If you’re looking for a reason to enjoy the great outdoors a little more this spring, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is inviting all Texans to participate in the 6th Annual City Nature Challenge.
The program is a friendly competition between 13 Texas cities and encourages aspiring citizen scientists of all ages to observe and submit photos of wild plans, animals, and fungi.
Texans are invited to explore nature in their immediate surroundings outside their front doors, in their yard, or anywhere nature is found which they can safely and responsibly explore.
Then all you have to do is submit your findings via the INaturalist app, which is a free download on your app store.
In 2020, nearly 4,700 people contributed more than 101,000 observations across 45 counties of over 6,400 species.
So this program is not only a way to celebrate the healing power of nature with your family and friends, it’s also a great way for Texas to learn more about the creatures and plants we encounter everyday.
Texas Nature Trackers is encouraging people to use the hashtag #citynaturechallenge on social media or as a tag in INaturalist to share how they are engaging in this year’s event.
For more information, visit the Texas City Nature Challenge page on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website to find links to the Texas projects, and learn more about the global project at the City Nature Challenge website.