Posts Tagged With: education blog

Prickly

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Prickly

Today we are meeting a prickly animal who is the 2nd largest rodent in North America. Any guesses who it is?  Well let’s find out!

6CFDEA16-FD15-422E-AD46-FDEA250F933B

 

North American Porcupine Fun Facts:

  • Porcupine backs are covered in quills.
  • They can not throw my quills, but if a predator like a wolf tries to attack they can release the quills.
  • They have around 30,000 quills!
  • Quills are made of keratin, the protein that make up human nails & hair.
  • Porcupines are excellent climbers and swimmers.
  • These herbivores eat a variety of plants, bark, berries and roots.
  • When porcupines are born their quills are soft. They grow harder in just a few days.
  • These nocturnal creatures also give off a strong odor to deter predators.
  • Porcupines have a natural antibiotic in their skin to help protect them if they fall and accidentally poke themselves with their quills.

 

There are old world (Asia, Africa & Europe) porcupines and new world (the Americas) porcupines. All have those famous quills.

Categories: adventure, american, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Heading to the Moon?

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Heading to the Moon?

Did we get you? We are not heading to the moon, but we are meeting animal named the moonrat today. Let’s learn more about this animal with the funny name.

04C9D5D0-93E5-4B47-A46D-ECCD6BF96C26

Moonrat Fun Facts: 

  • Moonrats are not rodents, but actually relatives of the hedgehog. 
  • These insectivores are found in Southeast Asia and spend their nights foraging for food.
  • They have mostly white faces and grey bodies, but some individuals are all white.
  • They can grow to be up to 16 inches long. 
  • Fossils similar to the moonrat were found to be 16 million years old.
  • Moonrats produce a strong ammonia scent when threatened and when marking their territory.
  • They are solitary and highly territorial.
  • Moonrats are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome Back!

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Welcome Back!

ellie_edmund_professors-U-logo

We’re back at the University of E&E! We’re gearing up for a year of amazing animals! And we have a fantastic surprise to announce tomorrow! Next week we’ll get started back to full posts with two weeks of meeting some of the most amazing and unfortunately feared animals on the planet- snakes.

We had two students donate to orphan elephants to make those posts happen- so thank you! And hopefully after meeting these reptiles we’ll all appreciate them more!

Grab your supplies and let’s get ready to learn!

Categories: A, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We Hate To Say Goodbye

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

We Hate to Say Goodbye

It’s that time of the summer, when our campers pack up their trunks, gear, photos and get ready to go home. It’s such a bittersweet time. We sure have enjoyed sharing the ocean and all its inhabitants with you this year.

What was your favorite memory of camp? Who was your favorite animal?

Thank you for joining us this summer and we look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks at school!

EBFB0184-B506-4B03-BC48-CA0770ABDAC2

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Say Fish- We Say Tomato

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

You Say Fish- We Say Tomato

We’re meeting our last animal of Camp E&E today :(. Can you believe summer is nearly over? It has flown by! We’ll be starting the new year back at the University after Labor Day- so be on the look out for some great new friends!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

TOMATO ANEMONE FISH FUN FACTS: 

  • Like their famous relatives, the clownfish, tomato anemone fish spend most of their  time in the tentacles of an anemone.
  • The anemone protects the tomato fish from predators, while the fish provides the anemone leftovers of its food. This relationship is called symbiosis- mutualism.
  • Males are smaller than females and are bright red. The females tend be more black in color than red.
  • The most dominate fish is the largest female.
  • All anemone fish start out as males and will turn female when they need to.
  • These little fish only grow to 5 1/2 inches.

 

Anemone fish are the cutest little fish. It’s cool that they have a symbiotic relationship with anemones. We’ll be back tomorrow for our big send off at Camp!

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fishy has Red Teeth

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Fishy has Red Teeth

We’re meeting one of our favorite fish of the reef today! They are funny and crazy and yes- they have a red tooth.

A138C4D9-4681-4FD9-9CCF-D8B6ED8968FD

REDTOOTHED TRIGGERFISH: 

  • These blue- purple flat oval shaped fish our found in Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
  • They have tiny sharp red teeth.
  • Redtoothed triggerfish make grunt noises.
  • They can change their color depending on their mood, food or the quality of the water.
  • These cute fish use their dorsal and tail fins to swim. It is a very unusual swim style.
  • They mostly eat plankton, but are known to eat sponges, small fish and squid.
  • Females lay their eggs and guard the nest before they hatch.

 

We just love these funny fish and their little red teeth and cool swimming style! How about you?

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fishy Tang

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Fishy Tang

It’s the last week of Camp of E&E! We’re going snorkeling all week to meet some colorful reef fish! So pack your bags, we’re loading up on the big boat! Today we’re meeting a tang fish!

8406A911-D6B1-4ABC-878C-465671AA875A

 

POWDER BLUE TANG FUN FACTS: 

  • Powder blue tangs are members of the surgeonfish family.
  • Powder blue tangs are gorgeous! These flat oval shaped fish have blue, black, white and yellow colors.
  • They stay these colors their whole life.
  • Like other surgeonfish- they have a spine at the base of their tail that they can use for defense.
  • They are herbivores- eating algae off the reef.
  • They are diurnal.
  • Powder blue tangs are solitarily and territorial.

 

These are such gorgeous reef fish. Their relatives include the Royal Blue Tang (Dory from Finding Nemo) and yellow tangs who are popular in aquariums.

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s the Gong Show!

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

It’s the Gong Show!

Ok, it’s not the Gong Show, it’s the Wobbegong Show! The Wobbegong Shark Show that is!                 This is one of our favorite sharks! These masters of camouflage are so cool and funny looking- they’re like Muppet sharks- hehehehe!

Wobbegong Shark

 

Wobbegong Fun Facts:

  • The carpet sharks are found on the ocean floor.
  • Wobbegong comes from the aboriginal word for shaggy beard.
  • These carnivores eat octopus, crustaceans and fish.
  • They are ambush predators, who lay in waiting for prey to swim by.
  • The little whiskers are sensory barbs.
  • Wobbegongs are found in the Pacific & Indian Oceans.
  • Like other carpet sharks, wobbegongs have spiracles that pass water over their gills when they are resting on the ocean floor.
  • Wobbegongs are mostly nocturnal.

 

When we think of sharks, we think of the great white and that typical shape. But sharks come in all shapes and sizes. We love their diversity! Do you have a favorite shark? We hope you have enjoyed shark week here at Camp E&E!

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, oceans, science, sharks, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

That is One Big Shark

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

That is One Big Shark

We are meeting the biggest shark and the biggest fish in the ocean on the 3rd day of shark week! These spotty gentle giants are amazing and we’re excited to share more about them with our campers!

Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, at Daedalus in the Egyptian Red Sea.

WHALE SHARK FUN FACTS: 

  • These plankton eaters filter their food from the oceans, unlike most of their other shark relatives.
  • Whale sharks call tropical waters around the world home.
  • They are known to migrate to find good food sources.
  • The largest fish in the world can grow up to 40 ft long.
  • Like the mako shark, the whale shark is ovoviviparous. They incubate eggs inside and give birth to live young. They can give birth to several hundreds of pups.
  • Whale sharks are covered in spots and each shark’s spots have a unique pattern.
  • Scientist use those spot patterns to ID individuals and study their populations.
  • These giants are listed as ENDANGERED by the IUCN.

 

Whale sharks are thought to have been swimming the world’s oceans for around 60 million years. They weren’t discovered by humans til the 1800s! Because they are popular to swim with in the wild, they are more valuable alive than dead (or for meat). In most places they are protected, which is great, because we couldn’t imagine the oceans without them.

 

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, sharks, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Built for Speed

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Built for Speed

We’ll be meeting some excellent species and of course our friend Chompy will stop by! Make sure you check out our Instagram for some fun videos and extra pictures! Today we are meeting one of the fastest sharks in the ocean- the shortfin mako! Let’s learn more about this speed demon!

F2815DB5-D3C4-4614-BCF3-D9689798D7BD

SHORTFIN MAKO FUN FACTS:

  • These sleek sharks are found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide.
  • They can grow up to 12 feet and weigh up to 1,200 lbs.
  • Shortfin makos can swim up 45 mph, making them the fastest shark in the oceans.
  • They are also known for their ability to leap out of water.
  • These carnivores primarily eat boney fish- like tuna. They are apex predators and have no natural predators.
  • Makos are migratory and some individuals are known to make year long migrations.
  • They have a special blood vessel system that helps them keep their body temperature higher than the surrounding water- allowing them to hunt in cold waters.
  • Makos give birth to live young, but they are ovoviviparous- the eggs incubate inside the female and the young feed off any unfertilized eggs.

F76BAF15-CA4A-44FC-88E2-C950535D9433

These fast predators are listed at VULNERABLE by the IUCN. They are fished for their meat and for their fins. When an apex predator such as the mako is removed from its ecosystem it can be disastrous. To learn how you can help sharks like the mako, check out Shark Savers. 

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, camp, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, sharks, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.

%d bloggers like this: