{"id":16258,"date":"2026-01-08T22:17:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T22:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/?p=16258"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:51:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:51:39","slug":"nature-based-education-adaptation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/en\/nature-based-education-adaptation\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature-based Education: Adaptation"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Last time, we explored how animals migrate to stay warm through winter.<\/h2>\n<p>This time, we\u2019re focusing on those that stay put. There are many remarkable ways animals adapt to survive the winter months. From growing thicker fur and changing colours, to shifting diets, forming winter groups, or developing clever strategies to stay warm, wildlife across Canada shows incredible resilience. This month, we\u2019ll explore these adaptations and encourage you to head outdoors to observe and enjoy winter firsthand.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"9 Adaptations Humans and Wildlife Make Below Zero\" width=\"1170\" height=\"878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IULztAh6zEA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h3>Teaching Resources<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-16267\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1-640x484.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1-640x484.png 640w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1-1100x832.png 1100w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1-1536x1162.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1-530x401.png 530w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/file-folder-we-jan-2026-en-v1.png 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hww.ca\/\"><strong>Hinterland Who\u2019s Who<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 There are many ways to adapt to the cool air and heavy snow of winter. Check out how Arctic Foxes, Caribou, martens, and wolves adapt in winter.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cwf-fcf.org\/en\/resources\/downloads\/webinars\/public\/embrace-the-chill-lessons.html?src=bz\"><strong>Embrace the Chill webinar<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Find out what wildlife does when the temperature drops.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/education.cwf-fcf.org\/library\/resources\/get\/244839\/CWF%20Dress%20Like%20a%20Polar%20Bear.pdf\"><strong>Dress Like a Polar Bear<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Learn to adapt and layer like a Polar Bear and its three \u201ccoats\u201d.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indigenous games<\/strong> \u2013 Watch Dickie Yzicapi in these fun Indigenous storytelling videos about Indigenous winter sports. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZaOy9isZUb0\">Video 1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9iEzGFqgDFw\">Video 2<\/a><\/li>\n<li>See who else is <a href=\"https:\/\/education.cwf-fcf.org\/library\/resources\/get\/246287\/wild_about_winter_en.pdf\">Wild About Winter<\/a> and how they adapt to environmental change by downloading this poster.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>WILD Education Workshops<\/h3>\n<p>CWF\u2019s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cwf-fcf.org\/en\/explore\/wild-education\/project-wild.html#belowzero\">Below Zero workshop<\/a><\/strong> is a dynamic training opportunity for educators looking to bring the magic of winter into their teaching. Rooted in Canada\u2019s rich seasonal heritage, this program explores how wildlife and people adapt to cold temperatures. Through hands-on activities and outdoor learning strategies, Below Zero equips teachers with tools to connect students to nature even when the thermometer drops.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Below Zero:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ready, Set, Snow! (pg. 89)<\/strong> \u2013 Discuss the different ways that people and wildlife adapt to winter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Whine and Dine (pg. 73)<\/strong> \u2013 In this active outdoor game, students learn about the importance of cooperation as they adapt to different types of snow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winter Survival (pg. 33)<\/strong> \u2013 Play a warm game of tag to better understand what wildlife needs to survive in winter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i>Want your own Below Zero handbook?<\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/WILDEdSignup\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sign up for a Below Zero workshop today!<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Student Action Projects<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-16269\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026-640x482.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026-640x482.png 640w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026-1100x829.png 1100w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026-1536x1157.png 1536w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026-530x399.png 530w, https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/student-action-we-jan-2026.png 1622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Turn your curiosity into meaningful action. Head outdoors, observe and take action to support the species that stay active all season long.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/education.cwf-fcf.org\/library\/resources\/get\/224901\/CWF%20Put%20Up%20Nesting%20Shelves.pdf\"><strong>Put Up Nesting Shelves<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; Make a cozy home for your bird friends.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Photos help science!<\/strong> Join the <a href=\"https:\/\/cwf-fcf.org\/en\/explore\/below-zero\/23389_BZ_ScavengerHunt_R2.pdf\">iNaturalist Winter Photo Challenge<\/a>, learn about <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/en\/winter-bird-counts\/\">winter bird counts<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/education.cwf-fcf.org\/library\/resources\/get\/280981\/trackingwinter-72.pdf\">follow some animal tracks.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Celebrate World Environmental Education Day<\/strong> \u2013 On January 26, 2026, gather some friends and celebrate this global event that encourages everyone to explore the environment, understand its challenges, and discover ways to protect it.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/education.cwf-fcf.org\/library\/resources\/get\/232923\/CWF%20Bird%20Banquets.pdf\"><strong>Bird Banquets<\/strong><\/a> &#8211; Do this fun experiment to discover the favourite food of the birds in your area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i>For more educational resources, sign up for our <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/cwf-fcf.org\/en\/explore\/wild-spaces\/?src=EL\"><i>WILD Spaces newsletter<\/i><\/a><i> with a focus on pollinator gardens.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\">Last time, we explored how animals migrate to stay warm through winter. This time, we\u2019re focusing on those that stay put. There are many remarkable ways animals adapt to survive&hellip;<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":177,"featured_media":16291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[636,631,642,6,638,637],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coasts-oceans","category-connect-with-nature","category-education","category-endangered-species","category-fields-forests","category-lakes-rivers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/177"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16258"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16287,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16258\/revisions\/16287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}