Categories
Earth Science Sustainability and Conservation

Tree Rings: why they form and what scientists can learn from them

In a rush? Click here to skip to printing the free learning activity! You may have noticed the unique rings that appear on tree stumps โ€“ and you might even know that you can figure out a tree’s age by counting the rings! But did you know that scientists can use tree growth rings to […]

Categories
Earth Science

The Water Cycle: How it works, a simple and detailed explanation with definitions, diagrams, and a visualization activity!

Author’s note: As a masterโ€™s student who works with water, this one is an exciting topic for me to write about! Water is a vital resource that needs careful management in the Mountain West region of the United States. Mountain region watersheds are expected to face climate change-related challenges due to decreasing winter snowpack, changing […]

Categories
General

An Invitation

Welcome fellow nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. Welcome backyard naturalists, kitchen table scientists, life-long learners. Welcome fellow wonderers and wanderers. I’m glad to see you here. My name is Valerie and I’m a scientist, artist, and avid outdoors woman currently in Colorado, USA. My curiosity about the natural world started at a young age, exploring […]