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Raccoon Hike

Activity

Smelling, Seeing and Scoping the Trail

Go on a walk, but do it the raccoon way: Walk on all fours (or hands and knees), and be very, very quiet. What do you see at this level that you never noticed before? What do you hear? You probably will not experience a raccoon on your hike, since they sleep in trees during the day and are most active at night. What do you smell? Look for things that might make a great snack for a hungry raccoon! Complete this activity with assistance in a confined space without any unsafe obstacles.

grey raccoon standing on hind legs looking up

A racoon standing on its back legs behind a tree

A child in striped sweater climbing on a large low tree branch

Science Seed

Raccoons are highly adaptable mammals and are considered opportunistic feeders. An opportunistic feeder eats many different types of prey and is able to adapt to whatever food becomes available. Raccoons are omnivorous animals (they eat plants and animals). They eat anything from fruits to nuts, including wild grapes, berries, and acorns as well as crayfish, insects, frogs, fish, and bird eggs. Raccoons have also adapted to eat trash and other food available in urban areas!

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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).

Explore Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Ecologist School Pocket Guide: TSBVI edition is a collaboration between Families in Nature and the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired as an effort to help our community learn more about the TSBVI campus, while getting outside into nature together! This booklet has 80 lessons across 16 different branches of science to help you play, learn, and volunteer on campus!

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.