To celebrate Earth Day 2024, Alachua County and the City of Gainesville are joining hundreds of other cities and counties worldwide to participate in the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge.
The challenge will take place from April 26-29.
To participate in this fun activity, download the free iNaturalist app on your smartphone and then go outside and take photos of all the plants and animals you can find in your yard, neighborhood, or city or county parks and preserves. Post the photos to iNaturalist through the website or app. You can also report animal and plant sightings without a photo.
There are field trips at Poe Springs on April 27, at the Springs Festival and at Barr Hammock at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. The morning hike at Barr Hammock is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Levy Loop Trailhead (14920 SE 11th Drive,Micanopy). The afternoon hike is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Barr Hammock South (300 SE 175th Ave., Micanopy).
The Nature Challenge is organized locally by the University of Florida IFAS, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, and in partnership with Alachua County, the City of Gainesville, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Alachua Conservation Trust.
For more information, contact Alachua County Environmental Protection Director Stephen Hofstetter at 352-264-6811 or
shofstetter@alachuacounty.us.
