Educators, students, families, youth groups, and the general public are invited to participate in the Great Lakes BioBlitz, a community science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible. This bioblitz focuses on the entire Great Lakes Basin US and Canada. It runs for four weeks.
Who should participate?
Everyone!
Teachers, educators, students, youth groups, individuals, and families.
Why should I participate?
A bioblitz provides a way to record biodiversity – the variety of wild living things found in a given area. For the Great Lakes BioBlitz, residents of the states and provinces in the Great Lakes region work together to collect as many observations as possible. Biodiversity data can contribute to research and conservation efforts.
When?
- Starts: Earth Day
- Ends: Exactly four weeks later
- The Great Lakes BioBlitz will remain open for submissions for weeks, but you can join in the fun any day! Take an afternoon to explore and document some plant or wildlife in an area, or pick a location to return to weekly, or set a goal to find something new every day–-there are many ways to participate.
Where?
The bioblitz will take place in yards and other outdoor spaces all across Ontario and Quebec, Canada, and the Great Lakes states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
How do I participate in the BioBlitz?
- Visit www.inaturalist.org on your computer, or download the free iNaturalist app onto your mobile device.
- Create an account.
- Become a member of the Great Lakes BioBlitz project when it becomes available.
- Start making and posting observations. You can record audio or take photos.
- Check out and help identify observations made by participants all across the Great Lakes region.
Want to learn more great ways to use the Great Lakes BioBlitz with educators, teachers, and students?
COMING SOON! Our Great Lakes BioBlitz Resources webpage has more information about the project and educator resources for engaging youth in this wonderful learning experience!
- 2020 Great Lakes BioBlitz
- 2021 Great Lakes BioBlitz
- 2022 Great Lakes BioBlitz
- 2023 Great Lakes BioBlitz
- 2024 Great Lakes BioBlitz
- 2025 Great Lakes BioBlitz – coming soon!
Questions about iNaturalist or the Great Lakes Bioblitz?
Contact Anne Moser (Wisconsin Sea Grant) at akmoser@aqua.wisc.edu or Heidi Ferris (Minnesota Sea Grant) at hferris@umn.edu.
