Have you ever wondered how wildlife stays warm during the winter? Or why no dinosaur fossils have ever been discovered in Ohio? Are you curious about ways you can live more sustainably?
If any of these topics stir your inquisitive mind, Ribbit!, a free children’s magazine created in Columbus, answers questions like these in ways that are fun, local, and easy to understand. Through educational articles, colorful illustrations, and engaging puzzles, Ribbit! encourages young readers and their families to explore science and nature in their own backyards.
“We want children to grow up with a sense of belonging to nature, a curiosity for science, and a love for learning,” said Bettina Cooper, Executive Director of Naturewise Columbus, the nonprofit that produces Ribbit!.
PICTURED (l-r): Jessica Dickson, Board Treasurer of Naturewise Columbus, and Bettina Cooper, Executive Director of Naturewise Columbus and Production Manager of Ribbit! Magazine. This image was taken at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus.
Cooper, who also serves as the magazine's Production Manager, said that the idea for Ribbit! came from a desire to help all youth in the region access nature education. Although Columbus is home to many parks and organizations that offer nature programming and STEM education, Cooper recognized that not all children are able to participate in these experiences—whether because of where they live or if their family has the resources required.
“Our idea was to bring those experiences right into the hands of children through a free nature magazine,” Cooper explained.
Designed for children ages 8-14, Ribbit! is a quarterly publication featuring seasonal content and stories about ways kids can interact with nature, science, and environmental stewardship in and around Columbus. Working closely with organizations like Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Keep Columbus Beautiful, the Ohio Wildlife Center, and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), the magazine offers engaging stories that the whole family can learn from and enjoy.
After each issue of Ribbit! is published, Naturewise Columbus distributes the magazine to libraries, nature centers, and community centers, as well as at local events. Each issue of the magazine is available online—along with virtual “field trips”—at ribbitmagazine.com. Ribbit! also partners with educators to reach students throughout Franklin County.
“One of our most important partners is educators,” said Cooper. “We offer free classroom sets for in-school and out-of-school learning and deliver them directly to classrooms.”
To ensure that Ribbit! can continue to create free educational content to children and classrooms throughout the region, Naturewise Columbus relies on the support of donors and partners, including The Columbus Foundation. Last year, The Green Funds of The Columbus Foundation awarded Naturewise Columbus a $5,000 grant to support the production and distribution of Ribbit!. Established in 2001, The Green Funds supports organizations that are working to strengthen and improve the community through environmental, conservation, natural beautification, and ecological education grantmaking.
Although Ribbit! is a relatively new publication—the first issue was released in the fall of 2024—Cooper said that as awareness of the magazine grows, more and more children and families are enthusiastically picking up their copy and leaping into the material.
“It’s become more than just a nature magazine—it's a resource that serves many different needs,” said Cooper. “It’s just a joy to bring these stories together and share them with kids all over Columbus.”
