Great, I’ll take a look at the video later 
. In the meantime, I’ve joined your project. I really like this slower, deeper approach, the perfect antidote to the frenetic “snap-post-run” mania that makes my head and soul ache 
.
You have set it to - Project Members Only. So observers must join first.
I look forward to your journal posts (and happy to help ID and read descriptions)
This is brilliant. As an educator, I’ve used all these techniques with both children and adults, but never considered applying them to iNaturalist.
Regarding “observations accompanied by narrative notes” – at some point I got trained in the Grinnell system of field journals, which links narrative accounts to species accounts. I’ve thought of applying that to iNaturalist, using the Journal function. However, in current iNaturalist culture, journal posts are not used to document field trips (instead Journal posts are mostly used to write up identification guides). Nevertheless, could the narrative notes called for in the July 10 project be a Journal post – would that fit into the intent of your project?
This the setting I put in the group project
Project members only.
You can join here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/nature-without-limits-inaturalist-international-challenge
Thank you :) I’m really happy to hear these methods already work well in educational settings, because I also hope to use them with children and adults who visit my place.
And the Grinnell field journal idea is fascinating. I had never thought about using iNaturalist Journal posts that way, mostly because I rarely use that tool myself — but this is exactly why community discussions are so valuable.
I’m definitely going to study the Grinnell system more carefully now.
I think Journals could fit very naturally into the spirit of this challenge, especially as a way to document the experience behind the observations: what participants noticed over time, patterns in behavior, weather, sounds, interactions, or simply how the day unfolded in the field.
Maybe participants could write one reflective Journal entry at the end of each observation day, or a final summary at the end of the challenge.
For me, one of the goals of this project is to explore more of iNaturalist’s potential as a natural history and observation platform — not only for collecting species records, but also for encouraging deeper and more diverse ways of observing nature.
Ok, i asked chatgpt what the Grinnell system of field journals is, and how could I apply it to this challenge.
This is what it replied, since you have more experience with it, do you think this could work?
Mini Guide — Using a Grinnell-Style Field Journal on iNaturalist
Chatgpt:
"After learning about the Grinnell system from this discussion, I realized it connects beautifully with the spirit of the “Nature Without Limits” challenge.
The original idea behind the Grinnell field journal was simple:
don’t just record species — record the experience and context of observing them.
Here is a simple way to adapt that philosophy to iNaturalist:
Step 1 — Make observations normally
Upload your photos, sounds, or observations to iNaturalist as usual.
Step 2 — Add contextual notes
In the observation notes/description, include details such as:
- behavior
- weather
- sounds
- habitat
- interactions
- light conditions
- why the observation caught your attention
Not just what you saw, but how and where it happened.
Step 3 — Write a daily Journal post
At the end of the day (or challenge), create an iNaturalist Journal entry summarizing:
- what you observed
- patterns you noticed
- changes over time
- memorable moments
- questions or reflections from the field
Step 4 — Link observations
Add links to your observations or mention species observed during the session.
This creates a field narrative connected to your biodiversity records.
I really love this idea because it transforms iNaturalist from only a species-record platform into something closer to a living field notebook and natural history archive."
I was responding to this. The onus is on the observer.
Ohh didnt know. Ok. I just share the link.
I love this idea! I am the parent of two children (well, one is an adult now) who have special needs and have another adult child who is involved in the disability world professionally. I really love the idea of an accessibility-focused project and have joined. I look forward to participating! Sadly, my kids aren’t really interested in nature, but I will drag them along at least on July 9 as proof of the route’s accessibility (most of the other observations I will likely make in my yard). I also really love the idea of observations accompanied by narrative notes and fixed point observations.
As a full-time caregiver, my number one nature accessibility tip is to plant native plants and let nature come to you. Getting a tiny dose of nature is as simple as walking out my front door. All the senses can be engaged: touch, sight, sound, smell, and even taste. There is always something new to experience and some species become familiar friends.
For July 9, I’d love to suggest something optional: mapping your accessible path on Wikiloc — or any trail app you prefer, there must be others you already use! Even if it’s just your yard or your block. Here’s my own route as an example of the format — a tiny 0.77 km loop with accessibility notes and waypoints: [Ruta Betania]. The idea is that together we could leave behind a small global atlas of accessible nature spots, beyond just the observations of that day.
July 6 is just around the corner!
The South American Para Games have already begun here in Valledupar, Colombia, and we’re almost ready to begin our own journey.
A friendly reminder to everyone participating in the Nature Without Limits challenge:
July 6 is Day 1 — Audio-First Observation.
Take a moment to slow down, listen, and discover what biodiversity reveals when we observe with our ears before our eyes.
I hope this challenge becomes a fun and meaningful experience—one that encourages us to explore new ways of observing nature, contributes valuable biodiversity records, and celebrates the importance of accessibility, human diversity, and different ways of connecting with the natural world.
See you on July 6! 
This is such a wonderful idea. I will try to make time to participate on a few of the days :)
