Team Name: _______________________ This summer, visit at least four different nature centers and parks in the Rio Grande Valley and complete 10-12 nature challenges. Upon completion of the challenges and journal submission, your family name will be placed in a drawing for the opportunity to win cool prizes. The challenge is for families with children ages 18 and under. Families with children 18 and under are invited to join in on the RGV Family Summer Adventure Challenge (RGVFSAC) and spend all summer enjoying the outdoors. The Challenge is a chance to spend quality time together while visiting different nature centers and parks in the Rio Grande Valley and, upon completion of the challenges, an opportunity to win cool prizes! Instructions: In this journal you will find 12 challenges to complete over the summer (May 27 - August 26, 2017). For your family to be included in the raffle you must complete at least 10 challenges from at least 4 different RGV nature sites . For a full site listing, refer to the site list at the back of the journal). This journal will help you and your family collect proof for each site/challenge. Teams can also submit journal entries and photos online at the Texas Nature Challenge website. Only one journal per family will be accepted (online, printed, or combination of printed & online). However, families may include additional pages, write-ups and photos, as desired. Each Team is asked to register by calling (956) 381-9922. Registered Teams will receive a laminated “FSAC” Team Sign, a Discount/Free entry pass to select nature sites and other goodies. Participation in the RGVFSAC is free, however some sites may charge fees. Please call sites prior to your visit for information on fees and schedules. Proof of Completion: We will require proof of completion for each challenge. Types of proof required include an employee signature (preferred) or printed/emailed photo of your family holding your “FSAC” Team Sign in front of the site’s entrance sign. Team Photos can be emailed to [email protected]. In the email, please include the Team name, activity date, site location and challenge number, so that we can credit you properly. Deadline: Turn in completed journals to your local participating nature center no later than 5 pm on Saturday August 26, 2017. On-line entries must also be completed on or before August 26. Journals/online entries can be submitted anytime prior to deadline. Family Information: Team Name:_______________________________________________________________ Adult Names: ______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Child Name & Age__________________________________________ ________ Child Name & Age__________________________________________ ________ Child Name & Age__________________________________________ ________ Child Name & Age__________________________________________ ________ Child Name & Age__________________________________________ ________ Main (ADULT) Contact: _____________________________________________________ Telephone: _________________________ Alt. Telephone: __________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________________________ Don’t forget to register your team BEFORE you begin at (956) 381-9922. Challenge 1 Visit a nature center/park that loans out binoculars or bring your own. While you are there, take a walk through the grounds and More than 500 bird identify four birds that you see or hear. List (or draw) them species have been below. Please provide us with proof of your visit (signature or seen in the RGV. attached/emailed photos*). That is more than half of all bird species found in the entire U.S. In 2016, the newest species seen in the RGV was the Variegated Flycatcher. At #529, this South American resident overshot its wintering range in Brazil, and landed in Texas for the first time, landing at South Padre Is- land. Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to [email protected]. Challenge 2 Visit a nature center/park that hosts a morning or afternoon family program or activity. Attend one with your family. Describe your experience or what you learned below. Ask an chic-chic-chic-chic- employee to print, sign, and date this page. zwEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEE... Do you hear that loud buzzing? You may be listening to the sounds of the Giant Cicada or Chicharra Grande in Spanish. Although there are over 40 species of Cicadas in Texas, this one is known for its unusual long and loud sound, produced by vibrating special structures (tymbals) on its abdomen. Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ Challenge 3 Visit a nature center/park that houses and displays animals indoors. In the space below, list and describe (or draw) at least one live animal that you saw and learned about. Ask an RIDDLES employee to print, sign, and date this page. What was the Tortoise Doing on the Highway? About 100 millimeters per hour Why are Snakes hard to fool? You can’t pull their leg Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ Challenge 4 Visit a nature center/park that provides a water-based activity (ex: swimming, kayaking, fishing, tubing, etc.). Participate in the activity with your family. Describe your experience below. Please In State Parks across provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed Texas, fishing, photos*). where allowed, is free within park boundaries (no license or special stamp required). One such park is Bentsen RGV State Park and World Birding Center. Here, anglers often seek out the Alligator Gar or “catan” which can reach lengths of over 7 feet and weigh over 300 pounds. With 3 rows of teeth and scaly armor, this fish appears scary, but it is harmless. Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to [email protected]. Challenge 5 Visit a nature center/park. Using a field guide, identify at least four different plants or trees with your family. List and describe (or draw) them below. Please provide us with proof of your visit RIDDLES (signature or attached/emailed photos*). What did the big flower say to the little flower? Hey Bud What did the little tree say to the big tree? Leaf me alone! Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to [email protected]. Challenge 6 Visit a nature center/park. Use a butterfly field guide and/or checklist. Identify butterflies with your family and in the space below make a list of (or draw) four species you observed. Please Plant it and they will provide us with proof of your visit (signature or attached/ come... emailed photos*). Although butterflies can drink nectar from many different types of plants, when it comes to laying their eggs, they can only lay them on a specific plant. This is to the benefit of both the butterfly and plant. When it emerges from the egg, the caterpillar does not have to compete with a lot of others for food, and the plant won’t get overeaten by caterpillars year round. Nature Center/Park: ________________________________________________________ Nature Center/Park Staff Person* Printed Name: ______________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ * ALTERNATIVE: Take a photo of your group in front of the Entrance Sign holding up your “FSAC” Team Sign. Include print of photo or email to [email protected]. Challenge 7 Visit a nature center/park that hosts nature walks or take a self-guided walk with your family. Use a field guide to help you Over 66 million identify the insects (other than butterflies) you see. In the space years ago during below draw an insect and identify it. Please provide us with the Cretaceous proof of your visit (signature or attached/emailed photos*). Period, Starr County and the area around Falcon State Park was part