Let’s Do a BioBlitz! By Claudia Novak Member of the New Hampshire Geographic Alliance

What is a BioBlitz? A BioBlitz is a 24 hour event where teams of students, educators, and volunteers/community members work together to try to find and identify as many species as possible in a specific geographical location.

Why do a BioBlitz? To motivate students and the community to get outside and explore the world around them. To inspire young people to become life long learners, become active members of their community and to become citizen scientist. To learn more about how important data collection can be for the environment.

Where can I do a BioBlitz? You can do a BioBlitz any place. Here are some examples of great places to try out: National parks, state parks, local parks, and school yards. Families can participate by doing a BioBlitz even in their own back yards!

When can I do a BioBlitz? You can do a Bioblitz at any time of the year. To be an active part of the special National Geographic BioBlitz, plan a time in the spring around May May , 2016 are the perfect days.

How do I do a BioBlitz? Some organization is needed such as picking a date (rain date also), location and scope of the BioBlitz. The scope of the BioBlitz is important. Do you want to focus on target species or take the “grand total” approach? Decide on what your audience is going to be. Is it going to be only educators and students or do you want to include families and/or volunteers? Volunteers can be very helpful to help out with student teams, organizing the data before input, and maybe manning student mini-activities tables.

What equipment do I need for a BioBlitz? Some suggestions are: Binoculars Clipboards and pencils GPS Hula hoops Meter squares Hand lenses Nets Eye droppers Water testing kits Guide books Cameras Observation tool/worksheet Internet connection iNaturalist app Small containers or zip lock bags

Welcome to iNaturalist iNaturalist is the data entry tool that National Geographic will be using. It can be accessed via the web at The app available for either Apple or Android devices. These screen captures are from an Android device.

iNaturalist

Preplanning Preplanning is critical to the success of your BioBlitz. Plan to have a meeting with your educators and administration about six months in advance. At this meeting, the scope of the BioBlitz should be discussed. Decide on date with rain date and location of the BioBlitz. What is the availability of technology that can be used since data collection is submitted via the web? How are you going to acquire resources to do this and what resources to you already have? Other Suggested Topics to be discussed: What grade levels are you going to do OR is it school wide? What activities/pre-teaching do you think will help students to be prepared to do a BioBlitz? How are you going to organize student teams? How do you plan to get volunteers to help?

Sample Student Activities Neighborhood Bioblitz BioBlitz Education – NG Schoolyard BioBlitz 0 NEEF Schoolyard BioBlitz 0 NEEF Backyard BioBlitz Biodiversity University OPAL BioBlitz activity ideas OPAL BioBlitz activity ideas Colorado State - Backyard BioBlitz Colorado State - Backyard BioBlitz Nova - Teacher - Lord of the Ants Nova - Teacher - Lord of the Ants Illinois Biodiversity Basics Illinois Biodiversity Basics Carleton Activities

Day of Event Remain calm and have FUN! All your planning will work out just fine. Hopefully, some of your volunteers will appear. All your students will learn a great deal from this hands on experience. Perhaps, you will inspire more than a few students to become scientists.

Post Event Finish data entry if not completed on the day. Send out thank notes to volunteers. Do a follow up publicity notice about the success of the event. Do a short video (could be cell phone) with students talking about what they learn. You don’t have to have student faces showing but just include their voices. This would be perfect to introduce the event to students when your school does another BioBlitz in the future.

Some Useful Links iNaturalist app available on Apple iTunes and Google Play Store. iNaturalist Alliance BioBlitz Guide NCGE Session on BioBlitz August 2015 by Anne Haywood NCGE Session on BioBlitz August 2015 by Anne Haywood New Hampshire Geographical Alliance Habitats of New Hampshire bitats-New-Hampshire bitats-New-Hampshire Wildlife of New Hampshire ldlife-Species-New-Hampshire ldlife-Species-New-Hampshire New Hampshire Wildlife Fact Sheets fe/profiles.html fe/profiles.html New Hampshire Trees nh.org/resources/guides/trees/ nh.org/resources/guides/trees/ New Hampshire Birds /StateColorSize/2/6426/birdexpert.as px /StateColorSize/2/6426/birdexpert.as px New England plant identification g/simple/ g/simple/