INTRODUCTION
This is a book about where the Pacific Ocean meets the northwest coast of North America. It's a place with soaring mountains, giant trees, glow-in-the-dark seawater, and stupendous slugs.
This area is called the Pacific Northwest, or Cascadia, and includes Washington, Oregon, and the
Alaska Panhandle in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.
Whatever you call it, if you're lucky enough to live there or visit it, there's a lot of spectacular nature to discover. Whether you're in the woods, at the beach, by a stream or a swamp, or in your own backyard, there's plenty to find.
So go outside and discover what's there. This book will help you begin.
Here's what you'll need to do to get started:1. Use your senses. The more you stay still and quiet and examine what is around you, the more you’ll find. Amazing animals could be nearby, but if you don't take the time to wait and watch, you might never find them. Listen, smell, and touch as you go.
2. Stay comfortable. It's hard to enjoy nature and discover new things when your feet hurt; you're cold, hungry, or thirsty; or you’re worried about sliming your best outfit. Wear comfortable shoes and sturdy clothes. Dress for the weather, whether it's hot, cold, rainy, or all three. Be ready to change your clothing with the weather. If you're going on a longer hike, bring food, water, and a first aid kit.
3. Take care of nature. When you're done exploring, leave everything as you found it.
· Put back rocks and logs you moved. Animals rely on them for shelter.
· Pick up litter, even if it isn't yours.
· Collecting a few leaves, sticks, rocks, or shells is fine, but leave living things where they are
· Don't feed wildlife.
· Don’t break plants.
· Obey the rules of the trail.
4. Stay safe.
· Don’t go out alone. It’s fun to explore with a friend, a sibling, or an adult.
· If you go on an expedition, get permission and share your plans with a responsible adult. Let him or her know exactly where you are going.
Let’s explore!
Copyright © 2017 by Fiona Cohen, Illustrated by Marni Fylling. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
