Our next Citizen science project is each month we get a training YouTube video for an invasive species (plant or animal) to watch for when we are out and about. That lasts May through November.
Some projects are quite involved with several trainings, data collection techniques. You can really get involved with the science.
For young people, this volunteer work also counts as Junior Honors Society and Honor Society volunteer hours!
The bonus is community, being out in nature, sunshine, and learning the flora and fauna in your area! But the invasive lantern fly has cost farmers millions of dollars in lost produce so we can have an economic impact as well.
I want to join the Aquatic Strike Force. I need to buy a kayak for that one. What better excuse to buy a kayak and reserve time each month to go kayaking!
The great thing now is that much of the training is done via Zoom call so you can get started right away and you don’t have to travel far to learn what needs to be done.
With the apps that they use to help identify the plants and animals, and for you to log data, it’s really easy and a great family adventure.
The top photo is the before my daughter and I removed the invasive multiflora rose from choking this Eastern redbud. You can’t even see the trunk in the before photo. In the after photo, you can easily see the Eastern redbud. I hope it continues to flourish.
