Learn how to use this incredibly useful tool in your explorations and become comfortable with identifying unknown species in the wild!
When you are walking in the woods and come across a plant, fungus, egg, or animal and want to know what it is, iNaturalist is the app to use. When you want to keep a personal database of nature, iNaturalist is the app to use. When you want to contribute biodiversity data to a global citizen science project, iNaturalist is the app to use. When you want to engage your tech savvy children in natural history, iNaturalist is the app to use. When you want to propel your city to the top of the leader board in the annual City Nature Challenge (see below), iNaturalist is the app to use.
iNaturalist is a social networking service of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research-quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
About City Nature Challenge: City Nature Challenge, an annual friendly competition among cities across the globe to find and document plants and wildlife over a four-day period (Friday, April 28 through Monday, May 1, 2023). NHSM is a CNC partner organization.
INSTRUCTOR BIO: Bill Curtis is a National Park Ranger currently stationed at Hampton National Historic Site and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. While a history major at Gettysburg College, he began his career as a Licensed Battlefield Guide. His NPS career has included full time duty as an interpreter, law enforcement officer, and he now works in the Resource Management Division, splitting his time between museum work and helping to care for the historic landscape. He is a Maryland Master Naturalist, and he is happily married and the proud father of two.