ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs

Calling all kids interested in science and nature: help contribute important data to real life scientists using ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs!

Created by the North Carolina Arboretum, ecoEXPLORE (Experiences Promoting Learning Outdoors for Research and Education) is a community science initiative geared towards children in grades K–8 that utilizes incentives to encourage children to explore the outdoors and participate in community science.

Want tools to help participate in ecoEXPLORE? Alamance County Public Libraries has a number of ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs available for checkout as part of our Library of Things. These backpack kits include kid-friendly binoculars, a bird call, butterfly net, bug collection jar, as well as a trail camera and SD card, all of which patrons can use to help record their nature sightings.

To join the program, patrons can sign up online at ecoexplore.net and begin recording their findings, including plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and more! Participants simply take a picture of wildlife while making note of the day, time, location, and species observed, after which they log into their ecoEXPLORE account and submit their observation. With each observation you submit, you can earn points that can be redeemed for a variety of prizes.

In addition, the South Graham Park has been designated as an ecoEXPLORE “HotSpot” location, so participants that record wildlife they see around the park can earn extra points!

For more information about the ecoEXPLORE Discovery Packs, please call (336) 570-6730 or click here to check out our Library of Things.

Sara D. is a Library Assistant at the Graham Public Library.