Nature Net News

Calendar of Events

January 2007
Ice

“In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night,
thousands of stars were constantly appearing,
and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, 
began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus

What to Do This Month:
Look for icicles on eaves of buildings.

Test your skills at ice fishing.

Find out if the ice on your local pond or lake is safe to walk on.

Try a fun experiment with ice cubes.

Request or pick up a Winter Nature Passport and get out there and explore!

Check out the Nature Net Calendar of Events for fun family programs.

Tricks of the Trail for Parents:
Forestall Frostbite
Days of outdoor fun need not be thwarted by frost nip or more seriously, frost bite.  With a little planning ahead and knowledge, your little ones will enjoy their romp in the outdoors while keeping warm and safe.  First, be sure to dress your child in layers of outerwear designed to keep the skin dry; and have them stop inside for brief warms-up through-out their playtime.  Second, know the signs of frost nip, including white, numb skin that feels stiff to the touch (while the tissue underneath is still warm and soft).  If your child suffers frost nip, bring him indoors immediately, remove all wet clothing and gently warm the affected areas with warm (not hot) water. Find out more about preventing and treating frost nip and what to do if it develops into frost bite from KidsHealth.org

Instant Outdoor Expert:
Why Ice Floats
Good old H₂O - water.  Made up of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms, water can also be written as H-O-H to indicate where the bonds between atoms occur. Water molecule bonds are called covalent, meaning pairs of electrons in the outer shell of each atom are shared, creating a fairly strong bond. With this structure, the oxygen atom in the middle "shares" less, leaving both hydrogens slightly positively charged. Because of their positive charge, the hydrogens are attracted to anything negatively charged - including the oxygen atoms in other water molecules. But this time the attraction is a weak hydrogen bond which can be created and broken over and over again - especially in water in a liquid state.  (Take a peek at a diagram of a water molecule on the Biology Project website).
As the temperature drops and thermal motion slows, however, those weak hydrogen bonds become more ordered and each water molecule bonds to four other water molecules, creating a well defined structure - sometimes called a lattice structure. Well, the amazing part of all this is that lattice structure takes up more space than if the molecules were allowed to tumble around each other. And because it takes up more space, it's less dense - and therefore floats on water.
We're indeed very lucky that water's properties function as such considering life on Earth would be quite different if ocean and lake water froze and sank, filling our waterways with layer upon layer of ice. It's increasingly amazing considering water is one of only a few of the 15 million known chemical substances to become less dense with freezing.

You may be interested in finding out more about water structure and some of the other useful and remarkable anomalies of water now that you have a greater appreciation for that floating wonder in your drinking glass. 

Eco-Exercise:
Skating Away
Take advantage of the ice-creating temperatures this winter and take a spin at a local ice arena - or if the ice is thick enough, on the nearest pond or lake. Before you hit the ice, take the time to warm up: first, walk around in your skates to get a feel for how to maneuver on the thin blades.  Next, try some squats. Stand up straight with your arms out in front of you and your legs shoulder width apart.  Now, squat down so your knees slightly bend.  Repeat 3-4 times and try again, dipping deeper into the squat. Now you're ready to get on the ice. Put your arms out for balance (as if you're on a balance beam) and stand with both blades facing the same direction. Now, loosen your ankles and turn your feet in (pigeons-toed) and bend your knees - just like you did in your squats.  You'll start to move forward as your feet separate.  Once they're hip width apart, bend your knees more and pigeon-toe again.  You're doing the "Forward Swizzle".  Keep practicing and don't be afraid of falling.  Swizzle away! Find more beginner ideas at WikiHow.com.

Featured Nature Net Site

Nature Craft

Dane County Parks
Year-round recreational opportunities abound throughout the Dane County Park System. Whether you enjoy fast-paced physical fun or quiet enjoyment, Dane County Parks offer you countywide locations for quick get-aways from urban settings and offer custom-built recreational facilities amid splendid natural beauty. Imagine all you can do year-round throughout the Dane County Park System.

Winter can be one of the most exciting times of the year. Miles of specially groomed trails winding through dense woodlands, rolling hills and open meadows provide snowmobilers or cross-country skiers with boundless views and ideal conditions. Smooth, white blankets of snow contrast with the diversity of structural shapes, bark colors and textures of trees and shrubbery. Winter is an ideal time for following animal tracks in freshly fallen snow, for quiet walks, ice fishing, or observing winter birds, wildlife and plants. 

Contact the County Park Office for additional information on winter prgrams:
24-Hour Information Line - 608.242-4576
Office - 608.246-3896
E-mail dane-parks@co.dane.wi.us

Find which park is right for you to visit today with this searchable list of park features.

Frozen Wreath
Are you looking for a fun winter craft that when finished not only looks great in your yard, but provides your neighborhood birds with a snack? If you are, read on.

Find a spot outside where you can work and then take a lid from a catering tray, maybe one from your birthday party or your sister's graduation. Then, take a butter tub filled with sand or dirt to weigh it down.
Put the heavy butter tub in the center of the tray lid, so when the ice wreath is frozen it will have a hole in the center.
Next, take some twigs and arrange them in the tray lid so they extend out from the rim. This looks great when it's finished and will give the birds a place to perch when your wreath is frozen.
Then, take some cranberries and sprinkle them evenly around the lid.
Finally, fill the tray with water and let it freeze.
And, Voila! You've made an ice wreath. Now you can find some twine or a ribbon, tie it around your wreath and hang it from a tree. The birds will perch on the twigs and as the ice melts, they get to eat the berries. Give it a try. It's easy.

(Nature Craft provided by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' EEK! website.)

Learn about other Nature Net sites

Nature Craft Archives

"Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here" by Jean Craighead George (ages 2-8)

"Winter Eyes" by Douglas Florian (ages 2-8)

"It's Winter!" by Linda Glaser (ages 2-8)

"Snowflake Bentley" by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (ages 4-8)

"Winter Day Play!: Activities, Crafts, and Games for Indoors and Out" by Nancy F. Castaldo (ages 4-8)

"The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story" by Neil Waldman (ages 6-8)

"The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ages 6-12)

"Ice Drift" by Theodore Taylor (ages 9-12)

"A Kid's Winter EcoJournal: With Nature Activities for Exploring the Season" by Toni Albert (ages 9-12)

"Winter Moon (Seasons of the Moon, Vol 2)" by Jean Craighead George (ages 9-12)

Find Family events on the Nature Net Calendar of Events

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