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Please check back as we continue to build this resources page! If you have suggestions for resources you would like us to share with the community, please e-mail JuricaSuchyMuseum@ben.edu.
Click on the links below to connect with the various new museum virtual resources:
-Museum podcast "Out of the Discovery Box" with new episodes monthly.
-Museum YouTube Channel with educational videos highlighting the museum collections.
See more details on our Visit the Museum page.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center: http://willowbrookwildlife.org/~willow34/coyotes-foxes/
Living with Wildlife in Illinois: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/directory.cfm
Fact Sheets: http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/cougars.html
Wildlife Ecology & Fact Sheets: http://wildlifedamage.uwex.edu/
For information on Climate Change please visit these links:
animalia project: http://animaliaproject.org/climate/
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: http://www.naturemuseum.org/nature-and-science-in-action/citizen-science
Chicago Community Climate Action Toolkit: http://climatechicago.fieldmuseum.org/toolkit-workshops
Chicago Climate Action Plan: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/
NASA - Climate Facts: https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/
Global Climate Change: https://climate.nasa.gov/
Climate Science: https://www.ucsusa.org/climate/science
Climate News: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/after-40-years-researchers-finally-see-earths-climate-destiny-more-clearly
PLT Teaching About Climate Change: https://www.plt.org/news/teaching-climate-change/
WWF Effects of Climate Change: https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-climate-change
Project Budburst: http://budburst.org/
Project Squirrel: http://www.projectsquirrel.org/
Project FeederWatch: http://feederwatch.org/
Habitat Project: http://habitatproject.org/index.html
Xerces Society: http://www.xerces.org/citizen-science/
Illinois Odonate Survey: http://www.illinoisodes.org/
Illinois River Watch: https://illinoisriverwatch.org/
animaila project: http://animaliaproject.org/citizen-science/
FrogWatch USA: https://www.aza.org/frogwatch/
mPING: https://mping.nssl.noaa.gov/
Bird Watching HQ: https://birdwatchinghq.com/
Project FeederWatch Cams: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/cornell-lab-feederwatch/
Illinois Peregrines, Field Museum: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/science/special-projects/illinois-peregrines/illinois-peregrines-webcams
Audubon Bird Cams: https://www.audubon.org/birdcams
Yosemite Wildlife Cam: https://yosemite.org/webcams/yosemite-falls/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhd-5hOGw6QIVEorICh06gw6oEAAYBCAAEgKn5PD_BwE
National Park Service - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Webcams: https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
National Park Service - Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska Webcams: https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Zoo Webcams
Indianapolis Zoo Cams: https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/webcams/
San Diego Zoo Cams: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
Dublin Zoo Cams: https://www.dublinzoo.ie/animals/animal-webcams/
International Wolf Center Cams: https://wolf.org/wolf-cams2/
A Kid's Guide to Gardening: https://www.kremp.com/kids-guide-to-gardening
Garden Activities: https://kidsgardening.org/garden-activities/
Gardening With Kids: https://www.planetnatural.com/gardening-kids/
Sensory Gardens: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/resources/info-sheet/plants-for-a-sensory-garden
Plants for Sensory Gardens: https://www.flowerpotman.com/sensory-gardens-at-home/sensory-garden-plants/
Kid's Vegetable Garden Ideas: https://gardentherapy.ca/fun-and-educational-kids-vegetable-garden/
How to Make a Kid's Vegetable Garden: https://montessorirocks.org/vegetable-garden-for-kids/
Gardening with Children: https://www.buyrope.co.uk/kids-gardening/
Looky Buckets: https://thefisheriesblog.com/2020/06/15/summer-craft-idea-looky-buckets/
Audubon for Kids: https://www.audubon.org/get-outside/activities/audubon-for-kids
A Parent's Guide to Nature Play: https://naturalstart.org/feature-stories/parent%E2%80%99s-guide-nature-play
Nature Play Spaces: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kids-and-Nature/Nature-Play-Spaces
60 Nature Play Activities: https://theimaginationtree.com/60-nature-play-ideas-for-kids/
Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids: https://www.natureplaywa.org.au/resources/fun-outdoor-activities-for-kids
kidspot Nature Play Collection: https://www.kidspot.com.au/things-to-do/collection/nature-play
NAAEE Nature-Based Preschool Guidebook: https://naturalstart.org/nature-based-preschool-professional-practice-guidebook
Project Learning Tree - Activities for Families: https://www.plt.org/activities-for-families/
Northern Illinois Nature Preschool Association: https://ninpa.org/
Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools: http://www.erafans.org/
Sustainability at Benedictine: http://www.ben.edu/sustainability/
Conservation Foundation: https://www.theconservationfoundation.org/
Sustain DuPage: https://sustaindupage.com/
12 Ways to Live More Sustainably: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/live_more_sustainably.html
Green Eco Tips: http://www.globalstewards.org/ecotips.htm
How to Make A Worm Compost Bin: https://naplescompost.com/how-to-make-your-own-worm-composting-bin/
Composting at Home: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
Water Footprint Calculator: https://www.watercalculator.org/how-to-save-water/
Water Saving Tips: https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/water-saving-tips
Organic Lawn Care: https://www.planetnatural.com/organic-lawn-care-101/going-organic/
Organic Lawns: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/lawns/21015220/tips-for-a-lush-organic-lawn
Native Landscaping: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/landscaping_native_plants
No-Mow Movement: https://www.ecowatch.com/lawns-environment-sustainable-landscaping-2052211381.html
Xeriscaping and Xerogardening: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/library/spotlight/xeriscaping
10 Home Items to Reuse Over and Over: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/home-items-you-can-reuse-over-and-over-again/
100 DIY Crafts to Repurpose and Reuse: https://www.diyncrafts.com/6081/repurpose/100-ways-repurpose-reuse-broken-household-items
Upcycling in the Garden: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/a30387007/upcycling-ideas-garden/
17 Upcycled Garden Ideas: https://recyclenation.com/2015/05/17-upcycled-garden-ideas/
GreenPlanet4Kids Comics: https://greenplanet4kids.com/
Environmental Science: https://www.environmentalscience.org/sustainability
Home Water Conservation: https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/blog/home-water-conservation/
How to Save Water at Home: https://www.aquatell.ca/pages/how-to-save-water-at-home-for-adults-and-children
45 Sustainability Resources to Know: https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/45-sustainability-resources/
How Do Solar Panels Work?: https://solarcalculator.com.au/how-do-solar-panels-work/
Eco-Friendly Guide to Finances and Saving: https://www.moneygeek.com/financial-planning/environmentally-friendly-finance-and-saving/
Ecoinclusive: https://www.ecoinclusive.org/
iDigBio Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Reading List: https://www.idigbio.org/content/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-reading-list-special-emphasis-natural-sciences-and-natural
Finding Carl Cotton: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/finding-carl-cotton#:~:text=Carl%20Cotton%20(1918%E2%80%931971),knew%20almost%20nothing%20about%20him.
George Washington Carver: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver
Harriet Tubman, an Unsung Naturalist: https://www.audubon.org/news/harriet-tubman-unsung-naturalist-used-owl-calls-signal-underground-railroad
5 Black Environmentals and Adventurers You Should Know: https://natureforall.global/blog/2018/2/27/5-african-american-environmentalists-and-adventurers-you-should-know-about-this-black-history-month
10 BIPOC Environmental Authors: https://www.wastefree.earth/post/10-bipoc-environmental-authors
Dr. Joe Lee: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/news/park-superintendent-recognizes-first-african-american-naturalist.htm
Celebrating Black Environmentalists: https://sfenvironment.org/article/celebrating-black-environmentalists-during-black-history-month
10 Outdoor Books by BIPOC Writers to Expand Your Perspecive: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/outdoors-books-and-poetry-by-bipoc-authors
Earth Matters - 7 Books by Women: https://nyacknewsandviews.com/2020/09/earth-matters-7-books-by-women-about-nature/
500 Women Scientists: https://500womenscientists.org/
10 Women in Science You Should Know: https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/27/world/women-in-science-you-should-know-scn/index.html
Women in Space: https://www.space.com/16143-women-space-firsts-gallery.html
BIPOC in the Great Outdoors: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/black-indigenous-poc-outdoor-collectives-nonprofits-instagram
Whose Land: https://www.whose.land/en/
Breaking Down the Lack of Diversity in Outdoor Spaces: https://nationalhealthfoundation.org/breaking-down-lack-diversity-outdoor-spaces/
10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know: https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/ten-black-scientists-that-science-teachers-should-know-about-and-free-resources
Why is it Important to Amplify the Work of BIPOC Scientists: https://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/community-building/theme-j/why-it-important-amplify-work-bipoc-scientists-and-how-can-i-do-it
Making History: African American Pioneers of Science: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/black-inventors-and-pioneers-of-science
22 Multicultural Children's Books for Earth Day: https://coloursofus.com/multicultural-childrens-books-earth-day/
The Animal Database: https://www.wirefence.co.uk/animal-databases/
JSNM Specimen Database (hosted by Arctos): https://arctos.database.museum/home.cfm
Global Biodiversity Information Facility: https://www.gbif.org/
Natural History Museum (UK): https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data.html
Smithsonian NMNH Collections: https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/
American Museum of Natural History: https://www.amnh.org/research/paleontology/collections/database
Florida Museum Natural History Collections: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/collections/databases/
San Diego Natural History Collections: https://www.sdnhm.org/science/paleontology/resources/collection-database/
Berkeley Natural History Museums: https://bnhm.berkeley.edu/informatics/collection-databases/
vPlants Database (Chicago Region Virtual Herbarium): https://www.vplants.org/portal/index.php
JSNM Podcast "Out of the Discovery Box": https://anchor.fm/jsnm
Podcasts for Bird Watchers: https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/podcasts.php
American Birding Podcast: https://www.aba.org/podcast/
Urban Wildlife Podcast: http://www.urbanwildlifecast.com/
The Casual Birder Podcast: https://casualbirderpod.libsyn.com/
Eyes On Conservation: http://wildlensinc.org/film-projects/eyes-on-conservation
Out and About - Kane County: https://anchor.fm/forest-preserve
On Saturday, January 31, 2015 the Director/Curator of the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, Karly Tumminello, co-presented at the Wild Things conference with Susan Ask, Founder of animalia project, and Mike Redmer, a Senior Biologist of USFWS.
Their presentation, "Bears, Cougars, and Wolves, Oh My!... Adapting to Life with Large Carnivores in Chicago's Urban Wilderness" looked at the current trends in these three species returning to the Midwest region, where they were previously extirpated from during the 1800's.
Key take-aways from this talk:
1) Sightings of black bear, cougars and wolves will remain infrequent in the near future. Generally, young males may move through our region looking for suitable habitat and food resources (such as the white-tailed deer).
2) The fact that these animals are looking for suitable habitat in our region speaks to the successes of collective and continued conservation efforts. Restoration projects have successfully increased biodiversity in many ways.
3) These creatures generally avoid all contact with humans. However, there are measures we as humans need to take to ensure we do not inadvertently attract these animals. This includes things like securing trash cans, taking in bird feeders at night, and not leaving our pets outdoors unattended.
4) It may be challenging to identify an animal, especially if seeing it for the first time. There are many key characteristics to look for which may help distinguish between similar species. If at a safe distance, you could try to get a photograph to submit to an expert for confirmation.
Report any unusual wildlife sightings here: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/sightings.cfm
If you have any questions or comments, or are interested in assisting in our on-going efforts to educate the public about large carnivores in the Chicago Wilderness region, please e-mail JuricaSuchyMuseum@ben.edu.
Mazes
Word Searches
Note: Museum worksheet packets are free and available by request. The worksheet packet does not included any of the worksheets listed above. There are 2 packets available and are designed for two age groups: Pre-K - 1st grade and 2nd - 5th grade. See details on our Visit the Museum page.
To suggest new virtual resources, or to request printable PDF versions of any JSNM worksheet, please email us at JuricaSuchyMuseum@ben.edu.
The Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at Benedictine University is not affiliated with any of the above links or resources, and does not endorse or promote any information or sales of the associated materials. These resources are intended to assist educators and parents to connect children with environmental and natural interactions and educational experiences, as well as to promote life long learning in all ages. Parents and educators should screen any resources before sharing with their children. If you find any links are broken or any innappropiate material is found within any links (as links and content do change over time), please email us at JuricaSuchyMuseum@ben.edu so we can remedy the situation immediately. We are continuing to build out this page, so if you have suggestions, comments or ideas, please let us know! We hope you find that these resources help you further your understanding and appreciation of the world's natural and cultural diversity.