Get ideas for February vacation fun!





Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife





*mefishwildlife.com*






Design a new Maine animal for a chance to win!
A child smiles and holds up her artwork.

It has been a cold February vacation this year so far, but there are lots of fun ways to connect with nature even on the days you stay indoors! Our Design a New Maine Animal [ [link removed] ] activity is always a big hit for the whole family on winter's coldest days. Give it a try this week for a chance to win a day pass to Maine Wildlife Park [ [link removed] ]! Here's how it works:


* *Gather supplies:* You'll need a pencil, crayons, or markers to draw with and some paper to draw on. If you want, you can also download our activity sheet [ [link removed] ] to design your animal. 
* *Choose a habitat and diet:* Does your new Maine animal live in the forest? How about a field, stream, pond, swamp? Is your animal a carnivore (meat-eater), herbivore (plant-eater) or omnivore (eats both plants and animals)? 
* *Choose adaptations: *Think about what you know about real Maine wildlife [ [link removed] ] and choose your favorite features to include in your animal. Do they walk, swim, climb, or fly? Are they active during the day or at night? Do they blend into their habitat? How does your animal find food, avoid predators, and stay warm in the cold?
* *Draw your animal: *Time to get creative! There is no wrong way to design a new Maine animal. Choose any colors you want and feel free to include habitat in your drawing!
* *Name your animal: *Some animals are named for how they look or what they do. Others are named after the person who discovered them. How you name yours is up to you!
* *Share your design with us for a chance to win: *Head over to our Facebook [ [link removed] ] page, find the Design a New Maine Animal post, and drop a photo of your animal in the comments before the end of vacation week. We'll randomly select a few lucky participants to receive a day pass to Maine Wildlife Park [ [link removed] ] to learn more about Maine wildlife during the 2025 season! Not on Facebook? Please send your drawing via email <[email protected]>.

*Design a New Maine Animal* [ [link removed] ]


*Share Your Design with Us* [ [link removed] ]


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Ready to get outside and explore? Here are more activities to stay active and learning in the winter:





Winter Scavenger Hunt [ [link removed] ]
A list of items in nature for a winter scavenger hunt. [ [link removed] ]

A fun option for your youngest Maine naturalist, a scavenger hunt gets kids outside and noticing all the wonderful things found in nature in their own backyard and beyond. Find more scavenger hunt lists [ [link removed] ] here or make your own!




Wildlife Tracking [ [link removed] ]
A pocket guide to animal tracks. [ [link removed] ]

Pick up some tracking tips from our blog [ [link removed] ], then download a free printable copy of our Pocket Guide to Maine Animal Tracks [ [link removed] ] and head outdoors to learn who is who in the Maine woods.






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More information

Nature-Based Educational Activities & Materials [ [link removed] ]

Resources for Teachers and Educators [ [link removed] ]

Upcoming Workshops & Programs [ [link removed] ]

Join NatureQuest [ [link removed] ]

Learn about Maine's Wildlife Diversity [ [link removed] ]

Ways to Get Outside in Maine [ [link removed] ]

Visit Maine Wildlife Park [ [link removed] ]

 








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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ·41 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0041 · (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]