Outside Wonder Lab
Engaging in citizen science at home
Schools may be closed, but the citizen science fun can continue! For example our CCS Innovator Fellow, Peggy Harte has initiated the Outside Wonder Lab Project to help families learn about their backyards and nearby open spaces while practicing responsible social distancing.
Join your county’s Outside Wonder
Lab Project (all listed
here) on iNaturalist to discover the creatures that have been
sharing your space. Take the first step by going out into your
yard, then start observing. Using iNaturalist you can
capture pictures of your observations, identify the species you
have discovered, and share your findings. Even if we are all
physically apart, this project provides an opportunity to learn
from each other while contributing to a global database that
scientists can use to better understand and protect
nature. In the past few days, our Yolo
County community has sighted Western Fence Lizards, Sierran
treefrogs, American Avocets, and over 2000 other species!
We hope you can find some time to enjoy exploring nearby wildlife (safely, of course!) during this stressful time. For more citizen science projects that can keep you engaged with your community and the natural world during this public health crisis, check out the links below:
- You can celebrate Citizen Science Month from home.
- Exploratorium - a collection of online experiences
- Socially Distant BioBlitz (April 5th)
- National Geographic activity to guide youth through analyzing local biodiversity using their iNaturalist data
Come join us and start sharing your findings!
