Adventures in Community Science Workbook: 14 Investigations Connected to Actual Community-Based Initiatives

Are you ready for a real-world investigation of community science projects so you can participate or start your own initiative?

The Adventures in Community Science Workbook is an investigative, interdisciplinary activity book that offers classroom students, homeschooled children, and visitors to nature centers and parks the opportunity to build their collaborative, scientific skills through data sets, natural-history study, and creative lessons. The project-based learning approach is used in each of the seven areas of study, including two investigations for each of the following adventures: 

• Horseshoe Crab Rescue
• Night Lights (Firefly Activity)
• Finding Frogs
• Mystery Mussel
• Lanternflies Have Landed
• The Great Shorebird Migration
• SOS: Save Our Spiders  

The content can be used as an introduction to community science efforts and as a review of main themes and data collected in the field, or simply to strengthen investigative and creative skills for the budding scientist. Each activity is designed to build science skills, explore interdisciplinary content, and develop leadership and collaboration for the students and teachers that use this resource. Answer key is provided!

• Works as a companion title to Adventures in Community Science, with corresponding activities for each of the community science themes and adventures!

Ron Smith is a science educator, naturalist, and community science project leader from Merchantville, New Jersey. With over 25 years of project-, place-, and problem-based learning experience, Ron leads community science adventures for children and adults alike. Collaborating with various conservation organizations and scientists from universities and state agencies, Ron has initiated community science projects ranging from horseshoe crab rescues to frog surveys.

Lily Smith is an artist studying at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. As an art therapy major, Lily has engaged in various disciplines from painting to photography. She has applied her creative talents to conservation projects with emphasis on migratory birds, climate change, and ecosystem services and has assisted with art education projects for National Audubon’s Family Camp in Maine and various community science youth projects.

Karen Acton is an educator, artist, and nature conservationist. She has intentionally embraced the beauty of what happens when art meets environmental science. Karen is passionate about calling on curiosity and awareness as the essentials for cultivating individual as well as community experiences in the never-ending quest for an intimate understanding of the wonders of nature.