Rugged Research: Great Lakes

Let them play! It's not frivolous, it's not indulgent... it's vital.

Raising the next generation of environmental stewards!

About time to get rid of your Halloween pumpkins? Try this natural craft the birds and squirrels will appreciate. (That is, if the squirrels didn't already eat your pumpkins like they did mine)

What birds haven't flown away for the winter? Here's some that have been spotted here this week.

Hooded Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-shouldered Hawk
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
Bald Eagle
Downy Woodpecker

What birds have you seen around the water or at your feeder this month?

"We have to develop a society that understands play, and the many good things it does for children's brains and minds." - Dr. Jaak Panksepp

"We have to develop a society that understands play, and the many good things it does for children's brains and minds." - Dr. Jaak Panksepp

Outdoor play is the ultimate occupation. There are numerous benefits -- especially when done with other children! 💕

Here is just one:

It optimizes volition. Outdoor play taps into a child's intrinsic motivation systems, setting up the brain for sensory integration (organization of the brain). Children will more likely to do hard things, overcome fears, regulate emotions, engage in new play scenarios, deal with conflict, and challenge themselves in other ways never anticipated or expected.

For example, a child that may not normally want to get dirty, may willingly walk into giant mud puddles when they see other children catching frogs. Another child that typically does not engage in construction or STEM projects in a classroom setting, may willingly build a forts with other children out in the woods. The list can go on and on....

That choice, that motivation to explore & play, can trump their fears, anxieties, apathy, disinterest, and more. As they continue to overcome challenges and test their limits in play, they get more and more confident and develop a strong sense of self.

Outdoor play is a priceless occupation. One that we must defend!

Petoskey stones, unique to Michigan, are the fossil remains of ancient coral. But, do you know what it looked like when it was ALIVE? Well, actually no one really does since this ancient rugose coral, Hexagonaria percarinata, has long been extinct. But there are corals alive today that are genetically related, such as the Zoanthus coral shown here.

Photos
(1) Petoskey stones, courtesy of University of Michigan
(2-5) Live corals, courtesy of

We use Michigan's wondrously diverse ecosystems as a giant, learning laboratory to help students fall in love with nature and science, and learn about the impact that our actions have on our environment!

Planting seeds of curiosity at career fair! Big smiles, big questions, and even a few cool fossils to explore. 🌱🔍

One of the most stunning beaches to find Petoskey stones in Michigan is none other than Petoskey State Park. Here you can spot 350-million-year-old fossilized corals with a clear honeycomb pattern...the classic look of the Petoskey...washed up along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The best time to look is right after a storm when waves bring fresh stones to the beach, but you can still find them year-round if you look close. Along with rock hunting, you can swim, walk the dunes, or relax on the wide sandy beach, making this park both a great beach day stop and a fossil hunter’s dream!