BioBlitz Hike for City Nature Challenge

City Nature Challenge started as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco and has grown into an international event, motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their own cities. This annual four-day global bioblitz takes place in two parts, with the first dedicated to taking photos of wild plants and animals and the last two days for uploading photos to the iNaturalist platform. We participate every year by documenting species in a neighborhood park.

Join us in Springfield Woods to help bring our Baltimore totals sky high. We’ll have a brief recap of the iNaturalist app before we get started on our hike. Then we’ll head out for a leisurely meander and practice your skills. If you feel confident, you are welcome to take off on your own or stay with the group. At a designated time, we’ll come back together and discuss our findings.

If you are unfamiliar or need help navigating the iNaturalist app, we have two options for getting you up to speed. For our hike, we’ll take a few minutes before we hike to run through any questions you may have about the app. And if you need more familiarity, join us for a free training session on April 12 at our building. Register here: https://marylandnature.wildapricot.org/event-6627680.

All skill levels and all ages are welcome to participate in our City Nature Challenge events. No experience needed.

Why participate? There is nature all around us, even in our cities! Knowing what species are in our metro area and where they are helps us study and protect them, but the ONLY way to do that is by all of us working together to find and document the nature in our area. By participating in the CNC, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also make your city a better place—for you and other species!

Our leader, 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 and law enforcement officer, and he now works in the Project Management Division.  Bill also holds his certificate as a Maryland Master Naturalist and is married with two children.https://baltimoregreenspace.org/springfield-woods/.

• Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is completed.
• Watch for additional details in a welcome email sent a few days before the date.
• All participants must be pre-registered. If you are on the waitlist and show up to the event uninvited, you will not be allowed to participate.
• All children must meet age requirements and be registered as a guest of their adult.
• Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
• Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking or athletic shoes with non-slip soles that can safely handle slippery surfaces.
• Bring water, snacks, sunblock, and bug spray, depending on the season.
• Bring binoculars and a hand lens or loupe for birding or looking at details, if you have them.
• Bring a first aid kit for your personal use.
• No pets, please.

All events are held rain or shine. If any event is cancelled due to severe weather, you will receive an email or text. If you do not receive a weather-related email, the trip will proceed as planned.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made 14 or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within 14 days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $25 or less are non-refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.

For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.