At press time, Dallas, as are many other places right now, is in a declared state of emergency. With schools closed, hobbies halted, and traveling restricted, here are a few suggestions of new things to try.
To stimulate young (and old!) minds about hunting, wildlife and science:
- Skype a Scientist
- Virtual programs and videos from zoos and aquariums (Houston, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Diego, Cape May, etc.)
- Virtual tours and videos for places with unique wildlife such as Great Barrier Reef, Galapagos Islands, the world’s largest cave in Vietnam
- Virtual tours of science museums such as Smithsonian, History of Science Museum, London’s Natural History Museum
- Virtual tours of National Parks, check out your favorite park or try Google’s Hidden World of National Parks
- Simple science experiments such as a vinegar-baking soda volcano, watch vinegar dissolve an egg’s shell, or adding food coloring and vinegar to a lemon.
- Read past issues of Camp Talk and Game Trails, and maybe even write about a hunting or outdoor experience of your own!
- Catch up on “DSC’s Trailing the Hunter’s Moon” and “DSC’s Tracks Across Africa.”
- Find a landscape picture from a hunt you enjoyed, share the story with a loved one or try to recreate with a different medium such as paint or sketching.
- Google hunting apparel in different centuries and decades around the world, and maybe inspire a dress-up game. (Not for the faint of heart, look up the Siberian bear hunt suit from the 1800s).
Remember, there are a bunch of resources out there! If you want to take a break from media and screens, this is a good time to clean all your firearms, dust your taxidermy, and go through your hunting equipment. Or head to the lease and clear out that brush that you’ve been meaning to do.
