Rent a Wild Explorer Pack and hit the trails to learn about the plants and animals of Owl's Hill!

These backpacks are filled with materials and self-guided activities appropriate for kids ages 3-10. All packs include field guides, a nature-themed story book, flashlight, compass, magnifying glass, colored pencils, and themed activity materials. Each pack comes with a journal to keep, to encourage further exploration.

Rental cost per backpack is $10. Additional journals can be purchased for $2.50.

• By renting a Wild Explorer Pack, you agree to return the pack and all materials in good condition.
• A fee will be assessed for missing or damaged items. Replacement cost for items in the backpack is $5-$50.
• In case of total damage or lost pack, the replacement cost is $275.

Choose from 4 Themes (subject to availability)

Wildlife Watcher Who left those tracks? Who sings that song? Learn about the mammals and birds of Owl's Hill.. As you hike along the trails, listen for wildlife and look for the signs they leave behind. This pack includes field guides to birds and mammals, a guide to scats, tracks and signs, track rubbing plates and binoculars. Take a break and read Have You Heard the Nesting Bird by Rita Gray. Maybe the birds will sing along with you.

Hidden Critters Look - do you see the lizard scurrying along the stone wall? What is that sound coming from the pond? Who lives under this log? Look closely and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of the scurrying, hopping, swimming, and slithering residents of Owl's Hill. This pack includes field guides to reptiles and amphibians, a guide to the plants and animals found near streams, and pocket microscope and plastic containers. Peek into the world of a salamander by reading The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer.

Flowers & Trees From the tiny wildflowers to the mighty oaks, every plant at Owl's Hill has a story to tell. How many colors of flowers can you find blooming in the meadow? Can you find one that is taller than you are? Compare the shapes of leaves and see where the biggest trees grow. Leaf through The Magic & Mystery of Trees by Jen Green and learn to see trees in action! Play a game with tree cards or sort them into shapes. This pack also includes leaf rubbing plates and guides to trees and wildflowers.

Bugs and Butterflies Step into the wonderful world of beetles, butterflies, bugs and other creatures that pounce, pollinate, and flutter! Can you find a millipede under a log, a caterpillar munching a leaf, a lurking wheel bug, or a jewel-bright tiger beetle? Use a net and a magnifying jar to take a closer look and these mysterious and wonderful creatures. This pack includes a guide to common wildflowers, as well as guides to moths, butterflies and other insects. The engaging story The Bumblebee Queen by April Pulley Sayre explores the life of a commonly seen pollinator.

Wild Explorer Pack Program made possible by a grant from the

Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee