daily activities

NEXT DAY

Hideouts and Strongholds

Animal Hideouts

Humans aren’t the only creatures that create homes and hideouts. Insects, birds, and other animals create their own elaborate structures, too. Today, you’ll dive underwater to visit a beaver’s lodge, crawl deep into the twisting tunnels of an ant colony, tangle with an Orb spider as it carefully creates its web, and more. Who knows? Maybe your next fort will look less like a castle and more like a bird’s nest.

DAY 4

what you’ll need

Your Camp Kinda toolkit
A ball of yarn or string

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FOR PARENTS

Ask About Today

Which animal home or hideout do you think would be the coziest to live in? Why?

Skip the Ads

Unfortunately, online videos often start with short advertisements. Remind your campers to click the "Skip" button as soon as they can to move ahead to the video.

explore

45-60 minutes

Awesome Animal Architects

Get a look at some of the most talented architects of the animal kingdom in this article from National Geographic.

Beavers: Nature’s Best Builders?

Besides humans, beavers alter their environment more than any other animal—and they make some of the best hideouts in the world. Safely sitting in the middle of ponds created by their dams, beaver lodges boast underwater entrances and an extra tough shell of sticks and branches. Meet these amazing animals and watch them at work in this 25-minute documentary from National Geographic Kids.

Remember: Online videos often start with advertisements. (Annoying, we agree!) Click the "Skip" button as soon as you can to move ahead to the video.

Into an Ant Fortress

What’s inside an ant hill? Below that mound of dirt you see on the surface lies a sprawling complex of ant tunnels, some stretching two meters underground. See how they’re built and why they’re shaped the way they are in this video from Science Insider.

Meet the Baya Weaver

The Baya Weaver is one crafty little bird. It collects and weaves together pieces of grass to create beautiful, basket-like nests. Let’s watch one at work.

A Spider’s (Almost) Invisible Fort

Spiders make some of the coolest forts in nature, with webs so thin you can hardly see them, yet tough enough to capture insects (and sometimes your face, if you’re not watching where you’re going). See how an Orb spider constructs its web in this video from BBC Earth.

What About Buildings Shaped Like Animals?

We’ve been exploring the homes and hideouts of our animal friends. But what about human structures shaped like animals? So glad you asked! Get a look at some of the more creative animal-shaped buildings in this article. We’re particularly fond of “The Big Merino.”

create

30-60 minutes

Make a Spiderweb in Your Room

Turn your room into a spider’s fortress by weaving a web of your own. All you need is some string or yarn and tape (or a few places to use as anchors for your web). Bonus: This also makes for a great Halloween decoration.

Share your work! We'd love to see it. Ask a parent to email a photo or video to us or share it on Instagram or Twitter by tagging @KindaGuide.

Draw a Building Shaped Like an Animal

No yarn? No problem. Get a sheet of paper and try drawing a building shaped like an animal—a house-turtle, perhaps, or a shark-skyscraper, or an owl-apartment. What’s the weirdest combo you can dream up?

move

30-45 minutes

Find Some Animal Hideouts

When the time is right, go on a walk around your neighborhood with a friend or family member and search for animal hideouts. Watch where the birds go, look for traces of squirrels, chipmunks, or moles, and follow a few bees, ants, or beetles. Where do they make their homes? How many different types of animal hideouts can you find? Do you notice anything similar or different about the ones in your area?

Be safe: Always check with an adult before heading outside!

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