Indianapolis City Nature Challenge, April 25–28
PREPARE
Thursday, April 3, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET
Indianapolis City Nature Challenge: The How and the Why
Zoom presentation with Angela Hermann
The Indianapolis City Nature Challenge (#IndyCNC) offers Indy residents an opportunity for friendly competition with other major cities in the Midwest and around the world. The event calls on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and science backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of plants and wildlife using the free iNaturalist app. As global human populations become increasingly concentrated in cities, documenting urban biodiversity is more critical than ever to ensure the future of plants and wildlife. This presentation by Project Organizer Angela Herrmann will prepare you to participate in this citizen science project, which will help leaders make informed conservation decisions that allow human and natural communities to thrive together. Register for the Zoom link.
BIOBLITZ!
April 25-28
1,000 Hoosiers to Join Global Science Project, Connecting Community and Nature
Hoosiers to document urban wildlife in the 2025 City Nature Challenge
For the eighth year, Indiana Sciences and a growing coalition of partners have challenged residents in Indianapolis and surrounding communities to connect with urban plants and animals by becoming a community (or citizen) scientist for a weekend and participating in the global City Nature Challenge (CNC) from April 25 to 28, 2025. Indianapolis is one of more than 600 cities participating in this year’s CNC.
The Indianapolis City Nature Challenge (#IndyCNC) offers Hoosiers an opportunity for friendly competition between Indianapolis and other major cities in the Midwest and around the world. From 2018 to 2024, more than 1,500 community scientists have completed nearly 30,000 observations during Indianapolis’ previous seven years participating in the City Nature Challenge. Organizers encourage Hoosiers to participate in their backyard or nearby green spaces and parks, as well as join other participants at organized partner events at city and state parks and even Indianapolis Public Library locations.
“Participating in the City Nature Challenge gives us a quick four-day snapshot of the plants and animals that can be found in a certain area,” said Brittany Davis Swinford, Regional Manager for Indy Parks, who’s planning to participate in her eighth CNC.
“It’s a great chance to learn more about the species who live in Indy’s 217 parks, especially in smaller neighborhood parks that don’t have a dedicated naturalist. The info we collect during the City Nature Challenge can help us shape our management strategies for these areas, whether it’s protecting rare species or tackling invasives.”
Nature is everywhere: in our cities, neighborhoods, and even in our homes. One of the best ways to study nature and its biodiversity is by connecting scientists and local community members through community science. As global human populations become increasingly concentrated in cities, documenting urban biodiversity is more critical than ever to ensure the future of plants and wildlife. Large pools of data collected through apps like iNaturalist, natural history museums, and science organizations help leaders make informed conservation decisions that allow human and natural communities to thrive together.
Organizations that have so far partnered with Indiana Sciences to engage Hoosiers across the state to promote the CNC include Earth Charter Indiana, Hoosier Environmental Council, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Indiana Phenology, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis Office of Sustainability, Indianapolis Public Library, Indy Parks and Recreation, and Parks & Recreation City of Noblesville.
Additional Information
Organizers invite both budding and veteran community scientists to participate. All you have to do is:
- Find wildlife. It can be any plant, animal, fungi, slime mold, or any other evidence of life (scat, fur, tracks, shells, even carcasses!) found in or around your neighborhood or park.
- Take a picture of what you find, and be sure to note the location of the critter or plant.
- Share your observations with the world by uploading your findings on our iNaturalist project platform!
Plan now to find our #IndyCNC event and download the iNaturalist app so you are ready to take the challenge and be a community scientist.
The 10th global City Nature Challenge has expanded to more than 600 cities on six continents around the world. Kicking off April 25 at 12:01 am in each time zone, the Challenge runs through April 28, 11:59 pm. Then community scientists will identify and verify observations until May 5. The multi-city, global event calls on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and science backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of plants and wildlife using the free iNaturalist app. Indianapolis participants should join and add their observations to the “City Nature Challenge 2025 Indianapolis” project in iNaturalist. Results will be announced on May 5.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Indiana Sciences | Rufus Cochran | IndianaSciences@gmail.com | (317) 643-01462025 Project Organizer | Angela Herrmann | aherrman@iu.edu | (317) 278-4911