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iNaturalist Program

Background: Biodiversity is an important marker for an ecosystem’s health. Use your smartphone or a camera to take and share detailed pictures of nature and help create a living record of life on Earth using the iNaturalist app! Get familiar with the concepts by completing the Foundation of Citizen Science training module.

Age group: All ages, children 13 and under will need an adult to help submit data

Event timing and location: 1 hour, outdoors in parks, gardens, nature preserves, etc.

Preparation:

  1. Review the project protocol on SciStarter:

https://scistarter.org/Affiliates/iNaturalist-Affiliates

  1. Gather materials.
  2. Smartphone/camera
  3. Optional Materials.*
  4. Clip-on Lens for Smartphones
  5. Binoculars
  6. Local Field Guides
  7. Field Notebooks
  8. Download the iNaturalist App onto mobile devices or use the iNaturalist web browser.

*These materials are associated with the Exploring Biodiversity Kit. Learn more at SciStarter.org/library-build-a-kit.

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Set the Stage

  • Introduce the concept of citizen science using Foundations of Citizen Science facilitator slides and guide.
  • Have participants create accounts on SciStarter.org.
  • Discuss the importance of biodiversity.
  • Have participants download the iNaturalist App and review the observation and data collection protocols. Allow time for questions.
  • If you have an “Exploring Biodiversity” library kit, practice using the lenses and other materials

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Collect Data

  • Instruct participants to go outside and take photos of local flora and fauna.
  • Support participants to share their data on the app by clicking the “Observe” button. On the iNaturalist website, you’ll click “Upload” to get started.
  • Tip: For users 12 or younger, use Seek! by iNaturalist which offers species identification and nature journaling but doesn’t automatically post observations to the global database.

Take Action

Program Description

  • Discuss what your noticed on your nature walk. What images did people take? Did they find anything interesting?
  • Guide participants to take the next step and help identify living things through the “Identify” feature on iNaturalist.
  • Discuss ways to increase biodiversity in your area.

Programming Tip: Make your event a BioBlitz. A BioBlitz is an event in which teams of volunteers work together to find and identify as many living species of plants and animals as possible. Learn more www.inaturalist.org.