ordinary places, extraordinary investigations - chicago

Welcome, explorers! 🌿✨

Adventure is closer than you think—right outside your front door! This nature-themed scavenger hunt is your chance to discover the hidden wonders of your own neighborhood. From tiny insects buzzing in the grass to colorful leaves dancing in the breeze, nature is full of surprises just waiting to be found.

Grab your curiosity, put on your explorer eyes, and see what you can spot along the way. You might notice things you’ve never seen before, even in places you walk past every day. Remember, every great explorer takes their time, looks closely, and respects the world around them.

When you are out in the field observing and taking photos, practice these guidelines:

 Safety first!  Don’t get so involved in your project that you are not aware of passing vehicles, crosswalks, curbs and other objects in your path, and other people. 

Protect your privacy and the privacy of others!  Avoid taking photos with identifiable information! That means addresses, license plates, and other kids' faces.  Some people you encounter might wonder what you are doing.  Be prepared to explain to others why you are taking photos, making sure to be respectful and clearly explaining that it is purely for educational purposes.
 
Ready to begin your adventure? Let’s go explore! 🌎🍃🔍

Sometimes people use stones in their landscaping or gardens around homes and around businesses. These stones are called aggregate. They might use lava rocks, river stones, quartz, sandstone, or other types of rocks. You might need to do some research to find out how to identify these types.  River stones, for example, can usually be identified from their smooth surfaces from the action of water rolling these stones downhill over many years.  Lava stones are often brown or red with a rough surface; quartz is usually light in color and may look like a crystal.  Sandstone is often butter or tan colored and may feel sandy to the touch.  Can you find one of these “stone gardens”?  If you can, take a picture of the rocks and try to identify what kind of stones they are. If you can't find any, take a picture of a place where aggregate would be a good addition to your neighborhood, and think about what kind of rock you'd choose!

Types of stones

Find an interesting tree in this neighborhood.  Can you identify the species of this tree?  Can you estimate its height?  What would you say about the health or condition of the tree—would you say it is good, fair, or poor?  What might help the tree if it is in poor condition?  Does it need more water, or trimming, or something else?

Trees

What is the tallest tree in this area? Take a picture of it. Do you know what species it is? How tall do you think it is?

Tallest tree

 What is the land used for here?  Is it used for crops, grazing, for parks, businesses, or homes?  Would you say that the land here is urban, suburban, or rural?  Take a picture of what you consider to be the typical land use in this neighborhood.  

Land Use

Take a picture of the sky conditions today.  How would you describe the weather today—cloudy, windy, rainy, snowy, clear, or in some other way?  What do you think the weather will be like here 6 months from now, in another season?  See if you can do some research on the type of climate in this neighborhood and region.

Weather

Is any water visible here?  If so, in what form is it in?  It could be a puddle, a lake, a river, or something else.  Is the water from something in nature (such as a recent rainstorm, or melting snow, or a lake) or from something resulting from human action (a car wash, someone watering their garden)?   Take a picture of something that helps you answer this question about water. 

Water

What is a typical job that someone might have in this area?  In what type of environment do most people work in this area—fields, hospitals, schools, office buildings, small businesses, large corporations, or somewhere else? Take a picture of something that helps you decide what the answer is.  Can you determine what the overall employment situation is in this neighborhood?  We refer to this as the economic health of the area.  How healthy would you say the economy is, and what clues about the economy can you gather from your photograph?  Are some businesses boarded up, or are they all open?  Do some vacant lots look like they have been for sale for many years without a buyer?  Or are streets well kept and businesses open?

Jobs

How easy is it to walk around in this neighborhood?  We refer to this as walkability.  Do sidewalks or paths exist?  Are they safe, free from objects such as branches and potholes, and away from vehicles?  How would you rate the neighborhood on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the most walkable?   Take a picture of one of the sidewalks, where you are walking, or something else that helps describe the neighborhood’s walkability.

Walkability

What did this neighborhood look like when your parents were young, or when your grandparents were young?   25, 50, or 100 years ago? What clues do you have?  Take a picture of something that helps you determine the answer.   Think about:  What will this neighborhood look like 25 years from now?

The past

Natural hazards include floods, hurricanes, hailstorms, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more.  What might be the most frequent type of natural hazard here?   You might have to do some additional research.  Take a picture of any indication that gives you a clue.  

Hazards

What types of trails are in this area?  Are there only sidewalks? Take a picture of it as you are hiking/walking it.  Is your trail made of wood, dirt, asphalt, concrete, or something else?   Do you think more trails are needed? What sorts of things do you see on your trail?

Trails

What types of parks exist in this neighborhood?  Take a picture of one of these as you are exploring it.  What sorts of things can you do in this park?  Do you think more parks are needed?

Parks

What is the most interesting sign you can find in this area? It could be a sign describing a historical building, an interesting street name, or something else.  Why is it interesting?  Take a picture of it.  

Signs

What is the oldest home or building in this area?  Take a picture of it.  When do you think it was built?  What material was it constructed with—stone, wood, concrete, adobe, or something else?  What clues help you determine whether it is old?

Oldest home or building

Take a picture of the newest structure in this neighborhood.  What clues help you determine whether it is new?

Newest home or building

What changes are currently happening in this area? Take a picture of one of these changes.  It could be a new building, a new road, a new skateboard park, or something else. 

Change

Take a video of the most interesting thing that you can find in this area.  Why is it interesting to you?  

Most interesting

Can you find a historical marker in this area? Take a video of it.  What does the historical marker say?  If you can’t find one, where do you think a historical marker should be located in this neighborhood, and what should the marker say?

Historical Marker

Is the electrical power in this neighborhood delivered through overhead powerlines or underground cables? What clues do you have to tell you the answer?  Take a picture of anything to do with power that you can find—an electrical box, a powerline, or something else (being careful not to touch any electrical equipment).


Power

Can you find the local library or fire station in this neighborhood?  Would you say this is a small or a large library or fire station? 

Library or Fire Station

Can you find anyone working outside?  What sort of work are they doing—building something, repairing something, harvesting something, selling something?  Take a picture of the work if you can while avoiding taking a picture of the worker.

Workers

Do you think there are more older people in this neighborhood or younger people? What clues help you answer? It could be the presence of ramps into homes or businesses, retirement communities, apartments, playgrounds, or something else.  Take a picture of something that gives you a clue about age.

Can you find any trash in this area? Take a picture of it. What type of litter is it—plastic, aluminum, paper, organic material (sticks, for example), metal, or something else?  If you cannot find any trash, great!  Then take a picture of a litter free piece of ground.   Would you say the neighborhood has a litter problem or not?  What could be done about it?


Litter

What is your favorite thing in this area?  It could be a park, a store, a tree, or something else.  Take a picture of it. Why is it your favorite?  

Your favorite place

 Sometimes, we get a feeling about a neighborhood that is strong—either positive (good) or negative (bad).  Take a short video of something you think best captures the spirit or feel of the neighborhood.  Is it a good or a bad feeling?  Why do you think it captures the spirit of the neighborhood?

The “feel” of the neighborhood

Ordinary Places, Extraordinary Investigations - Chicago

ordinary places, extraordinary investigations - philadelphia

Ordinary Places, Extraordinary Investigations - Philadelphia

seasonal changes at duke farm nature and science center

Revisit the same spot at different seasons of the year, after weather events, or even at different times of the day.  What is the same?  What is different? Why?  I used this technique while I taught a GIS short course for conservation at the Duke Farm campus.

Duke Farms is a living lab located on 2,700 acres in Hillsborough, NJ.  A center for conservation science, visitors are immersed in a variety of nature experiences from birding to outdoor classes to field journaling.

Check the hours before you go. Trails are generally open Tuesday–Saturday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM and vary by season.

Begin your adventure at the Farm Barn!  Built in 1906 to house thoroughbred racehorses, the Farm Barn was later converted to a work dairy barn.  In 2012 it was renovated to LEED Platinum Standards, the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.   The Farm Barn contains many interpretive displays and a friendly staff waiting to help you make the most of your stay at Duke Farms.  Duke Farms is much more than a nature and science center.  It is a model of sustainability and education.   What is the most interesting thing you learned at the Farm Barn about the mission, plants, animals, or flowers of Duke Farms? 

What is the most interesting thing you learned at the Farm Barn about the mission, plants, animals, or flowers of Duke Farms? 

Find this spot on the trail. Take a photo and think about:
 (1)  What clues make it clear that this is a former railroad line?  
(2) Note the month in which you are taking your photo.  How does the vegetation, ground, and sky in your photo compare to how the trail looked in June and in January?
(3)  Have you visited other rail-to-trail lines?  Where were they, and which was your favorite?   For a listing and map, see:  https://www.railstotrails.org/united-states/ 

Former railroad, now a trail

If you visit Duke Farms, try to visit when the Orchid Range Greenhouse is open, and walk through it.  Situated less than a mile from the Farm Barn Orientation Center, the Orchid Range is home to nearly 2,000 orchids, encompassing approximately 1,300 varieties. The collection includes both tropical and subtropical species, reflecting the diversity and beauty of orchids from around the world.  

What is the most beautiful plant you saw there?  Why did you like it?  What color was it?  How large was it? For more, see:  https://www.dukefarms.org/orchid-range/ 

Orchid Range

What role does water play in a nature center such as this?  Consider that water bodies play an important role in flood control and provide a rich habitat for many types of species.  What species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, or macroinvertebrates favor the lakes, rivers, and wetlands in this area for their habitat?  Which species favor these water bodies for a stop along their migratory route?

Water Matters!

Fill in the blank:

One of the clues that tells you that this is one of the oldest oak trees in this area is how _______ its branches are.

Observe how different it looks between June and January, but also that the tree forges on, despite the weather.  Even in winter, YES - the tree is very much alive! 

This is a Northern Red Oak:   Species:   Quercus rubra, with a Circumference  of 212", a diameter  of 67", a height of  105', and a crown of  118'!  That is big!

Can you tell the difference between a red oak and a white oak? Squirrels can. They'll eat white oak acorns as soon as they find them, but bury red oak acorns over winter to mellow out the bitter-tasting tannins within.

Additional question for you to think about:  How old do you think this tree is?

A very old oak tree

Do you think the fountain was running in January?  What clues does the January picture give you?  What differences do you detect between June and January?

Fountains can improve water quality through aeration—increasing dissolved oxygen (DO) levels—which supports fish, breaks down bottom sludge, and reduces algae/odors. They also provide water circulation to prevent stagnation, disrupt mosquito breeding, and add aesthetic beauty.

A Fountain

These trees look much the same in June and in January.  What is the name for trees that do not shed their leaves?

Why do some trees not shed their leaves?

What changes can you detect between January and June on the floor of this shelter, and beyond the walls of the meditation garden shelter?

Meditation Garden Shelter

Find the Arch Bridge. Take a picture while standing on it.  Answer these questions:   (1)  TOWARDS what direction were the June and January photos taken ?  What clues do you have to determine this?   (2) Note the month in which you are taking your photo.  How does the bridge, vegetation, ground, and sky in your photo compare to how the bridge looked in June and in January?

Arch Bridge

What was the author doing in June at this point that the author was NOT doing in January?  Clue:  Look at the author's June protective gear!

The June Activity Here

Beyond the obvious differences that you can SEE, what sounds would you HEAR at this location in June vs January?  What smells would be in the air?  What sense do you have for the time of day when each of these photographs was taken?

Oak Way

Find the statue in the photographs. Take a photo and compare how it looks today, with how it looked in June, and January.

Statue in Former Hay Barn

Do you think the winter (January) picture was taken in the daytime or nighttime?  
Think about: The clues you have from the image that helps you answer this question.

Hay Barn Statues

This tree forms a canopy so complete that when you are inside its branches in June, it is like you are enclosed in your own "room".  What is missing from this tree in January?

This is a weeping beech tree.  In the June picture, you can really get a sense of the "weeping" part of the tree; its branches bow down from the top to the bottom. 

Canopy Tree

Ornithology, the study of birds, is a very important part of the mission of Duke Farms.  How many different types of birds have you seen so far on your visit here?  How many types of bird calls have you heard thus far?  Can you identify the species of any of these birds?  

Sometimes the bird boxes on the Duke Farms campus are good places to look for birds.   To learn more, see:  https://www.dukefarms.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FF-New-Jersey-Fall-and-Winter-Visitors.pdf and https://ebird.org/hotspot/L450417.  

Birds of Duke Farms

 What is the most important thing you learned from this adventure?

Please indicate, below.

One goal of eAtlas is to foster spatial thinking on the landscape using maps and geography.  For more, watch video from Joseph Kerski about Spatial Thinking and Spatial Technologies.

What is the most important thing you learned from this entire adventure?

In this activity, you examined seasonal change from summer (June) to winter (January).  What else could you examine using this same technique?

Some ideas are:  
(1)   Comparing morning, midday, sunset, night. 
(2)  Comparing different kinds of clouds, and cloudy vs. sunny days.
(3)  Comparing an area before vs after a hailstorm, windstorm, or snowstorm (see video below for an example).
(4)  Comparing an area before vs after a development project that creates a park, building, trail, street, powerline, or something else.

Indicate your favorite idea from the list above, or even better, come up with your own idea!

See the map and the video for an idea - before and after a snowstorm on the coast of Maine!

What else could you examine through photographs that you take in the same location?

Reflect on the seasonal changes of on the grounds and trail

Seasonal Changes at Duke Farm Nature and Science Center

Regresa al mismo lugar en diferentes estaciones del año, después de fenómenos meteorológicos o incluso a distintas horas del día. ¿Qué se mantiene igual? ¿Qué cambia? ¿Por qué? Utilicé esta técnica mientras impartía un curso intensivo de SIG para la conservación en el campus de Duke Farm.

Duke Farms es un laboratorio viviente ubicado en 2700 acres en Hillsborough, Nueva Jersey. Como centro de ciencia de la conservación, los visitantes se sumergen en diversas experiencias en la naturaleza, desde la observación de aves hasta clases al aire libre y la elaboración de diarios de campo.

Consulta el horario antes de ir. Los senderos generalmente están abiertos de martes a sábado, de 8:30 a. m. a 4:30 p. m., y el horario varía según la temporada.

Reflexiona sobre los cambios estacionales en los terrenos y senderos.

Cambios estacionales en el Centro de Naturaleza y Ciencia Duke Farm

ordinary places, extraordinary investigations - san francisco

Ordinary Places, Extraordinary Investigations - San Francisco

johnson reservoir colorado

Explore the plants, water, history, and setting of Johnson Reservoir in southwest Denver Colorado with this scavenger hunt based adventure game! 

What's your favorite thing about this park--Clement Park?

Your Favorite Thing

What type of clouds were present WHEN THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN?   While you answer, think about how these clouds are different from the type you see TODAY.  Think about how the Rocky Mountains in the distance affect cloud formation and cloud type throughout the year.

What clouds are these?

How would you describe the depth of water in Johnson Reservoir on the day this photo was taken?  High, Medium, or Low?  Think about:  What factors influence the depth of the reservoir at any given time during the year?

Reservoir Depth

Do you like items like this placed on the natural landscape or would you prefer that none are placed in natural landscapes?

Art or Junk?

Who designed Clement Park?  Think about:   What things had to be done to the natural landscape to turn it into a park and a reservoir?

Who designed Clement Park?

If you had the money, who would you like to dedicate a bench like this to?  Where would you most like to have that bench located?  Why?

Dedication on Bench

How many activities that people are enjoying on the reservoir trail can you identify?  It could be skateboarding, rollerblading, bicycling, walking, jogging, or something else.   

What activities?

What is this object for?  Think about:  Is this a good location for such a service?  Have you ever seen one in your own neighborhood?  

What is this object for?

Can you find any litter along the walking route?  If so, is it glass, plastic, animal, paper, aluminum, or something else?   Think about:  Are more recycling bins or trash receptacles needed?  Do you think litter is a problem at Johnson Reservoir? Do you think litter is a problem in your own neighborhood? In other neighborhoods?  Have you ever been involved in a school or neighborhood clean-up effort?

Can you find any litter?

What is your favorite time of day to be in a park?  It could be sunrise, morning, midday, afternoon, sunset, or even nighttime.  Why is it your favorite time?   Does your favorite time of day change with the seasons?  For example, do you most like to be out in summertime at sunrise, but in the autumn, at sunset?

Favorite Time of Day

What do you think these workers near the reservoir are repairing?   Think about:  What things in a park need regular maintenance?  Would you like to have a job in a park?

People Working

What are the names of the businesses here that you can identify?  Have the names of the businesses changed between the time of the photograph and the time YOU are visiting?  Why do businesses change?  What is 1 advantage for a  business to be located near a park?

Businesses near Park

At the time of this photograph, something here was broken.  What was it?  Think about:  Was the object STILL broken when YOU visited this spot?  Have you seen anything else on your adventure that is broken?  Who fixes these things?

What was broken here?

The Columbine Branch of the Jefferson County Public Library is shown in this picture showing two scenes, looking from west to east across the reservoir.  What season is shown in the top scene and in the bottom scene?   Think about: What clues does the picture give you to answer this question?

What seasons are shown?  Library

These condos or townhouses are located adjacent to the park and reservoir.  Would you like to live near a park?  What would be one good thing about living near a park?  Can you think of one negative thing about living near a park?  If so, list it.

Living Near a Park

These trees were photographed from the same position on the shore of the reservoir in two different seasons.  What season is shown at the top, and what season is shown at the bottom?   Think about:  What clues does the photograph provide to help you answer this question?

What seasons are shown?  Trees

What is the primary type of bird that is congregating on the shores of the reservoir?   A few different types are in the distance, but identify the type that is most numerous.  Think about the migration pattern of those birds, if they live here all year long, why they like to congregate near water, and what other bird species may live here. 

Bird Species

What do you think the primary reason why rocks are lining the shore of this reservoir?

Rocks Lining Reservoir

What are two things that are harmed by feeding wildlife?

No Wildlife Feeding

What is the common name of the animal species that lives here?  Think about:  Why does this animal species build the types of homes it builds?  What is the impact on these homes on the landscape?   Which species are its primary predators?  What types of things do you think these animals eat?

Common name of this animal species

Two main types of trees are deciduous--those that shed their leaves at certain times of year, and evergreen, those that do NOT shed their leaves (which are often in the form of needles) during the year.  Are the trees in the foreground deciduous or evergreen?

Deciduous or Evergreen?

Think about how this view to the northwest from this point looked 100 years ago.  What is one way you can think of how the view has changed?  Think about how people have modified the landscape over a short period of time in the Earth's history.  Think about the natural vegetation shown here versus what people have planted.  Think about how this view might look in 100 years from now.  Think about if this neighborhood is changing more, less, or about the same as your own neighborhood. 

How has this scene changed?

What symbols are drawn and etched into the pavement at this location?

What symbols are in the pavement here?

Do you think this looks like a fun playground?  What sorts of things would you add if you were designing a playground? What sorts of background or training do you think a person needs to have to be hired to build a playground for a park like this?  What materials do you think you would need to build such a playground?

A fun playground?

Here is a public library. Based on the number of cars in its parking lot, do you think it is a popular place?  Stop in and visit!  What sorts of books do you like to read? What things do you like to do at the public library?

Joseph Kerski

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