featured item to help give swappers motivation to get out there and discover new and unique wonders nature has to offer. In March, there were many opportunities to earn points and learn about wildlife at home and at the Zoo! This month we drew particular attention to the conservation of North American Songbird species as the Zoo actively participates in the Northern American Songbird SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program. For 5,000 points, Nature Swappers could bring in a photo or drawing of any songbird they saw as they explored the Zoo. Some of the species included: Downy woodpeckers, Black-capped chickadees, Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals.

March 3rd was also World Wildlife Day, an international celebration by the United Nations to bring attention to the world’s countless animal and plant species. For 5,000 points, swappers had the chance to document how they help their environment by cleaning up trash, installing bird feeders, and recycling.