Bat Weekend Events and Activities #WingedWednesdays
If you haven’t already heard this weekend August 28th and 29th is International Bat Weekend! In celebration the Toronto Zoo’s Native Bat Conservation Program has a bunch of events going on.
Virtual Events
August 28th 1:00 pm- Join us on the Toronto Zoo’s Facebook Live as we tour the amazing bat lab at McMaster University. You’ll get to hear about what they study and see some Ontario bat species up close! (https://www.facebook.com/TheTorontoZoo )
August 28th 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm: This exclusive zoom presentation will encompass what bat there are in Ontario, what the Native Bat Conservation Program does, and why bat research is so important. We will also be watching for wild bats over Weston Pond at the Toronto Zoo and using special bat technology to listen to the bats around us. If you have any bat questions this will also be your time to ask the bat experts! ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED (https://www.torontozoo.com/events/virtualbatevening#evt )
August 29th 1:00 pm: Bats are something that all ages can enjoy! Join the NBCP as we wrap up bat weekend with a read-along of an inspiring bat story on the Toronto Zoo’s Facebook live. (https://www.facebook.com/TheTorontoZoo )
If these events won’t leave you inspired about bats, then one of our activities below will! We’ve collected a variety of awesome bat activities for different ages that you are sure to enjoy.
Activities
- Want to learn a bit more about the different parts of a bat? Here are some cool bat anatomy pages:
- Bats have impressive wingspans in comparison to their body size. With this neat activity you can find out what your wingspan would be if you were a bat! https://cdn.bats.org.uk/pdf/Resources/Work-out-your-wingspan.pdf?mtime=20181101151556&focal=none
Arts & Crafts
- Learn step by step how to draw your own bat through this guide: https://www.wedrawanimals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/how-to-draw-a-bat-step-by-step.png
Make your own Origami bat with this neat Toronto Zoo craft!
- Fly high in the sky with a fun and colourable bat kite: https://cdn.bats.org.uk/pdf/Resources/Bat_Kite_2.pdf?mtime=20181101151538&focal=none
- Teach kids about how bats hang upside down and let them try themselves with these fun and easy hanging upside down bat crafts- one uses a toilet paper tube https://buggyandbuddy.com/hanging-bat-craft-kids/
- And the other string! http://www.housingaforest.com/yarn-wrapped-bat/
- If fluffy (like real bats!) is more your style create these puffy pom-pom bats! https://www.redtedart.com/bat-crafts-pom-pom-bats/
- Or, how about a fun paper-bat puppet with wings that move? https://www.redtedart.com/bat-paper-puppet/
Videos
Once everyone is tired from all the bat activities and crafts settle in to watch two kid-friendly short bat videos we found on Youtube.
Wild Explorers – All About Bats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiFLrnyeiN8
Fun Facts About Bats- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3w9ZbRQIek
Lastly if you haven’t seen it before do check out our previous blog post on awesome bat books here: https://adoptapond.wordpress.com/2021/07/14/best-bat-books-for-all-ages/
Anyone else as excited for bat weekend as we are?!