Welcome to Part 4 of what to expect at Trackers this summer. This update introduces the final element in the Game of Tracking: the Trackers Journal. While the Relics are our game pieces for the Game of Tracking, the activity journal is the board.

Tracking is a pursuit that inspires adventure and connection to nature. It can benefit the entire family. Relics are what we call the “game pieces” kids use to engage in the Game of Tracking. They are symbols of the Trackers Code, along with a reminder to practice certain skills that help kids grow.

Trackers Teams is the structure for nearly all our camps—whether a Rangers wilderness survival camp or a Mariners fishing camp. Think of it like a Game of Tracking kids play at camp and a game they can continue playing at home with friends.

To learn the best ways to get kids excited about bird watching and fun birding activities you can do together, I talked with author, nature photographer and bird nerd, Karen DeWitz. Karen has a new book out for kids that focuses on the most common and cool birds here in the Pacific Northwest. Look at That Bird! is filled with fun facts and photos of the birds kids are most likely to see in their backyards. It also gives the important details about each bird and shows kids and families the best ways to spot them. There are also fun, easy birding activities families can do together.

Spring is here! The birds are singing. The frogs are peeping. The crocuses and forsythia are blooming away. It’s a time of rebirth and hope (especially this year). It is also a great time to search for fairies with your kids. Maybe you’re a believer in the Magical Folk, maybe you’re not. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that looking for fairies is a wonderful way to spark your child’s imagination and get them observing and interacting with nature. It’s also a great way to get kids outside for hours of independent, creative play.

It’s a great time for a family road trip. A few years ago a friend of mine, Liz Rusch, took a very cool road trip—planned and led by her teen, Izzi—where they went on a journey in search of the Northern Lights. They traveled to Alaska and Montana, hoping to see it, but no luck. They returned home and figured out a way to see the aurora right in their home state of Oregon!