Download Nature Hike Trivial Pursuit - OSU Extension | Gallia County

Counselor College
Engaging Counselors At All Levels of Experience
OSU Extension Ohio Valley and Buckeye Hills EERA
Section Two
Lesson Plans
 Intended
Audience: 3rd Yr.
Counselors
Nature Hike Trivial Pursuit
Masters Level:
Background: Fun interactive way to lead a nature hike if you don’t know
that much about nature!
What to Do: this hike is based on the traditional Trivial Pursuit game.
 Lesson Objective:
to Build
Confidence in
leading a Nature
tour.
It
requires some prep but once created can be used over and over.
Categories are color coded:
Blue: Reptiles and Amphibians
Pink: Birds
Yellow: Mammals
 Time: 45 min.
Green: Plants, Geology and Soils
White: Fish/ Insects
 Equipment and
Supplies: Trivial
Pursuit question
cards, spinner
 Do Ahead: map out
hike and prepare
stops
Orange: Wild – can be any Camp related Question
Divide hikers into teams of two or more, give all teams an empty game marker
which they must fill with pieces of different colored pie (just like in the game).
These pie pieces can be collected along the hiking trail by answering different
category questions which are located along the trail. Questions may be site
orientate questions or basic category questions.
The hike leader carries the multi colored dice or spinner and at each stop along
the hike teams roll to see what question they will be answering. If they answer
the question correctly they receive that color pie and their turn is over until the
next site. If the team rolls a color they already have they must answer that
question correctly for a chance to roll again. This continues until they miss a
question or receive a pie piece that they need. If they miss a question their turn
is over and the group must continue to the next stop.
The winning team will have the most pie pieces at the end of the hike.
Alternative to the spinner is to have each stop a different category color with
each team having only that one stop and one chance to receive that pie piece.
Sample Questions: Blue: Reptiles and AmphibiansName three differences between a salamander and a Lizard:
Salamander: moist skin, smooth skin, no claws, ridges on outside of body, prefers darkness, hides under rocks and logs
Lizard: dry skin, covered with scales, has claws, no ridges on outside of body, likes sun light, climbs fences and trees.
Which is more aggressive a common water snake or a copperhead?
Answer: While the copperhead is poisonous they often hide or retreat when people are near. The water snake will defend its
territory and often give chase to anyone it feels is a threat.
True or False the Eastern Massasauga also known as a swamp rattler or black snapper is one of the three poisonous snakes
found in Ohio and it can be found in the northern glaciated counties of Ohio.
Answer: True
All of the poisonous snakes in Ohio are pit vipers. They have large hollow fangs at the front of their mouth that are
connected to bones in the upper jaw, these fangs have the ability to be folded against the roof of the mouth when the mouth
is shut and are automatically brought forward when the mouth is open. What is the function of these fangs?
Answer: The fangs allow them to inject venom into their prey. The venom is a hemolytic which breaks down red blood cells in the
prey. When the red blood cells break down the animal becomes unable to move and allows the snake to easily swallow its prey
without fear of injury.
What is special about the tongue of a snake?
Answer: All snakes have a forked tongue. It is split, having two points. You will see a snake sticking its tongue out and in very
often and very fast. The snake uses its tongue to interpret its surroundings. By using its tongue a snake can smell prey and
predators. The tongue collects odorous particles, then the snake touches its tongue to an organ inside its nasal cavity called the
Jacobson’s organ and this allows it to smell.
True or False There are two species of rattlesnake found in Ohio, but your chances of seeing one is very slim.
True: the Eastern Massasauga is located in Northern Ohio and is currently listed as an endangered species. The Timber Rattlesnake
is located in Southern Ohio, however they are also listed as an Endangered species. Furthermore both snakes are very secretive and
hard to locate in the wild. A sighting would be very rare.
Name one way you can tell a poisonous snake from a non-poisonous in Ohio
Answer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
non-poisonous usually have an oval head while poisonous have a triangular head
non-poisonous have round pupils while poisonous have elliptical (cat like)
non-poisonous have no pits only nostrils while poisonous have pits and nostrils
non-poisonous have divided scales on the underside of the tail while poisonous have undivided scales on the underside of
their tail
non-poisonous never have rattles – (except copperheads) Ohio’s other two poisonous snakes have rattles on their tails
Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and
related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran
status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University
Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.
Counselor College
Engaging Counselors At All Levels of Experience
OSU Extension Ohio Valley and Buckeye Hills EERA
White: Insects and Fish –
Find an example of an invertebrate and explain what an invertebrate is:
(Answers: common invertebrate is snails, slugs, worms, any insect, sow bug, pill bug, millipedes, centipedes, spiders. –
Invertebrates do not have a skeleton (bones inside their body, but some have an exoskeleton (hard outer body plates)
Find an example of a vertebrate and explain what a vertebrate is:
Answer: a vertebrate has a skeleton (bones inside the body) samples: any bird, mammal, reptile or amphibian.
Which classification of animals has the highest number of animals in existence? Invertebrates or vertebrates?
The Invertebrates far outnumber vertebrates
What is the difference between a centipede and a millipede? Which has the most legs?
A millipede is a dead plant eater and they have two pair of legs on each segment of their body. The centipede is a
carnivorous eater (eats other animals) and has one pair of legs on each body segment. All millipedes have at least 30
segments so all millipedes have over 100 legs
Name an aquatic Insect found in the steam at Canter’s Cave that would indicate good water quality
Answer: Mayfly, stonefly, Dragonfly, Damselfly, Caddisfly
All true insects have segmented bodies, six legs and how many body parts?
Answer 3 head, thorax and abdomen
Spiders belong to the Arthropod group called what?
Answer arachnids
How many body parts do arachnids (spiders) have?
Answer 2, head and thorax
Do all spiders spin webs?
Answer: No – some spiders hide and attack their prey, while other chase and catch their prey, some even fish for their prey
Can you name two poisonous spiders that can be found in Ohio that can bite humans?
Answer: Black Widow, Brown Recluse
Pink: Birds
Name three characteristics of a Bird:
Answer: Lay Eggs, Have Feathers, Hollow bones, Warm blooded (not fly there are flightless birds)
Bald Eagles once an American symbol of strength became a victim of environmental pollutions and ended up on the
federal endangered species list. Now the Bald Eagle has returned to Ohio to reclaim the skies. True or False
Answer: True
Name a food source that a Barred owl might eat here?
Field mice are the favorite but they will also eat: small birds, small mammals, reptiles, fish and insects
What is the smallest bird species found in Ohio - Hint these birds have been clocked at over 60 mph.
Answer: Hummingbird
Can you name this bird? This bird is gray in color. It is in the pigeon family. Some people hunt this bird for meat. It
lays 2 pure white eggs. It eats seeds of corn, wheat, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, ragweed, pokeweed, smartweed,
foxtail and a few invertebrates. (Often seen at bird feeders) It feeds most often in the morning and late afternoon. It
gets its name from its mournful cry, a hollow, drawn out Coo-oo-oo coo.
Answer: Mourning Dove
Can you name this bird? This bird is red in color. It lays 3-4 eggs in April but can have 2-3 sets of babies per year.
This bird is about 8 inches including its tail. It eats mainly seeds but will eat insects. (Often seen at bird feeders in
winter) (hint: it is our State Bird)
Answer: Cardinal
Name a commonly seen Hawk found in Ohio named for its colored tail.
Answer: Red Tailed Hawk
What kind of bird might you see nesting in a specially made wooden nesting box, or its natural nesting place a hole in a
tree? Hint it is blue in color
Answer: Eastern Blue Bird
Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and
related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran
status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University
Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.
Counselor College
Engaging Counselors At All Levels of Experience
OSU Extension Ohio Valley and Buckeye Hills EERA
Yellow: Mammals
True of False All Bats in Ohio are insectivores.
Answer: True bats are insect eaters consuming thousands of insects each night.
There are 13 species of Bats in Ohio name two bats:
Possible Answers: Little Brown Bat, Big Brown Bat, Indiana Bat
True or false: Bats are the only mammal that can fly?
Answer: True: Fossil records indicate that bats have been flying as far back as 50 Million years
True or False: Bob Cats once numerous in Ohio were wiped out in the late 1850’s however, since 1990 Bob cat sightings in
Ohio have been on the rise. Most of these sightings have been in southeastern Ohio.
Answer: True: There have been over 30 sightings since 1990.
True or False: Coyotes are native to Ohio.
Answer: False: Coyotes now live in Ohio but were not here before the 1900’s, they mainly lived west of the Mississippi River. It
wasn’t until 1919 that the first Coyote was seen east of the Mississippi. Now they can be found in all 88 counties of Ohio.
There are four tree squirrels in Ohio can you name two?
Answer: Fox squirrel, Gray squirrel, Flying squirrel and Eastern Fox Squirrel
What other name is the woodchuck called in Ohio?
Answer: Ground hog or whistlepig
What does a woodchuck or ground hog eat?
Answer: grass, clover, alfalfa, soybeans, peas, lettuce and apples
What am I? I’ve been called a “polecat” or “wood pussy”. I breed in February and March. I give birth in May and only
have 1 litter per year. I weight about 6-10 pounds as an adult and I’m only about 13-18 inches long but most humans fear
me and run from my sight. I come out mainly at night to eat mice, lizards, frogs, fish, crawfish, insect grubs, eggs, fruit or
dead animals.
Answer: Striped Skunk
What am I? I’ve been called a ringtail. I breed from January-March and give birth to one litter per year. I have 2-7
babies. I weigh about 15-18 pounds and can be 18-28 inches long. I have an 8-12 inch tail. I eat fruits, nuts, grains, eggs,
insects, crayfish, frogs, and mice. I do like human food too and if you leave it in your cabin at night I may come visit you!
Answer: Raccoon
What am I? I am the largest mammal you will see at Canter’s Cave. I breed in late October-January so if you see me then
you might count my “points”. I have babies in mid-May but can have more than one litter per year. My baby can weigh 414 pounds at birth and a full grown male of my kind can weigh up to 300 pounds. I eat: crabapples, corn, sumac leaves,
Japanese honeysuckle, grass, fruits, leaves, clover, soybeans, beans, jewelweed, acorns, dogwood and just about any other
type of woody brushes. (hint: you might eat me if given the chance)
Answer: White tailed deer
Green: Plants, Geology, and Soils
At Canters Cave we want to develop a habitat that is suitable for the wildlife that lives here. We are looking into planting
some plants that are native, adapted to leave here, won’t take over, will have long term survival, and will provide food and
shelter for our wildlife friends. Can you name two nut trees that might provide a food source that meet these
requirements?
Answers: any kind of Oak tree (acorns), Black Walnut, Hickories, Buckeye, Hazelnut
Can you name two native plants that would produce berries?
Answer: Evergreen trees, Service berry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Sumac, Dogwood, Elderberry
Can you name two native trees that might produce seeds that wildlife would eat?
Answer: Green ash, Sycamore, Common alder, maples, American Beech,
Big bluestem, Indian grass, switch grass cordgrass, prairie wildflower, aquatic plants, purple coneflower, common
arrowhead: All of these plants can be a source of what to wildlife?
Answer: food
What am I? This fish can be caught in the pond at Canters cave. It has a black ear flap, 5-9 vertical bars on its sides and
back, a small mouth, high dorsal fin and it’s body color is yellow-olive to olive green with a bluish cast. Males have a
bright orange or rust colored breast and are darker than females. This fish can be 6-7 inches and weigh 3-6 ounces. It is
very common to catch this fish with a hook and worm combination.
Answer: Northern Bluegill
What is composting?
Answer: recycling of organic matter to make soil
What should never go in a compost pile?
Answer: grease, oil, animal fat, meat scraps, dishwater, toxic chemicals such as gas, oil, paint, pesticides etc., coal, charcoal,
colored paper, (magazines & catalogs), Diseased plants, clothing, plastics, glass, aluminum, rubber, cat litter, sludge
Why do we want to have a compost pile at Canter’s Cave?
Answer: To make compost for our flower beds, which will reduce maintenance- with less weeding, healthy plants, better soil and
less yard waste to dispose of.
Name one of the three rock classifications and tell how it is formed
Answer: Igneous- from hot molten material this is the substance from which all rock is formed. Example is Granite. Sedimentaryformed by deposition of particles and chemical solutions. As igneous rock break down they are transported in water and wind and
smaller pieces get deposited in layers. These layers underweight and force make new rock called Sedimentary. Example: fine clay
particles compressed by weight and dried out by change in water levels become shale. Calcium carbonate can be deposited from
solution to form layers of limestone. Deposits of iron oxide calcium carbonate and silica can from sand stone. Metamorphicrock formed deep in the Earth’s crust when igneous and sedimentary rocks are chemically changed by heat and pressure. Most
metamorphic rock is the result of lava flow.
Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and
related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran
status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University
Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.
Counselor College
Engaging Counselors At All Levels of Experience
OSU Extension Ohio Valley and Buckeye Hills EERA
Orange: Wild –camp related questions
You find a baby bird at camp it looks healthy and appears to have some feathers and be able to walk (jump or
run), what should you do?
a. catch it and look for a nest to put it in
b. leave it alone, and watch from a distance to see if a parent is feeding it
c. take it to the nature center and make a cage for it
Answer b.
Name the largest member of the rodent family in North America. Hint- it is commonly seen in water and can
weigh between 30-70 pounds as an adult.
Answer Beaver – Beaver facts, the young live with their parents about 2 years. The life expectancy is 9-11 years but can
live to be 19 years old. They eat bark and twigs of soft wood tree species and also aquatic plants. In 1830 the beaver was
totally killed out in Ohio but now with regulations in place the beaver is back in all 88 counties of Ohio.
What am I? This duck could be seen on the pond at Canter’s Cave. It has a brilliant color pattern of purple and
green head, a burgundy chest, bronze sides, a purplish black back and tail, a crested head with bars of white. This
duck prefers swamps and ponds in or near wooded areas, and likes to nest in tree cavities. This duck lays an
average of 13 eggs which hatch in about 30 days. In the 1900’s hunting and habitat destruction almost killed this
duck out but conservation measures and nest boxes have allowed it to continue to be part of Ohio’s landscape.
Answer: Wood Duck
Name the only marsupial that can be found at Canter’s Cave (Ohio or North America for that matter)? Hint: It
has a very small brain, eats about anything, and has a long naked scaly tail. Could also be a cabin visitor if you
leave food out!
Answer: Opossum
Name a nest box structure we could put up at Canter’s Cave?
Answer: Blue bird boxes, Wood Duck Box, Squirrel box, bat box, Barred owl box, Screech owl box, Kestrel box
What are the 4 classes of Vertebrates?
Birds, Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians
What must be present for a habitat to be complete for any species?
Answer: Food, Water, Shelter and Space
Talk It Over:
This activity is a fun way to introduce nature to campers while showing them
the beauty of hiking a nature trail. Counselors can increase their own nature
knowledge by creating their own list of questions, pre-hiking the trail and
identifying trees, flowers, rock formations, common birds and insects with
easy to use field guides.
Prepared By: Tracy Winters, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth
Development, OSU Extension Gallia County
Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and
related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran
status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.
Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University
Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.