Insects can make sounds in lots of different ways. Join Milcah in making a "bug buzzer" — a craft that explores how bugs make sound using air vibrations— as a part of this summer's Forces of Nature Virtual Summer Camp (madisonaudubon.org/forces-of-nature). Campers and non-campers are all welcome to join in!

Campers in the Super Explorers Club have the supplies to make one in their kit, but other friends at home will need:
- tape
- string (about 12" long)
- craft stick (a short pencil or straw will also work)
- scrap paper/index card
- 2 eraser caps
- scissors

To tune in, go to Madison Audubon's Facebook page and wait for the livestream to begin on July 1, 12pm CDT. We will also post links to the recording here afterward.

Cicada photo by iLike.sky via CC BY-NC 2.0

Did you know Sandhill Cranes use body language to talk to each other? Learn how to dance like a crane during this active (and interactive) lesson!

This lesson is created for campers in our virtual summer camp called Forces of Nature. But anyone can join in! To learn more about camp, visit madisonaudubon.org/forces-of-nature

To join in, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page at 1:00pm on Friday, June 25 and wait for the livestream to begin. We will also post links to the video here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this video here!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YZq2Tvj5U_o

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/644212426192650/

Learn a ton about lots of the noisy insects you hear in the height of summer in southern Wisconsin. Madison Audubon’s education director, Carolyn Byers, will talk about crickets, grasshoppers, and cicadas, discuss how to identify the sounds, and share how the sounds are made.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on August 12, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this video here!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VfamaKTYFIE

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/1025573351235732/

Welcome to the second session of the Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The fourth and final week of camp is focused on INSECTS! Learn more about what makes an insect an insect, different types of insects, why are they awesome, and some cool insect facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on August 10, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this video!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/76tNA2W7G0g

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/668252467380898/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

This week of summer camp is all about herptiles (reptiles and amphibians)! Join Madison Audubon’s summer educator Rachel Lee for a great, interesting lesson about endangered herps!

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on August 6, 11am CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Andrew Hoffman

Welcome to the second session of the Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The third week of camp is focused on HERPS — reptiles and amphibians! Learn more about what makes a reptile a reptile, how amphibians are different, different types of herps, why are they awesome, and some cool herp facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on August 3, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access a recording of this lesson!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lrh2e0Y49qc

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/284455062624504/

Welcome to the second session of our Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

This week of summer camp is all about mammals! What do mammals do when it’s so darn hot out? Join our summer educator Rachel Lee for a lesson about mammals’ various strategies to cope with the hot weather of summer.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 30, 11:00am CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Peter Lisi

Access the recording of this lesson!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LOMvbXUH2MI

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/640875723449018

Welcome to the second session of our Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The second week of camp is focused on MAMMALS! Learn more about what makes a mammal a mammal, different types of mammals, why are they awesome, and some cool mammal facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on June 29, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this video

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_4XozhBUVK0

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/1599817430177625/

Welcome to the second session of Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The first week of camp is focused on BIRDS of course! Learn more about what makes a bird a bird, why are they awesome, and some cool bird facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 20, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Monica Hall

Access the recording of this video!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/prpnZpdkTLg

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/951868085239711/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

This week of summer camp is all about insects! Wisconsin is home to many insects, all with cool, unique characteristics. Join Madison Audubon’s summer educator Rachel Lee as she shares facts and stories about some of Wisconsin's most wonderful pollinators and the flowers they visit. It's going to be fun!

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 15, 11am CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this lesson!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bn25CkRFMJo

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/968027553645096/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The fourth and final week of camp is focused on INSECTS! Learn more about what makes an insect an insect, different types of insects, why are they awesome, and some cool insect facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 13, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Carolyn Byers

Access the recording of this lesson!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5m38_qMZL98

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/594148634575945/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

This week of summer camp is all about herptiles (reptiles and amphibians)! Wisconsin is home to many herps, all with cool, unique characteristics. Join Madison Audubon’s summer educator Rachel Lee as she shares facts and stories about some of Wisconsin's most wonderful herps. It's going to be fun!

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 8, 11am CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of the video!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WOfGuwmwA_w

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/1406202236434822/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The third week of camp is focused on HERPS — reptiles and amphibians! Learn more about what makes a reptile a reptile, how amphibians are different, different types of herps, why are they awesome, and some cool herp facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 6, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this video!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_eXnkVP1UAs

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/2705690156313408/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

This week of summer camp is all about mammals! Wisconsin is home to many mammals, small and large. Join Madison Audubon’s summer educator Rachel Lee as she shares facts and stories about some of Wisconsin's resident large mammals. It's going to be furry and fun!

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on July 2, 10:30am CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Eric Bégin

Access the recording of this video!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ANzpJ6Ye1pU

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/646791076049283/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The second week of camp is focused on MAMMALS! Learn more about what makes a mammal a mammal, different types of mammals, why are they awesome, and some cool mammal facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on June 29, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Access the recording of this lesson!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rn2W32Ers1I

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/261559821797786/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

Throughout the 4 weeks of camp, we will be talking about plants — what they are, why animals need them, different species, different parts, and more. Many of you have been out and about looking for birds this week, and that means you have probably been seeing a lot of plants! Join Madison Audubon’s summer educator Rachel Lee as she shares some bird sightings, talks about what plants are up to during the summer, and identifies some of the trees around us. 

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on June 25, 11:00am CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Madison Audubon photo

Access the recording of the video!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cGKKeu__LW0

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAudubon/videos/728840334550829/

Welcome to Forces of Nature Summer Camp! Anyone can participate in these lessons, whether you’re participating in camp activities or just interested in the lessons. These lessons are free and open to all and there is no enrollment cap.

The first week of camp is focused on BIRDS of course! Learn more about what makes a bird a bird, why are they awesome, and some cool bird facts.

To tune in live, visit Madison Audubon’s Facebook page on June 22, 1:00pm CT and wait for the live feed to start. Can’t attend live? No worries, we will post links to the recordings here afterwards.

Photo by Monica Hall