Bio Blitz
Why: This event will provide students and families throughout the district, the opportunity to step away from our online learning platforms and connect to science and the biodiversity in our homes, yards, and neighborhoods. Collectively, while social distancing, we will gather and record our observations of wild species (plants, animals and fungi).
Who: Any students and family members in the Salt Lake City School District
When: April 24 – 27, 2020 (Friday-Monday) aligned with the global
What: We will . You do not need to be able to identify the species in order to be successful. The focus is on observation and data collection! If you want to use an online field guide to help you identify species, you can find a variety of them here.
How: It’s pretty simple and really fun! Students and family members will use a variety of data collection methods to document their observations.
If you have access to a phone (iphone or android) or laptop, you will:
- Create an account and download the app with this
- Join the Project: City Nature Challenge 2020: The Wasatch (under “More” in the iNaturalist app)
- Find wildlife in your area (any wild living thing or evidence of a wild living thing)
- Follow this to document your observation on iNaturalist
If you don’t have access to a phone or choose not to use one, you will:
- Record your data in a , scan or take a photo and submit it to
- Create an artistic representation (photo, poem, , dance, music, etc.) and submit a document, photo or video to the .
Where: From your window, or in your house, yard, or neighborhood
Safety Considerations:
- Follow City members can participate in outdoor activities (walk, hike, bike, run, fish or other similar individual outdoor activities) in our neighborhoods, city parks or on trails, as long as people are at least 6 feet away from the nearest individual that is not a part of their immediate family or household.
- Students, if you are leaving from home, get permission from your parents and/or guardians.
- Remember that public restrooms, water fountains, picnic areas, etc. are closed to the public at this time.
- Also remember to “Leave No Trace” by making only observations and leaving items as they found them (no picking flowers, etc.) and to respect public property, including that of their neighbors and/or other public places.
Special Thanks to Ms. Kate Bodey and the 7th and 8th grade Environmental Science students at Clayton Middle School for spearheading and designing this district-wide event!
