Citizen Science Tech Lab
Program Overview
Participants learn to use iNaturalist Projects, navigate project boundaries, and identify species while exploring an outdoor area. Teams compete to document the greatest number of unique observations within a set time frame.
Learning Outcomes
Practice boundary mapping and digital navigation Strengthen observation and species identification skills Understand the importance of community science data Build teamwork through friendly competitionAudience
Designed for ages thirteen and up, or younger with support from a grown‑up. This lends itself well to intergenerational programming.
Program Length
10 minutes Introduction and project setup 45 minutes Species documentation 10 to 20 minutes Uploading observations and discussionPreparation Checklist
Smartphones or tablets with iNaturalist installed Access to a computer for project setup Optional: Clipboards, field notebooks, or magnifying lenses Select a safe outdoor area such as library grounds or a nearby park Create an iNaturalist project for your librarySample Agenda:
Introduction & Project Setup (10 minutes)
Introduce the iNaturalist Project, review the boundary map, and explain how the competition works.
Species Documentation (45 minutes)
Participants explore the defined area, photographing and recording as many unique species as possible within the time limit.
Upload Observations & Discussion (10–20 minutes)
Upload observations, compare results, celebrate the winning group, and discuss ecological patterns and surprising findings.
Take it to the Next Level
Host a seasonal rematch to compare species across seasonsInvite a local biologist to interpret the collected dataUse this program to kick off a long‑term biodiversity monitoring project Branch out to include other programs in this trunk.
