Nature at Home

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Looking for some fun, nature-based activities for home? Our environmental education staff have put together some resources for activities you can do at home, in your backyard, or during a walk in your neighbourhood.

Activity Sheets

Bugs Scavenger Hunt – learn more about the insects you can find around you
Nature Alphabet Scavenger Hunt – can you find items in nature from A to Z?
Weather Wise – learn how weather conditions affect the things around you
Soil Study – learn more about the soil in your area
Food Chain Challenge – complete the food chain for each habitat!
Spring Phenology – the study of changes in plants and animals as they respond to weather, climate, and the seasons. What can you observe around you?
Rock Exercises – want to become a “Rock hound”? Learn about the rocks in your area.
Weird Creature Features – are these weird facts true or false?
Eco-Footprint – measure your footprint of personal impact on the planet
Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt – find these signs of spring outside around you
Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt – explore the outdoors and see if you can find the items on the sheet

Blogs

Creature Features

Colouring & Activity Sheets

Birds – The Hamilton area is home to many exciting bird species!
Did You Know? – some interesting nature facts
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Draw a self-portrait of yourself in nature and the creatures you meet
Exploring Journal – take some time to be with nature
Falling Tree Leaves – how many leaves can you identify?
Fish Species – what do you know about fish?
Frogs – from eggs to tadpoles to frog!
Healthy Habitats – learn more about natural habitats in Hamilton
Helping the Environment – what can you do at home?
Importance of Plants – Plants have many uses which make them important!
Leaf Discoveries – what type of leaves can you see around you?
Match the Tracks – can you identify the footprints?
Native Plants Word Search
Red Fox Maze – help the Red Fox get back to his forest home!
Species at Risk Connect the Dots – learn more about Jeffy the Jefferson Salamander
Spot the Difference – conservation area do’s and don’ts
Spring at Valens Lake colouring page
Things that Creep, Crawl, Hop & Fly
Turkey Vulture colouring page
Water Cycle – learn how water moves through Earth’s land, waterways, and atmosphere
Word Scramble – Unscramble the words to find some of the snakes and turtles that are native to the Hamilton area

Nature at Home

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Current Water Levels

Water Level Explanations

Flood Status Explanations

	Normal No low water conditions exist.
	Level 1 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 10 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 80 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 100 / 70 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 2 Water users are asked to voluntarily reduce consumption by 20 percent. Precipitation totals are less than 60 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 70 / 50 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.
	Level 3 There is also potential for economic harm to water takers and/or significant harm to the ecosystem. The Hamilton Water Response Team may ask the province to impose mandatory restrictions on those holding Permits to Take Water. Precipitation totals are less than 40 percent of long-term averages and/or 30-day average streamflows are less than 50 / 30 percent (springtime / otherwise) of the minimum of the long-term average monthly flows for summer months.

	Normal No flood conditions exist.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Water Safety High flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
	Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
	Flood Watch Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
	Flood Warning Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations.