Mudslide Mayhem at Badlands National Park - Mudlings: Weathering, Erosion, and Soil Adventure

Mudslide Mayhem at Badlands National Park

Mudlings: Weathering, Erosion, and Soil Adventure

The land is falling apart faster than it should.

Massive rainstorms have triggered sudden mudslides, fragile rock towers are crumbling, and entire sections of the Badlands are shifting before anyone can react. Ari Raider has detected a growing instability across the park’s exposed terrain. The Mudlings — guardians of soil, sediment, and surface change — are losing control of the systems that shape the land.

In Mudslide Mayhem, explorers are dispatched deep into Badlands National Park on a high-risk recovery mission. Using a field research truck, students investigate how rock breaks down, how soil moves, and how landscapes are reshaped over time. Each decision depends on understanding real Earth processes — from weathering and erosion to soil layers and human impact — as explorers race to stabilize the terrain and prevent total collapse.

This adventure transforms erosion and soil science into a fast-moving mission driven by observation, cause-and-effect thinking, and environmental problem-solving.

About This Adventure Pack

Mudslide Mayhem at Badlands National Park is designed for elementary explorers and is part of the Excavating Adventures series.

Students can complete the Mudslide Mayhem adventure online for free, including access to free printable adventure trading cards that match this experience. The online adventure delivers the full story and learning without requiring a physical pack.

👉 Explore the free Mudslide Mayhem adventure here:
Coming soon

For families or classrooms that want to extend the experience, this Adventure Pack adds collectible trading cards and a hands-on mystery dig that brings Earth’s surface processes into the real world.

The learning experience is the same whether students use the physical pack or not. The pack simply adds a tactile, collectible layer to the adventure.

What This Adventure Covers

Each Mudslide Mayhem Adventure Pack explores key weathering, erosion, and soil concepts through the Mudlings:

• Weathering – How wind, water, ice, and temperature break rock into smaller pieces
• Erosion – How soil and sediment are moved by water and wind
• Deposition – Where and how eroded material settles
• Soil Formation – How soil forms from rock and organic matter
• Soil Layers – Understanding soil horizons and fertility
• Water Erosion – How runoff reshapes land
• Wind Erosion – How dry landscapes are sculpted by air movement
• Soil Types – Sand, clay, loam, and land stability
• Human Impact on Soil – How people affect erosion and conservation

Each concept appears naturally within the mission and is required to move the story forward, reinforcing learning through exploration rather than memorization.

What’s Inside the Pack

• 9 Adventure Trading Cards
Story-driven Mudlings cards that guide the mission and reinforce key Earth science concepts.

• 1 Real Mystery Dig
A hands-on dig containing a real specimen to excavate, clean, and identify.

• Dig Stick Tool
Used to carefully uncover the hidden specimen.

• Cleaning Wipe
For revealing the specimen after excavation.

• Excavating Adventures Sticker
A collectible sticker to mark the completed mission.

Why Kids Love It

Unstable cliffs, sudden mudslides, real excavation, and collectible cards turn soil science into a dangerous-feeling terrain rescue mission.

Why Teachers and Parents Love It

Mudslide Mayhem supports Earth science learning through real-world processes, clear vocabulary, and flexible use in classrooms or at home. The mess-free dig and story-driven format make complex land-shaping concepts easy to understand and engaging to explore.

Free Adventure Option

Mudslide Mayhem is also available online for free, including free printable trading cards that align directly with this adventure. No purchase is required to participate.

This reflects our mission at Excavating Adventures: to make engaging, story-driven learning experiences accessible to everyone.

👉 Explore the free Mudslide Mayhem adventure here:
Coming soon