Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: A nature walk to help youth explore how animals communicate and connect it to how humans and animals both need care and communication.

Items Needed:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottles
• (Optional) Recording device
• (Optional) Local nature guide

Before the Meeting Starts:

1. Decide a route. (5–30 min)
   • Find a safe walking route through a park or neighborhood and basic knowledge of what wildlife they might hear sounds of in that area.

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 35 min):

1. Introduce the activity. (5 min)
   • Discuss the various ways that people and animals share information without speaking.
   • Ask how they show feelings like happiness or sadness through gestures and facial expressions.
2. Try animal noises. (5 min)
   • Explain that animals use unique sounds and actions because they do not use words.
   • Brainstorm with the youth on how to imitate different animal sounds they have heard before. Encourage them to make these noises out loud for the group.
3. Go on a walk. (20 min)
   • Take the group on a walk through a park, seashore, or neighborhood to listen for animal sounds.
   • Direct them to listen for everything from a dog’s bark to an insect’s buzz. They can raise their hands when they hear a specific sound to share it with others.
   • (Optional) Capture the animal sounds heard during the walk using a recording device. Play the recordings back later to help them identify the different noises.
4. Review their walk. (5 min)
   • Discuss what the animals might be communicating with the sounds they heard.
   • Ask them to identify their favorite sound from the experience.
   • Remind them that animals communicate just like humans do. We aren’t very different. We all need care and communication.

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