The 2022 City Nature Challenge will take place on April 29th to May 2ND, 2022 and will be undertaken in over 300 cities across the world and Indianapolis and Fort Wayne are among those cities competing in this international event!
The City Nature Challenge is an effort for cities to find and document as much urban nature as possible by challenging residents to become citizen scientists: Residents are asked to explore their area (backyard, playgrounds, parks, etc.) for plants and bugs/animals, document their findings (take a photo), and report them (via the iNaturalist website or app). The underlying objective of this event is to develop a new baseline of a city’s biodiversity and to monitor how exactly change is accelerating.
Indianapolis
Event size is tracked via the event pages below, so please sign-up!
- https://www.facebook.com/events/973338503378629
- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indianapolis-city-nature-challenge-tickets-310738857287
- https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-indianapolis
Fort Wayne
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/midwest-myanmar-nature-project
Anywhere in Indiana!
Statewide Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/indiana-city-nature-challenge-2022
Bloomington: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-bloomington
Evansville: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-evansville
Lafayette: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-lafayette
Michiana: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-michiana
Terre Haute: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-terre-haute
This event is one of the largest citizen science events in Hoosier history, so join the fun and help make history!
EVENTS
Indy Parks and Rec – City Nature Challenge Backyard Bioblitz at Spades Park Nature Walk
Friday, April 29th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Spades Park Public Library, 1801 Nowland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46201
https://www.facebook.com/events/1046486519544927/
https://ourwaterways.org/event/city-nature-challenge-spades-park-nature-walk/
Explore nature while visiting one of our City’s historic parks during this year’s City Nature Challenge. Hike leaders Brittany & Tom Swinford will guide us through the park taking a look at all the “backyard” ecology that can be found in an urban park, identifying all trees, insects, birds, and wildflowers that we see along the way. We will inventory all that we see using the i-Naturalist app if you would like to download the free app before the hike. If you don’t have the app, no worries! We look forward to spending a nice spring evening in nature while contributing to citizen science. After the hike we invite you to meet us for a drink at the Kan Kan Brasserie.
Reconnection to our Waterways – Crownhill Forest Nature Hike
Saturday, April 30th whenever you want!
Crown Hill Forest, 700 West 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46208
https://crownhillhf.org/tours-events/self-guided-tours/
https://crownhillhf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Tree_Map_2021_WEB.pdf
Enjoy learning about the many fascinating people of Crown Hill at your leisure! Our self-guided tours include information for each person or tree, as well as a map to follow to locate their grave or crypt. Visit them all in order, or pick and choose who you’d like to see. You can also download our Tour App and enjoy an interactive experience! It’s up to you how to discover, explore, and experience Crown Hill!
Indiana State Museum – White River Nature Hike
Sunday, May 1st from 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Indiana State Museum, 650 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN
Join Jacob Brinkman, Ecology & Education Committee Co-Chair and Ecologist for Indy Land Stewardship, for a nature walk starting at Indiana State Museum and then exploring the Urban Wilderness Trail (UWT) along the White River. The Urban Wilderness Trail is full of vibrant wildlife and is a living outdoor laboratory for native Indiana flora and fauna species. Please meet at the Washington Street circle drive entrance at 1PM, parking available at the on-site parking garage and will be validated.
Indiana Sciences – City Nature Challenge “15 Minutes of Nature!” Lunch Break
Monday, May 2nd whenever you want!
Wherever you want!
We are encouraging everyone in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area to take 15 minutes to step outside and appreciate the urban biodiversity right outside of their front door!
SUPPORT
The Indianapolis City Nature Challenge is organized by un-paid volunteers and fiscally sponsored by the 501(c)3 non-profit Indiana Sciences. If you would like to support this effort, please consider donating at the link below:
SUPPORT THE INDIANAPOLIS CITY NATURE CHALLENGE
If you enjoy events like the City Nature Challenge and would like to join our movement, please consider signing up on the form below to stay up to date and, if you are ambitious, join our team!
You can also support the event by purchasing merch from the shop! We currently have the locally designed “Science Will Unite Us” tees from United State of Indiana! All proceeds go to support our STEM events and programming throughout Indiana!
This event, and everything we do, is only possible due to the amazing support and generosity of Hoosiers passionate about science. From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you!