Project Background

What’s a BioBlitz? A BioBlitz is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible. These projects will allow us to collect information about species in our area while also encouraging the public to connect to the park and the environment.

How does it work? For our BioBlitz projects, we will be using the iNaturalist app to record our observations. With this app, we will take photos of things we see, record some information about the photo, and then upload those observations to our project. Once the observations are uploaded, other app users will have the opportunity to review uploads and confirm the species identifications. At the end of each project, iNaturalist will compile the data and give us a species tally.

Purpose (why we are doing this)

Desired outcomes: The goal of the BioBlitz Project is to engage the public to connect to their environment while generating useful data about the species of plants, animals, and fungi that we have in our park.

Once identifications are submitted to iNaturalist they need to be reviewed and confirmed by other people. If you feel confident in identifying specific plants or animals we would love your help in confirming observations made during the BioBlitz. This can be done at home on a computer or phone using the iNaturalist website or app.  

Impact this position will have: Volunteers will help contribute to Fort Snelling State Park's diversity survey. Survey data will be used to monitor current native populations, new or emerging species, and locations of invasives within the park. 

Benefits to the Volunteer: Volunteers will be able to help the public learn about nature exploration, contributing to science, and the amazing species that call our park home. Volunteers will also likely gain more knowledge of the iNaturalist app and species ID.

Park Cleanup

Additionally, we will be hosting a park cleanup. Volunteers will be supplied with the necessary equipment to go around the park and pick up trash.

BioBlitz Volunteers:

• Ability to walk over uneven ground
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop
• Access to a phone or camera to take photos
• Access to a phone or computer to upload observations to iNaturalist
• An iNaturalist Account (instructions on how to set up an account can be provided if needed)
• A working knowledge of the iNaturalist app

Participation 

Show up to the park from 10am-2pm and fill out a signup sheet. THIS IS NOT A FREE EVENT. Volunteers will need to purchase a $7 day parking pass or a $35 annual parking pass either the day of at the park's ranger station or online.