Watch this space for new events

If you are interested in hosting events, and:

• you are not a current organizer, please sign up to be a partner.
• you already are a partner, email us at citynaturephilly@gmail.com with your event list including name, location, start and end dates and times, and a brief description. 

Download the iNaturalist app on your smart device before these events to get started right away (Google Play | Apple App Store). 
NOTE: Most events are free unless otherwise indicated. Most events, including those that are free, require pre-registration.

PRE-CNC EVENTS

Wednesday, April 26

Philadelphia County, PA

Young Naturalists: Observations & iNaturalist

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Join us as we prepare for the City Nature Challenge this weekend! We will introduce our Young Naturalists to the iNaturalist app and practice observation skills, and then explore the ponds, forest, and meadow capturing photos and uploading them to the app for identification. Ages 8-12. Free. iNaturalist experience or camera, phone, or app not required.
Location: Pennypack Environmental Center
Type: Nature Walk
Partner Org: Pennypack Environmental Center
Leader: Christina Moresi
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/598749755637

CNC EVENTS

Friday, April 28

Philadelphia County, PA

City Nature Challenge in Fairmount Park

Multiday – We’ve created a project page for Fairmount Park (similar as to past year’s) and are encouraging people to contribute to it. Free park swag will be offered to the person with the most observations in the park.
Location: Fairmount Park (East + West)
Type: Self-guided observations on FPC project page
Partner Org: Fairmount Park Conservancy

Saturday, April 29

Philadelphia County, PA

Discovery Day – City Nature Challenge

10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Join Audubon Mid-Atlantic as we participate in the City Nature Challenge. We use iNaturalist to catalog and find the species that inhabit The Discovery Center. Guests are encouraged to bring their tablets and phones and join our staff in finding as many species as we can. No experience necessary as iNaturalist takes photos and identification is done by crowd-sourcing from all over the world.
Location: The Discovery Center
Type:
Partner Org: Audubon, The Discovery Center
Leader: Damien Ruffner

City Nature Challenge iNaturalist Walk

11:00 am – 12:30 pm – Come learn how to use the iNaturalist app to document wildlife and plant species found on the refuge! All entries will be recorded as part of the City Nature Challenge, a worldwide friendly competition to see which city will record and identify the most species!
Location: John Heinz NWR
Type: Nature Walk
Partner Org: John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
Leader: Wingyi Kung

Whitby Meadows Bioblitz

1:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Join Audubon and the Philadelphia Mycology Club as we document all of the wildlife we can find along Cobbs Creek. We’ll be using the free iNaturalist app, snapping photos of all of the plants, animals and fungi we can find! Meet @ 1pm at the intersection of Whitby Ave & Cobbs Creek Parkway (southwest corner). This walk is free and open to all. The trail includes some uneven terrain. We encourage you to download the free iNaturalist app onto a handheld smartphone or tablet or bring a camera and upload your photos back at home.
Location: Whitby Meadows, Cobbs Creek Parkway and Whitby Avenue
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Audubon Mid-Atlantic
Leader: Robin Irizarry

Montgomery County, PA

Riverbend’s Family Bird Walk

09:00 am – 10:30 am – Riverbend in collaboration with Bird Town, PA invite you to walk with birder and conservationist, Phil Witmer as he leads families on a leisurely walk around the preserve at Riverbend. Check out the many species of birds that call Riverbend their home.
Location: Riverbend EEC, 1950 Spring Mill Rd, Gladwyne, PA 19035
Type: Guided walk
Partner Org: Riverbend EEC
Leader: Suzanne Safran, Phil Witmer
Registration: https://riverbendeec.org/events/riverbend-s-family-bird-walk-april23

City Nature Challenge at the John James Audubon Center

10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Join us at the John James Audubon Center to ensure the Greater Philadelphia Region wins the City Nature Challenge (www.citynaturechallenge.org), a 4-day international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe using iNaturalist. Guests are encouraged to bring their tablets and phones for self-guided walks or to join one of our expert-led tours. Come early to attend an informative workshop led by Karen Campbell, a birder, nature enthusiast, and award-winning photographer. You’ll expand your perspective of what and where to look to discover smaller flora and fauna, and learn photo tips for taking species identifying images for iNaturalist before heading outdoors to search for and record what you find. Museum admission is FREE all day!
Location: John James Audubon Center
Type: Nature walks, workshops and activities
Partner Org: John James Audubon Center
Leader: Val Peckham

Sunday, April 30

Philadelphia County, PA

BioBlitz Hike at Penn Treaty Park

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – We’ll meet near the parking lot and review how to use iNaturalist. After everyone feels confident in their ability to use the app, we will begin exploring the park and creating observations of our findings. We will share tips for making observations of organisms in many categories including insects, plants, mushrooms, and animals.
Location: Penn Treaty Park
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Philadelphia Mycology Club
Leader: Sam Bucciarelli
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bioblitz-hike-at-penn-treaty-park-city-nature-challenge-tickets-559137524387

BioBlitz with WRV

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Join WRV in Wissahickon Park to have fun documenting and uploading observations to iNaturalist!
Location: Historic Rittenhousetown
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers
Leader: Steve Jones
Registration: https://wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org/cnc-april30-2023/

BioBlitz HOOT Big AdventureDay

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Temple University, Let’s Go Outdoors, and Awbury Arboretum will be sponsoring a BioBlitz on the grounds of Awbury. We will use iNaturalist to track as many species as possible in 3 hours.
Location: The Farm at Awbury, 6336 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia 19138
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Awbury Arboretum
Leader: Hideko Secrest
Registration:

Monday, May 1

Philadelphia County, PA

BioBlitz with WRV

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Special Monday session! Join WRV in Wissahickon Park to have fun documenting and uploading observations to iNaturalist!
Location: Historic Rittenhousetown
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers
Leader: Steve Jones
Registration: https://wissahickonrestorationvolunteers.org/cnc-may-1-2023/

Young Naturalists: City Nature Challenge

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – On this final day of the City Nature Challenge, our Young Naturalists will have a chance to participate and add their observations to Philadelphia’s observation count. We will return to the ponds, forest, and meadow to capture photos of as many species as possible. Ages 8-12. Free. iNaturalist experience or camera, phone or app not required.
Location: Pennypack Environmental Center
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Pennypack Environmental Center
Leader: Christina Moresi
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/598768180747

Twilight Toad Walk

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – This hike coincides breeding season of some frogs including American toads. We will listen to the songs of these night singing amphibians and record these and other sightings with iNaturalist for the City Nature Challenge occurring 4/28-5/1. iNaturalist experience or camera, phone or app not required. All Ages. Free.
Location: Pennypack Environmental Center
Type: Bioblitz
Partner Org: Pennypack Environmental Center
Leader: Christina Moresi
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/619318878437

Identification Events

Tuesday, May 3

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