Nature Swap
Have you found a unique and colorful geode? Did you stumble
crabs are not
upon a well-preserved fossil? Then head on over to the
accepted either; they
Nature Swap at the Big Backyard between 12:00 - 3:00 pm on
are highly valued in
Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays. Kids can bring in cool finds
the biomedical industry
they’ve discovered in the wild and trade them for a similar item
and a permit is required
at the swap. While it is an exciting and educational experience,
to remove them from their
the swap’s emphasis is less on the actual items themselves and
habitat. The final rules are that
more on children’s engagement, enthusiasm, and experience.
only two items can be traded at a time
The program’s goal is for families to spend more time outside together, for kids to get excited about wildlife and to create profound experiences connected to the environment. Not only are items found in the wild accepted, but also nature-oriented
and no items from domestic animals or pets such as a bunny’s fur or a pet snake’s skin. Besides those specific items, please feel free to jump into nature with your family and see what you can find!
artistic and creative items such as arts & crafts, journals,
With this program, the possibilities of learning and discovery
photos, etc. In addition, the program also holds monthly
are endless. Many people would be surprised as to what
“quests” that can be completed for a maximum of 5,000 points per quest. This allows kids to save up and trade their points for a bigger prize, such as a 50,000-point fossil.
treasures, species and other natural wonders lay hidden all around us right in our backyards. Through the activity of searching and collecting, children can build a lifelong
However, there are a few rules to the swap. Firstly, they
appreciation for exploration and the environment. An average
cannot accept anything collected from birds or turtles because
wooded area near your house, or a park in your neighborhood,
of the Migratory Birds Act, Eagle Act and the wood turtle’s
can go from seeming like any other ordinary place to a
conservational interest in Rhode Island. This might make taking
biodiverse and rich area that’s teeming with flora, fauna, and
bird or turtle items illegal, especially if most people don’t know
natural history. Most importantly, the fond memories created in
the difference between species of birds or turtles. Horseshoe
the process is what will truly tie the experience together. 8
