• We'll be bioblitzing at Empire Mine State Historic Park.
• We will meet here.
• Arrive around 7:30-7:45am to find parking, use the restroom, and then meet the California Academy of Sciences and Stanford University Woods Institute staff in or near the parking lot.
• At 8am, there will be a quick introduction to the bioblitz, "zombie forests," what we're looking for, and where we're going.
• We'll break into groups that will explore different trails and document all the species we can find! You'll get to chose the group you'd like to go with.
• During the bioblitz, we'll take photos / make iNaturalist observations of every species we can find! Once you upload them to iNaturalist, they'll automatically be added to our Zombie Forest Bioblitz project!
• At the end of the bioblitz, we'll all meet up back together to enjoy some snacks, share about what each group found, and talk about how the data will be used.

There will be different groups taking different trails, ranging from relatively flat to ones with more change in terrain. The weather will likely be warm but trails will be mostly under the trees in shade. As we bioblitz we tend to not move very quickly, but some groups might try to cover more distance than others. We recommend that you move at a pace and distance that feels comfortable to you. Getting up close to see organisms and to take photos might require bending and crouching over. 

Children are welcome but need to be under parent/guardian supervision at all times.

At the minimum, you need a smartphone with iNaturalist installed and logged into, or a camera to upload your observations to the iNaturalist website later. We recommend familiarizing yourself with iNaturalist before you come. If you haven't used it before, download the free iNaturalist app to your phone and create an account. Make a few observations around your yard or neighborhood to get a feel for the app. Here's a short video on how to make observations on iNaturalist.

Clothing: Wear comfortable layers! It will likely warm up during the bioblitz (average temperature in mid-July is 88°F), but we'll be mostly under trees in the shade. You may want a hat and/or sunglasses.

Footwear: Be prepared to walk/hike on dirt trails. We recommend sturdy shoes with good tread.

Other essentials: Bring water so you can stay hydrated throughout the bioblitz! You may also want a backpack, sunscreen, snacks, hiking poles... anything you need to feel comfortable out in the forest for a few hours.

Because we'll be outside, masks aren't required, but definitely feel free to bring one and wear one if you'd like, especially for times where you might be gathered with others.