Remember The Wild aims to inspire a reconnection to our environment. We want people to remember the wild and bring it back into their lives.
Over the next 30 days, we are going to be filling your social media feeds with challenges to get us all closer to nature and Australia’s great outdoors. Each day at 5:30pm AEDT, we will share the challenge for the next day, to give you time to plan your challenge. Take a photo of each challenge and upload it to Instagram or Twitter with the #RememberTheWild hashtag.
— http://www.rememberthewild.org.au/remember-the-wild-in-30-days/
Day 1: A simple walk around your neighbourhood is the easiest way to start getting in touch with the wild #RememberTheWild (10-Oct-2017)
It’s a bit of a no-brainer, but a simple walk around your neighbourhood is the easiest way to start getting in touch with the wild. Walking in natural environments relieves stress, gets the blood flowing and gives us time to notice the nature we share our home with.
Resources:
⛓ https://theconversation.com/why-a-walk-in-the-woods-really-does-help-your-body-and-your-soul-53227
⛓ http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/why-a-walk-in-the-park-could-change-your-life-20120318-1vec2.html
Day 2: Get down & explore a tiny patch of nature. Take it slooow. So many tiny lives go on unknown around us! (11-Oct-2017)
Try lying still amongst the grass or leaf litter, on a blanket if you like, watching the patch of ground around you. Changing your perspective like this makes it possible to observe the tiny lives going on all around you. You might also choose to watch a single bush or patch of bark, or even a patch of reef, seaweed or seagrass!
Every metre has something to share.
Take photos, draw or make notes of what you see and look them up in a field guide or online. Resources:
⛓ https://www.ala.org.au/http://www.seagrasswatch.org/Info_centre/Publications/Totally_Wild_Fact_Sheet_SEAGRASSMONITORING.pdf
Day 3: Discover a Nature Blog. (12-Oct-2017)
Discover a nature blog.
There are so many nature blogs worth checking out, it can feel hard to know where to start. Instead of being overwhelmed, have a think about what might be interesting to you.
Some focus on a particular species or group, others focus on a particular area. Still others give themselves space to comment on anything and everything nature and ecology! They might communicate through words, images, videos or podcasts. Why not sit down with a drink or a snack, inside or out and have a look for a blog you might enjoy following.
Here are a few we enjoy:
⛓ https://www.natureplaywa.org.au/blog, ⛓ https://geoffpark.wordpress.com/, ⛓ http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs, ⛓ https://ianluntecology.com/, ⛓ https://ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/, ⛓ https://canberranaturally.wordpress.com/
Day 4: Head outside and watch the skies. (13-Oct-2017)
Watching clouds roll by is one of life’s simplest pleasures. But did you know that you can understand a lot about the weather surrounding you by watching cloud behaviour, shape and colour. The art and science of cloud watching, nephelococcygia, has led to the description of countless species of cloud, each indicating different types of weather systems and pressure cells.
Find somewhere comfortable to sit or lie down and spend some minutes watching the sky. Then, have a look at the following links to see if you can identify some of what you saw.
Resources:
⛓ https://cloudatlas.wmo.int/appearance-of-clouds.html
Day 5: (14-Oct-2017)
Whether you call it bushwalking or hiking, the benefits of going out on the trail are countless. Exercise, touching nature, mental relief, time to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. We suggest you take a hike this weekend, in whichever way you feel. Walk a marked trail or go your own way. Add in an overnight stay at a campsite. Whatever you do, bushwalkers will tell you that you don’t know what you are missing until you experience it. An early morning walk will treat you with birdsong, walking a forest in the rain is pure magic.
Find your next bushwalk here: https://www.trailhiking.com.au/
Some of the benefits: http://www.thelifeofpy.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-hike
Walking solo is a favoured pasttime for many, but if you plan do to this, make sure you are well-prepared for your walk and tell someone of your plans. https://www.bushwalkingblog.com.au/why-i-hike-alone/
Day 6: Visit a native garden (15-Oct-2017)
Botanic gardens are fascinating, peaceful places to explore.
Did you know that all of Australia’s big botanic gardens feature extensive native collections? Pop in to your local botanic garden and find the native section. They might even have an indigenous garden, filled with plant species native to that area! Here you can gaze upon aeons of evolution and diversification, and learn all about what makes our Australian flora so unique.
Don’t forget to take a camera and some binoculars for all the native fauna you will come across. An interesting experiment can be to explore native and non-native sections of the garden and compare the diversity of animal species within each.
Resources:
⛓ https://www.anbg.gov.au/chabg/abg/index.html
Day 7: Why not #RememberTheWild in your own #naturediary? (16-Oct-2017)
Before we had cameras, we had paper and pencil. In fact, people have been recording nature since the first images were painted on walls in shelters and caves. Recording nature has been important across ages to help us understand the natural seasons and patterns in the world, and know when things have are changing. But nature journaling has remained popular because of the joy that can be taken from noticing the changes in the world around us, and giving time to appreciate and think about them.
Absolutely anybody can keep a nature diary. Whether you make notes or draw, nature journaling isn’t about artistic skill, it is about building skills in observation.
To help you get started, check out this beautiful guide by @paula.peeters , which is available in hard copy or free digital version here: https://www.paperbarkwriter.com/want-to-get-started-with-nature-journaling-this-little-guidebook-will-show-you-how/
Day 8: #RememberTheWild over the next 24 hours by taking your exercise outside! (17-Oct-2017)
Exercise is something we should all try to do just a little of every day – it’s great for your physical health and keeping diseases away, as well as lifting your mood and boosting your energy levels. Spending time outdoors with nature has very similar benefits for both physical and mental health, so imagine how good you’ll feel when you combine the two! Ditch the gym today and take your exercise outside. It might be a brisk walk or run around your neighbourhood, a yoga session in your backyard or a nearby park, a swim at your closest watering hole, or a cycle along a lovely green bike track, either way you’re bound to feel refreshed and reenergised afterwards.
Day 9: Show and Tell time! Find a nature treasure over next 24 hours. (18-Oct-2017)
It’s time for a bit of Nature Show and Tell! Over the next 24 hours, keep your eyes open for an interesting natural object. Maybe you have a chance to go for a walk and search your local park, bit of bushland, beach or back yard. Take a photo and share it with us, letting us know why you find it so interesting. Whether it is a curly leaf, an interesting rock, spider exoskeleton or whatever you may find, we want to know why it piqued YOUR interest! Try and enjoy it in its natural setting without having to bring it home, and make it something NEW from today or tomorrow.
Day 10: Get everyone involved in this one! #Cycling allows you to get further afield, faster, so you can #explore even more! (19-Oct-2017)
Cycling is a great way to explore the natural wonders around you, allowing you to cover ground more quickly and explore further afield. Check out a nearby bike track to follow or just see where the path takes you, or maybe even see if you can make a bike ride part of your daily commute to work. A hidden creek, a beautiful twisted old eucalypt, a sleepy tawny frogmouth – you never know just what you might discover along your path. Plus it’s free (just borrow a bike if you don’t own one), it has no negative impact on the environment, and it’s great exercise!
Resources:
⛓ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/cycling-health-benefits
⛓ https://www.railtrails.org.au/index.php
⛓ http://cycletraveller.com.au/australia/weekenders/five-best-rail-trails-in-australia
Day 11: Grab a torch and go looking for the little things you share your space with (20-Oct-2017)
Ever wondered how many invertebrates you share your surroundings with? As the evenings get warmer, this is a great time to investigate some of the minibeast activity around your garden. Turn on your porch light for a while, and see how many moths, flies and other insects and spiders accumulate there. Sweep a torch across the garden to seek out the eye-shine of spiders, and track them down to investigate. A lot of the invertebrates that spent the day sheltering under bark, like the iconic huntsman spiders, will now be out hunting prey. Minibeasts with soft bodies, like snails and slugs can make use of the gentler temperatures and humidity to roam gardens in search of food.
Resources:
⛓ http://www.backyardbuddies.org.au/explore/bugs-and-insects
⛓ http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4246
⛓ https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/08/this-is-how-to-find-the-spiders-that-are-staring-at-you-in-the-dark/
Day 12: Maybe not this w/end, but start planning an overnight or #weekender? (21-Oct-2017)
Time to #RememberTheWild
We know few people are able to just drop everything and go camping this weekend, but why not start planning a little overnight trip or weekender in the future? Nothing compares to falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of nature, and succumbing to the natural rhythms of the rising and setting sun.
Whether in a commercial campsite or completely off the beaten track, camping is a fantastic way to get out into the Australian environment and make some new connections to the land and its beings.
Have a gander at these great resources, and see if you can schedule one in in the not so distant future.
Learn how to camp here: ⛓ http://www.gocampingaustralia.com/
Find a spot here: ⛓ http://www.exploreaustralia.net.au/Stay/Campsites
Day 13: We want you to climb a mountain. Literally or metaphorically (22-Oct-2017)
For tomorrow’s #RememberTheWild challenge, we want you to climb a mountain. Actually or metaphorically, you decide. We want you to leave your comfort zone and do something that challenges you.
Maybe you want to join a rockclimbing, hiking or diving club, but have been too shy to get involved. You might be too shy to approach other birdwatchers and learn what they have seen. Perhaps you find it hard to go to the park or into nature on your own, or maybe you want to improve your fitness level so that you can take on longer hikes.
Whatever the challenge, let us know your goal and let’s inspire each other to get there. There are no time limits on this one!
Day 14: Dive into some #NatureFiction and see our world through others’ eyes. (23-Oct-2017)
#RememberTheWild through the eyes, minds and hearts of others in Day 14: Reading fiction helps to develop a person’s empathy and Theory of Mind (the understanding that other people have thoughts and beliefs that are different to our own). When reading nature fiction, the characters may be people, animals, plants, even rocks or the wind. Reading widely in this area allows us to see our world from other’s points of view, and learn how these are shaped by the natural world itself. It can also allow you to travel to beautiful places through descriptions and help you to understand the importance of place. To muse upon how the world has changed, what might be in the future and what it would be like without us. From Magic Beach by Alison Lester, to Storyland by Catherine McKinnon, pick up some nature fiction and delve deeper into what it is to be part of this world.
Day 15: Go #birdwatching! (24-Oct-2017)
Go bird watching! BONUS CHALLENGE: Take part in the #AussieBirdCount !
Birdwatching is one the most popular pastimes of naturalists the all over the world, and it isn’t hard to see why. Birds are easily the most visible fauna in urban landscapes and even the most common exotic species display interesting and charismatic behaviours. Heading beyond the city limits rewards those who look with countless new species.
Along with the excitement and enjoyment of watching birds, this hobby also trains attentiveness, observation skills and listening memory. For many, it is the gateway into a lifelong passion for natural history. You might just find it does the same for you.
Today’s challenge comes with a bonus element! Today is the first day of BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Backyard Bird Count! Pair your birdwatching challenge with some important citizen science by submitting your count or downloading the app here: https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/submit-a-count/ (scroll down for app). There are a couple of rules for the official bird count, so read these first here: https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/
And if you needed more encouragement, activities like birdwatching are good for your health: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing/watch-birds-and-be-in-nature-for-better-mental-health-20170307-gus9zb.html
Day 16: let’s all go #spotlighting!(25-Oct-2017)
Spotlighting is a great way to get out and catch up with the local nightlife! Whether watching possums and Tawny Frogmouths in Melbourne, bandicoots in the Hobart suburbs, or Bush Stone-curlews stalking around Darwin, wherever you live there is always lots to find after dark.
Simply grab a torch and a friend and step off your front step into the night. Hold your torch close to your face, pointing along your line-of-sight, or better yet, grab a headtorch! With the light directed this way, it is easier to pick up the eye-shine of wildlife looking back at you. Once you have found something, try and keep bright light directly off the animal, by dimming the light or moving it to the side of them. A bit of red cellophane across the torch can prevent nocturnal animals losing their night vision for the moments after you look at them.
Suburban parks are great places to look for nocturnal wildlife, and for the more adventurous, here are some tips for those looking to go further afield: …
Day 17: Tune in to your environment (26-Oct-2017)
Time to gear down for #RemembeTheWild Challenge #17! With the constant buzz of technology and traffic always in our ears, it’s easy to forget what the natural world really sounds like. So spend a few moments listening to it. Unplug your headphones, turn off your phone, and tune in to the nature around you. What can you hear? Trees and leaves rustling in the wind, birds chattering to each other, insects buzzing around you, rain drops hitting the ground? Take note of what you hear and try listening at a different time on another day, you might be surprised at how much the types and level of natural sounds change throughout the day.
Listening to the sounds of nature can help you relax, boost your mood and help you to concentrate at work, so slotting this into your routine even a couple of times a week could help you clear your mind and stay focused.
Day 18: introduce someone to a special place you love (27-Oct-2017)
This one really doesn’t need any explanation. Enjoy it 🙂
Day 19: Explore a whole new world underwater! (28-Oct-2017)
Not everyone lives close enough to a beach or clear enough waterway to be able to dive underwater, into a world completely foreign from our own. You don’t have to live by the Great Barrier Reef to come across enchanting scenes. Provided there is water, and good enough visibility, it is worth getting in!
To experience the underwater world, all you really need is a pair of goggles or a mask. Add a snorkel so you never have to take your eyes off it to breathe, or learn to SCUBA. It is literally a whole other world down there, and experiencing it can very quickly become addictive. We hope lots of people can partake in this challenge over the weekend, or at least commit to giving it a go over the summer. Tell us where you go and what you find!
NB: Snorkeling challenges your instincts, don’t be upset if you struggle to let yourself breathe through the pipe. Practice in a pool first or in the shallows at the beach. Most people find it hard to convince their bodies that it is ok to take a breath while their face is underwater.
Day 20: Let’s take the exploring in doors for a day at the museum! (29-Oct-2017)
This time, we’re taking the exploring indoors, to a natural history museum. Discover the collections at your own pace, understand the connections between species and learn how people over centuries have studied our wild surroundings.
Almost all the major museums in Australia’s capital cities feature natural history collections. Head in this weekend to check them out for yourselves, or see what you can find in your area.
Day 21: Discover a new park in your neighbourhood (30-Oct-2017)
Australians are pretty lucky when it comes to neighbourhood parks. Most suburbs have several, and #greenspaces are increasingly a part of urban design. Have you met all the parks in your area? We are willing to bet that you haven’t. Try to discover a new one in the next 24 hours and let us know what you find!
Day 22: Get to know the behaviour and biology of a local species (31-Oct-2017)
Knowing the wildlife we see from day to day helps to develop an affinity and stewardship for their lives and our wild home. Pick out an animal you see regularly around your area, perhaps even in your backyard, and sit down to do a bit of research. Use reference guides or the internet to learn about the animal’s behaviour, what it needs to survive and to breed, and other important facts about its biology. Learning these details may inspire further curiosity about the life of your backyard buddy, and others in the neighbourhood.
Check out this great community by the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to find an animal in your area.
⛓ http://www.backyardbuddies.org.au
Day 23: See if you can get #outdoors on your way to work tomorrow. (01-Nov-2017)
How do you normally get yourself to work? Train, tram, bus, car? You might be one of the lucky ones who live within walking or cycling distance from their workplace, but often we just want to get to work as quickly as possible, which usually involves very little time outdoors.
Tomorrow, see if you can change your regular commute slightly so that you can take a bit of time outside. You could walk to the train station, park a bit further away from your workplace than you normally would, or jump off the tram or bus a couple of stops early. Just make a small change that’ll allow you to take a stroll outside and get some fresh air into you, it’ll help you start the day with a clearer head.
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/925246752726302720
Day 24: Catch up with a mate (02-Nov-2017)
Plans to catch up with a friend this weekend? Why not take it outdoors. Take a picnic and wander down to your local park or botanical gardens, take your swimmers and head to a nearby beach or a river, go for a bike ride or stroll together, or just lay in the sun and read a book. Spending quality time with your pal outdoors will be relaxing, energising, and peaceful – trust us, you won’t regret it.
Day 25: Explore a rockpool (03-Nov-2017)
Rockpools are like little worlds. Within a single beach each one can hold a different group of life, depending on the size, shape and depth of the pool, and its position on the beach. Some are exposed for many hours of the day, others only exposed on the lowest of tides. Over larger scales, the type of rock from which the pools are formed, and the temperature of the water can alter the animals, plants and algae you can expect to find.
Rock pooling can be endless fun, but you have to be patient, and look closely. As you become familiar with the creatures in our rock pools, you will learn to look for a pair of antennae sticking out of a cave, the pattern in the sand of a fish or worm hiding beneath. Stay still for long enough, and all manner of things will emerge from hiding.
Have a look at these two resources. The first, from @ausgeo , will introduce some common rockpool faces, the second from Britain’s National Trust, will give some guidelines for rock pooling:
⛓ http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/01/18/3114813.htm
⛓ https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/rockpooling-guide-for-families
Importantly, remember to never stick your hand where you cannot see. Some of our rockpool life can inflict painful, occasionally deadly injuries. Finally, remember to explore gently, and to replace any rock or weed you disturb. It is better to wait for things to appear than to overturn every rock in a site and cause a major disturbance to the life beneath.
Day 26: explore a new habitat (04-Nov-2017)
Many of us can remember clearly the surprise and wonder of entering a distinctly different environment for the first time. For some this might have been setting foot in a mangrove. For others it might have been a desert grassland, an alpine bog or a tall eucalypt forest. Whatever it is and wherever you are, there is something really special about experiencing a new habitat and ecosystem, and seeing the amazing specialisations of the plants, fungi and animals there.
You don’t have to go far to discover a new habitat. Thanks to topographical features that create standalone microclimates, soils and substrates that favour specific groupings of plants, and relict habitats protected by reserves, little pockets of all sorts of environments occur within the wider landscape. It’s likely that within reach you have a new habitat waiting to be explored. It doesn’t have to be vast either! Some of the most fascinating communities and habitats form in unlikely places, like caves!
Day 27: plant a native (05-Nov-2017)
Here are some good reasons why you should spend a little time planting a native, whether on your own turf, or as part of a conservation project.
Plants which are indigenous to your area are better suited to the local climate, soil and other conditions, which makes them much easier to take care of. They will provide important structure, food and shelter for animal species that are indigenous to your area, helping to provide habitat networks, and bring more diversity to your garden. Read more here: http://treeday.planetark.org/about/why-native-plants.cfm
Taking part in planting natives for conservation is an incredibly rewarding and fun experience that gives back to nature and your community. Just listen to Leo’s experience here to be inspired: http://wildmelbourne.org/articles/nursing-a-green-thumb.
Day 28: Eat a meal outside (06-Nov-2017)
enjoy a meal outside. Developing a love, respect and custodianship for nature isn’t just about having amazing experiences. It’s also about spending more of our daily lives in natural surroundings and making it a bigger part of our lives. Spending more time outside allows us to notice the little things going on in the community around us. To note the subtle shifting light, or the sounds of the birds, insects and leaves. Take a meal outside and just appreciate being in the now with the life around you.
Here’s a bit of #inspo : http://wildmelbourne.org/articles/birding-in-the-backyard-counts
Day 29: Track a stream through your neighbourhood (07-Nov-2017)
Get out a map of your suburb and look around for some sort of waterway. Some areas will be thick with creeks and streams, while others may have none! Perhaps you will need to expand your search, or maybe you will discover a hidden creek that you never knew was just around the corner. See where it goes on the map, then try and intercept it and follow it where you can. A dedicated couple of hours with bike or car would make this the most fun, but even just popping down to one part of the creek will be interesting. While you are there, and as your travel along the waterway, take note of the vegetation, the wildlife and the state of the creek itself. Has it been converted into a concrete channel? Is it very weedy, or relatively native. Many waterways are supported by passionate, hardworking locals who put a lot of effort into restoring them. In some places the water might just disappear underground, or into someone’s backyard! As you travel along, note the changes and consider the impact we have had around the waterway, and the efforts made by local council, catchment management authorities, water managers and pollution regulators. You can look at their websites to find out what projects they are currently undertaking.
With the above considered, does the value of your weed-covered, muddy stream change for you? Is it important for you to have water nearby? What does it mean to have spent more time around this vital part of your environment?
Day 30: Appreciate an old giant (08-Nov-2017)
Remember The Wild has been live for 30 days, and we have absolutely loved how involved everyone has been getting in our launch campaign to reconnect people with nature. Today is the final day of this campaign, but we will be sharing a nature challenge every week to help us all re-engage with the wild.
So, for today’s challenge, we want everyone to appreciate an old giant. For this simple challenge, just take a seat beneath a great old tree and give yourself fifteen minutes (or more) to sit with the biodiversity it shelters and sustains. From the tiniest pollinator or detritivore*, across scales to the birds, mammals, reptiles and even parasitic plants that rely on big trees – these giants may look quiet, but they are full of life.
Enjoy it, and look for our next challenge in a week! Thank you to all our early supporters, we really appreciate you getting on board! *a detritivore eats dead organic material, helping to return decaying life to the earth.
Visible Procrastinations 