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Following the Ant Trail

Activity

Communication and Problem-Solving in Ant Colonies

Find an ant trail on the sidewalk, near a tree, or by the edge of the playground. Watch where the ants are going! Are they carrying food? Do they follow a straight line? Try gently placing a small object (like a leaf or stick) in their path and observe what they do. What happens when their trail is blocked?

Science Seed

Ants are social insects that live in colonies made up of workers, soldiers, and a queen. Worker ants search for food and bring it back to the colony, often by following invisible scent trails called pheromones. These trails help the ants move in a line and communicate with each other about where food or danger might be. When their trail is blocked, ants use their antennae to explore new paths, showing how they solve problems and adapt to changes in their environment.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

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join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.