Pond Dipping - Great Outdoor Activity for Children

Pond dipping involves using a net to capture as many different underwater creatures in a pond (or small stream) and studying them close up. It is an excellent Field Trip activity for schools and children. SAFETY NOTE: Please note that young children should be supervised closely at all times near any pond, stream or open water source. Don't forget to wash your hands before eating after pond dipping and cover any cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters.

Small children's nets are very cheap from a seaside store, or a small aquarium net can be used to the same effect, providing there is easy access to the water. Anything caught in the net can be place in a bucket, or better still a large jam / jelly jar so the small creatures can be studied easily.

Care should be taken not to disturb a pond too much so it is a good idea to limit the size of the group or time taken to pond dip. Move the net around slowly so as not to frighten creatures away. However, alot of wildlife can be found in the weeds, mud and sludge at the bottom of a pond so carefully move the net through the gungy stuff!

Any small creatures and even larger amphibians like frogs and newts should be handled carefully, ideally in the wet net and not by hand. Have a shallow tray, bucket or jam / jelly jar ready filled with water (from the same pond you are dipping) and place any creatures stright into the water. For amphibians make sure they have somewhere to rest out of the water like a large stone or piece of wood in the shallow tray.

You can make a game of collecting the most number of different species, same species or unusual creatures. Log all the animals you find as part of a field exercise. Maybe pond dip at different times of year when different larvae are hatching and amphibians spawning.

Don't forget to return all the creatures back to the pond as soon as possible. Unless you have a suitable aquarium or tank to study the creatures for longer at home or in the classroom.

You can make an underwater viewer by carefully cutting the end off a large can or tin and placing clear wrap cellophane or clingfilm over the end. Tape over any sharp edges and place an elastic band and then tape around the edge to make the end waterproof. The viewer can be placed on the surface of the water to study the underwater world.