Click to Enlarge   There's Nothing To Do! by Julia M. White illustrated by Jason Tiefenauer Nature is ready to entertain you all summer long. Summer is the best time to get outside, gulp some fresh air and investigate some of Missouri's natural treasures. School's out, but here's an alphabet of ways you can make the most of this summer's outdoor adventures. Attend a sunset. Plan ahead to find the perfect viewing spot. Bring a friend. BATS Wait around until dusk and you might see some overhead. And you thought they were just birds getting to bed late! CLOUDS When the sky is right, spread a blanket and watch some It's a great stress reliever, and it's free (naturally). Dig for Fossils-Missouri's rocks are full of them! You might find our state fossil, the crinoid, a relative of the starfish that lived in the ocean covering Missouri millions of years ago. Just make sure you have the owner's permission to dig on private land. Don't dig on conservation areas or state parks because that's against the law. Start an Earthworm colony. Save some coffee grounds to get started, and then watch how hard these guys work. Go Fishing. Did you know there are more than 200 species of fish in our state? Many of them are fun to catch, and you can find them in a creek or pond near your house. Start a Garden in the corner of the yard. Try planting some pumpkin or sunflower seeds. They grow easily and quickly and are fun to watch. Take a Hike, in your neighborhood or at a nearby nature center or conservation area. Look for Insects. Missouri's official state insect is the honey bee. Check out a library book to help with identification. Start a nature Journal for fun or fix up a Jar for observing the bugs you catch. Clean, plastic peanut butter jars work well for this. Be sure to punch air holes in the lid and release the bugs back into the wild where they belong. Fly a Kite. Watch Lightning bugs light up a meadow on a warm summer night. Make a Map. It can be a real map of your yard, or a pretend map. Pace out the distances and include landmarks like trees, big rocks, fences and rabbit holes. You might decide to map out your whole neighborhood! "Name That Bird." Listen to bird songs and try to spot the singers. Look near the treetops. Remember, the same bird can make several different calls. Can you figure out what the cardinals in your yard are saying? Observe something very small. You can learn a lot by investigating an ant trail, a snail's progress, a ladybug at work, or a caterpillar. Look for different leaves and Press them in a book. Label your collection if you can. Start with some leaves from the dogwood, our state tree. Quietly blend yourself into a hidden spot and wait. There's wildlife even in small spaces. Watch for chipmunks, tree frogs, lizards, box turtles, spiders, grasshoppers, dragonflies and cicadas. There are more of them than there are of us! Start a Rock collection. Swap rocks with friends. Our state rock is the unique mozarkite, but we have many other types that are easier to find. Make up a Scavenger hunt for natural things and invite friends to help you search. You'll need to make a list of about 10-20 things to find, like pebbles, seeds, feathers, nuts, acorns and pine cones. Climb a Tree, but be careful. What goes up must come down! UNIVERSE After dark, check out the night sky. The is awesome. Can you spot the Milky Way? Our sky is full of extraterrestrial wildlife, including bears, dogs, flying horses, fish-even a bull and a dragon! August has the best meteor showers. Visit a conservation area. Take a sketch pad and draw some of the Wildflowers you see along the way. Look carefully for very small flowers in the grass, but don't pick them. Leave them for others to enjoy. Get some eXercise! Maybe you could walk your dog, too. Practice your Yo-Yo skills in the Yard. Support your local Zoo. Many zoos sponsor summer programs just for fun. They are working now to preserve today for tomorrow!