I’ll never forget looking out the window when I was 10 and seeing two wild boars in my front yard.  Growing up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in North Georgia, I saw lots of “wild” things: deer, turtles, snakes, countless red and blue birds, frogs, moles… it’s an endless list for the endless amount of wildlife that call it “home.”

I recently relocated to the District of Columbia, and happily, my wildlife viewing has not stopped.  I work at the National Wildlife Federation headquarters in Reston, Virginia, where we are lucky to have wildlife right outside the door. You should see how many grown men and women turn into that 10-year-old kid again when we walk outside and see a critter or two.  We’ve had some pretty wild encounters–not to mention our “home” is pretty wild all on its own.

10 “Wildest” Things Happening in National Wildlife Federation Headquarters’ Backyard

Chinese Praying Mantis walking on the sidewalk at NWF headquarters, Photo Credit: MABlevins

#10 Watch your step!

When we arrive to work, we never know what we’re going to see, like this guy. From praying mantids to deer you are almost guaranteed to spot wildlife around NWF’s headquarters.  NWF’s Naturalist David Mizejewski helped me identify the mantis in our picture and it’s a Chinese mantis, an introduced species to the United States around 1895, and is one of the most commonly seen in this area.

#9 Solar power

In our front yard, we have a demonstration solar panel near the flagpole that actually provides the hot water for the showers on the lower level.

#8 We compost

NWF’s Cool It! Recycling Committee has a composter at headquarters that everyone uses to throw in leftovers, such as fruit and veggie scraps, crushed eggshells, coffee grinds and tea bags.  Staff members from the Committee help maintain it by stirring it a few times a year.  Compost makes great fertilizer for gardens and household plants.

Our resident groudhog at NWF headquarters, Photo Credit: Amanda Stone

#7 GROUNDHOG SIGHTING!

NWF staffers sometimes see our resident groundhog who lives behind the vine-covered trellis (Wild Happening #2).  He can be seen all over headquarters: bathing himself in the shade, running around the pond or even snoozing!

#6 We have a “wildlife-friendly” set up

There are no storm drains on the property and nearly everything that falls on the building and grounds drains into our two bio-retention swales in the parking lot. This includes the water from our rooftop heating, ventilation and air condition units. The swales—a low tract of land— have a special soil mix that allow them to maintain more moisture and slowly disperse it into the local watershed, which prevents erosion.  This also allows the trees and wetland plants in the bio-retention area to filter pollutants from run-off water.

As NWF Scientist Doug Inkley describes it: “It has to be the most wildlife-friendly parking lot I’ve ever known.  This was by design, and it worked.  Breeding orchard orioles, mallards, Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, frogs; and I see fox, deer, box turtles, red-shouldered hawks, woodchucks and more.”

The pond outside of NWF's headquarters provides water for wildlife. Photo Credit: MABlevins

#5 Let’s go Geocaching

Ranger Rick’s Geocache Trails are family friendly, wildlife-themed, outdoor treasure hunts that encourage kids to get outdoors. Using GPS-enabled devices, people seek and find hidden geocaches on trails at places such as parks, campgrounds, and nature centers.  There are a number of geo-caches in the woods right behind headquarters, including one that is maintained by NWF staff.  I went for the first time and I couldn’t believe it when I found out there are millions of these all over the world!

#4 Our “home” is certified

Yes we are! NWF’s headquarters is a Certified Wildlife Habitat^®.  We have a pond for water supply, great cover (see Wild Happening #2), ample food sources like fringe trees and wild bergamot, , and headquarters is surrounded by acres of trees, flowers and vines for young to be raised (see Wild Happening #3 and #1!).

#3  “Wild Animal Babies” live here

Just like our magazine, Wild Animal Babies suggests, we can’t get enough of baby animals, and these little raccoons—recorded right outside headquarters—learning to climb are no exception:

Click here to view the embedded video.

#2 We’re covered in vines!

“It's not divine, it's just a small courtesy. I would hope anyone would take the, usually, thirty seconds to a minute to try and help ensure an animal's immediate safety.” – Ben Spector, NWF staff

#1 “I like turtles.”

Just like the Zombie kid from 2007, we like turtles too.  On rainy days you’ll see folks checking under their cars before driving off to make sure there aren’t any turtles hanging out. Or sometimes, we find them in the most unusual places, like this wee box turtle in the picture found by NWF Staffer Ben Spector.  Spector stumbled upon him on our front doorstep and helped relocate the turtle to a safer place.  Wild, right? Well, it’s probably pretty tame, but we’re all turtle guardians and help protect the “wild” life we love.

Got wild things happening in your backyard? Share your sightings and stories with us at NWF’s Wildlife Watch.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it “Wild”

Another favorite spot was a nearby brook. There I’d plop myself down and listen to the soothing sounds of the gentle waters tripping and flowing over rocks. I’d turn over the stones at the bottom of the brook to see what little creatures lived there. Some days, I’d head for this spot when I was upset. (Life with a moody, depressed, angry father was tough.) Here, in my secret hiding place I could cry my heart out.

Always, I’d return from these long solo treks feeling much more at peace than when I’d set out. You might say that nature empowered this shy, withdrawn, overly sensitive girl to emerge a bolder, more centered, and relaxed version of myself. Study after study today shows that spending time in nature does, in fact, help kids to become calmer and more self-disciplined–oh, and smarter, too, dare I mention!

Of course I had no idea back then that these childhood adventures in the “wild” were anything but fun! Certainly they instilled in me a lifelong love of nature. Nor did I have any inkling that one day my love of nature would lead me to my current job, working on a magazine dedicated to helping today’s kids develop that same connection. Seriously, how lucky can one girl be?

Sadly, as Meagan Francis, author of an article, “How to Get Kids to Play Outdoors” (Good Housekeeping magazine) comments, “In America today, a child is about three times more likely to play video games regularly than to ride a bike.” And she details the other grim facts about the growing obesity, childhood diabetes, and other health consequences of this indoor generation.

Francis suggests ways to get kids outdoors with a minimum of parental angst:

• Establish Ground Rules: With certain rules, such as insisting kids let you know where they are going, when they’ll be back, and a promise to check in at a certain time, it can be just fine to let older kids, at least, head off in a group.
• Set a Schedule with Other Parents: A group of neighborhood parents can plan a certain time when their kids are all allowed outside and several pre-approved places where they can play together. That way, there is no argument “There is nothing to do outside or nobody to play with.”
• Be a Role Model: There are many fun, outdoor family activities. Hiking, camping, fishing, exploring national parks, for starters. And what about building bird houses, gardening, or creating a tree house or a fort–either temporary or more permanent? Maybe the kids can even spend the night outside in the tree house or fort!
• Give Kids Responsibility: Get your whole family involved in outdoors activities, something as simple as running to the store down the street, or planning a hike, or a trip to a park.

I’d also add Geocaching to this list–it’s a high-tech treasure hunt using a GPS device. Or for the low-tech version, try Letterboxing.

Read the article for more tips on overcoming the barriers that keep us inside.

There’s magic just beyond your door waiting to be discovered! So what’s stopping you and your family?

Libby Schleichert is a Senior Editor at Ranger Rick magazine. Follow her as @EPSchleichert on Twitter.

1. Tether myself to my couch
2. Surf Twitter, Flickr and Facebook
3. Catch up on my Netflix
   

This is especially sad, because I coordinate www.greenhour.org – NWF’s website that encourages kids and their parents to go outside. Shouldn’t I be able to resist the lure of the many screens in my home?

Yes – and, in fact, I WILL RESIST!

While working here, I’ve discovered amazing tools to get me off the couch and into the great outdoors — and I thought I’d share.

5 tips to make outdoor adventures part of your family’s winter routine:

1. Layer it up: Wear several layers of clothing. What keeps you warm is the heat you capture in between the layers! (Hint: Mittens are warmer than gloves, because fingers retain more heat when they touch each other.)
2. Stay dry: Nothing chills you like wet skin. For optimal warmth, your base layer should be made of a material that wicks away sweat from your body. Popular fabrics include polypropylene and silk. Your outermost layer should be water- and wind-proof.
3. Geocaching and Letterboxing: Now that you’re warm, look for hidden treasure (and get some fresh air at the same time.) There are about 20,000 letterboxes hidden in North America and 707,904 geocaches around the world. Go find one!
4. Find nature nearby: Find a park or nature center near you, then head out for a walk. First, download a Wildlife Observation Checklist or a Nature Scavenger Hunt list to make it interesting.
5. Watch the neighbors: Fill your birdfeeders and see what visitors come. Learn how to make a nesting box for your feathered friends.

HAVE FUN!