Indoor practice bioblitz?

General
1

I have been organizing bioblitzes for years, and have tried different strategies to engage the public. This year, in the months (Jan-March 2026) leading up to the City Nature Challenge, I’m going to try engaging people indoors at public and school libraries, and would love some feedback. Here’s a rough outline:

  1. Reserve a room with a projector (at least 1 hour)
  2. Have the library co-sponsor the event to get more publicity (encourage people to come with their own smart device with Seek and iNaturalist already downloaded)
  3. Show a 30-45 min PowerPoint
  4. Distribute a blank numbered Identification Sheet
  5. Let the '“observers” walk around the room and look at various photos (maybe 20 - each meant for a particular purpose), and record what they saw on the ID Sheet
  6. Gather back together for an IDATHON to discuss their guess
  7. Encourage them to then, on their own, make observations outdoors to begin to perfect their techniques.
  8. Possibly meet again in early April, or via Zoom, to discuss their observations and/or answer any questions.

Thanks for any suggestions. Also, if you have some suggestions for photos that I could use that are designed to make a particular point, or if you’d be willing to share any documents you have created to give o people on photo techniques, please send them to me: geogehrig@gmail.com

PS I am going to be particularly focused on high school and college aged students.

6 Likes
2

I think this is a great idea. Once it has been tested a few times, it is something which could be pitched to schools for an “indoor fieldtrip.”

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3

I plan to be enrolling schools soon!

1 Like
4

Include photos of a few captive plants and animals, then in the discussion explain why they should have ignored them. A step further: have a couple of pictures of weeds in a plant pot and explain why they should have included those. Also have a few pictures with several different species in and explain why iNaturalist doesn’t work well with those.

8 Likes
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Thanks - yes, exactly!