Community Science

City Nature Challenge 2023

City Nature challenge numbers - preview
Click to enlarge graphic

City Nature Challenge is an international community science initiative organized by California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum Los Angeles County that encourages people to go outside and explore the nature in their communities. In 2020, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo and the University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation IFAS Extension brought this global event to Alachua County.

In 2023, nature enthusiasts set out to explore their local flora and fauna around the world April 28-May 1. Collectively, 66,394 participants in 482 cities and counties across the globe made 1,870,763 observations of 57,227+ species (including more than 2,570 rare/endangered/threatened species), recorded by 41,165 people in just 4 days. You can view all the observations and statistics for each city/county on the City Nature Challenge website.

In Alachua County, 287 participants made 5,684 observations of 1,318 species. A myriad of species were recorded with amazing photographs of woodpeckers and beetles, to alligators and fungi. It is quite astounding to see the diversity of organisms in and around cities and neighborhoods. You can view all the observations in Alachua County here. 530 people helped identify species. Because of these observations and identifications, the machine learning has improved for future identifications of species in Alachua County.

Thank you to our community partners for helping us share this incredible event: Alachua Conservation Trust, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, City of Gainesville Parks & Recreation, Florida Museum of Natural History, and Santa Fe College Student Life.

City Nature Challenge offers an Education Toolkit (https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/education-toolkit) to help educators engage their students all year long in activities using data collected during the challenge.

iNaturalist is an interactive community science program that we can use every day to continue to explore our beautiful county. If you haven't already, download the iNaturalist app here:

2023's FrogWatch USA training sessions have ended. Please check back at the beginning of January 2024 for future training course dates. 

FrogWatch USA

FrogWatch USA is a community science program that offers individuals an opportunity to learn about the wetlands in their community, to identify local frog and toad calls and to report data.

Frogs play an important role in food webs and benefit humans by eating insects that can be pests and transmit disease. Due to their sensitivity to the environment, frogs act as indicators of an ecosystem’s health. Many populations of frogs have experienced dramatic declines in the United States and around the world. As a citizen scientist, you can be directly involved in gathering information that can aid in the conservation of these cherished animals.

You should participate if you have:

  • An interest in learning about frogs and toads
  • The commitment to learn and identify individual frog calls
  • The ability to regularly visit a local wetland within Alachua and Bradford County for data collection from February through August

No previous frog or science background is needed, only a desire to learn about the world around you! Get a jumpstart on learning more about our local frogs and their calls by checking out these resources from our community partners. 

Florida Frog Calls - Florida Museum

The Cuban Treefrog - University of Florida IFAS Extension

North Florida's Frogs - University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation

American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog

Barking Treefrog

Barking Treefrog

Southern Toad

Southern Toad

Training Courses

The Gainesville FrogWatch USA at Santa Fe College chapter hosts training courses for interested community members in January and February each year. Please check back at the beginning of January for information about yearly training courses.

For further inquiries, contact:

Jade Salamone, Conservation Education Curator at 352-395-7358 or frogwatch@sfcollege.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can children attend the workshop?
    We welcome children age 10 and up to register for the workshop. The workshop is three hours long and contains a lot of information, as well as an exam offered at a later date if you choose to become certified. For these reasons, this workshop is not appropriate for young children.

  2. Do I have to take a test to become certified?
    Yes. If you would like to become certified after completing the training workshop, you must take an assessment, which will take place two weeks after the workshop. This test evaluates your understanding of survey protocols and frog call identification skills. The course will give you the materials needed to be successful on the test. The date and location of the test will be discussed at the workshop.

  3. Are the surveys time intensive?
    You can put as little or as much time as you can realistically do within your busy schedule. The surveys only take 5 minutes and then submitting your data online takes 5 minutes or less. You will also save time if you choose a survey site that is close to your home. Some volunteers do as little as 4 surveys in the season or as many as 4 surveys a week.
Top