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The collection of family-fun, Eco-Explorer backpack kits are designed to inspire eco-friendly living inside and out! These kits are a fun and educational option for families and relatives with visiting children. Developed by UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County in partnership with Sarasota County Libraries, the Eco-Explorer backpack kits are available for free check-out with your library card at all Sarasota County Libraries locations.
Each Eco-Explorer backpack kit contains all you'll need to get started, including books, gear, and activities designed to inspire exploration for all ages. Click on a backpack kit name below to see (or hide) more content (or, show all content).
Explore Your World
...from your neighborhood to nature
The Explore Your World kit is designed to help explorers of all ages get outside and explore their world. Each kit includes books, gear, and activities designed to inspire exploration for all ages... from your neighborhood to nature!
Why Explore Your World?
Recent studies show that time in nature:
builds confidence,
promotes creativity and imagination,
teaches responsibility,
provides stimulation,
gets kids moving,
inspires thinking, and
reduces stress and fatigue.
These effects benefit both children AND adults. And, the benefits last beyond the time spent in nature.
Look through the Explore Your World kit items and activities.
Review the “How to Explore” and “Exploring Safely” sections of the kit's activity book.
Grab an adult and head out to your yard, a park, or any other green space.
Explore!
Visit this page to find and print activities (or you can do this at your local library), see book suggestions, and get more fun ideas to do with your family… from your neighborhood to nature!
Investigate the incredible (and tiny) world of insects. Learn about the different kinds of insects, how and what they eat, how they see, how they’ve adapted to survive, and more.
Family Green Living
Explore sustainability with the interactive Family Green Living Kit—a gateway to eco-friendly fun and learning for all ages. Foster an understanding of conservation, sustainability concepts, and encourage environmental stewardship as a family!
Explore Your World Informational Videos
NOTE: When you're done exploring, make sure to pack all the kit items (clean and in good condition) in your backpack and return it to a Sarasota County library. Your fellow Explorers are counting on you!
Please complete our short survey and share your experience with the Eco-Explorerbackpack kits. Sharing your story and/or a photo will enter you into a drawing to receive one of the items from the backpacks.
Please complete our short survey and share your experience with the Explore Your World backpack. Sharing your story and/or a photo will enter you into a drawing to receive one of the items from the backpack.