City Nature Challenge

Celebrate Our Local Nature, Join the City Nature Challenge

The University of Iowa is collaborating with Johnson County communities to join 700+ cities around the world in documenting nature as part of the City Nature Challenge! You can contribute to citizen science during this global biodiversity challenge no matter where you are in Johnson County! From April 25-28, 2025, take photographs of WILD plants and animals in backyards, in parks, along city streets, on school grounds, or any place in Johnson County.

Simply use iNaturalist to upload your photos and add them to the Johnson County Project.

Johnson County Project

2025 Participation

Participating is Easy:

1. Download the iNaturalist app and make an account (Apple) (Android)

2. Take photos of WILD plants, animals, and insects anywhere in Johnson County between April 25-28, 2025

3. Upload your discoveries to iNaturalist

4. Follow the results to see the wildlife that is found in Johnson County

Community Events

Intro to iNaturalist & Mini-Bioblitz | Friday, April 25 at 6pm | Kent Park

Nature Detectives: Kickoff to the City Nature Challenge | Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. | Iowa City Public Library

Self-Guided Exploration at Nearby Nature Sites

Visit one or more protected nature areas in Johnson County to record wildlife at your own leisure during the City Nature Challenge.

Bur Oak Land Trust Preserves

Coralville Parks

Iowa City Parks and Trails

Johnson County Public Use Areas

Lake Macbride State Park

Macbride Nature Recreation Area

How To Use iNaturalist Flyer	Nature Scavenger Hunt	How To Use iNaturalist Video
Download PDF Flyer	Download PDF Flyer	Link to Video

More Resources

Check out these great resources that will help you learn more about the City Nature Challenge and how to use the iNaturalist app.

Education Toolkit

How To Use iNaturalist Video

FAQ

Learn More About iNaturalist

New to iNaturalist? Follow these links for some great tips on how to get started and how to become a better identifier!

Getting Started

Let's ID Some Arthropods

Learn More About the City Nature Challenge

The City Nature Challenge is organized by the citizen science teams at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.
www.citynaturechallenge.org