Get Outside This Spring with BioBlitz

Lingering winter got you down? It’s time to think of bioblitzing! 

You, your family, and your learners can
celebrate Earth Day with the Center for Great Lakes Literacy’s/Sea Grant 7th Annual Great Lakes BioBlitz! This event is a great opportunity to engage youth and the public in community science, collect data to support biodiversity research and conservation, and learn more about the organisms in the Great Lakes Basin.

What is the Great Lakes BioBlitz?

A free event that focuses on finding and identifying as many wild, living things as possible in the Canadian provinces and the U.S. states that have coastline on the Great Lakes during a specified period of time. You need not be in the Great Lakes basin watershed to participate, just in a Great Lakes state or province.

When is it?

It begins on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, and runs for 4 weeks, ending on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

How do I participate?

The beauty of this project is that you decide your level of participation! Take an afternoon to explore and document some plants or wildlife in an area, or pick a location to return to weekly, or set a goal to find something new every day–there are many ways to participate. 

1. Visit iNaturalist or download the app onto your phone and create an account.  
2. Become a member of the 2026 Great Lakes BioBlitz project
3. Get outside, get out your cameras, and start making and posting observations!

[Additional action: As you are able, verify other participants' Great Lakes BioBlitz Project postings to make them “research grade.”]

Why participate? 

There are many benefits of becoming a BioBlitz wizard, here are just a few:

• Engage in an outdoor activity, discover the wild living things in the world around you, form and strengthen a place-based connection
• Join a global community of observers, learners, and scientists passionate about biodiversity and the Great Lakes
• Contribute to a global database of organisms. Observations made on iNaturalists contribute to research, conservation, and educational outreach programs

And please note: you don't need to bioblitz for four weeks – you can do it for an hour, a day, etc.

Want to learn more?

• Visit the Great Lakes BioBlitz Educator Google Site for more information about the project and educator resources for engaging youth in this wonderful learning experience!
• All the links for the BioBlitz are also available on the WiSG Webpage.

Want to help market this event to others? 

Her are some resources to help you get the word out:

• 2026 BioBlitz Poster 
• 2026 BioBlitz Challenges 
• 2026 BioBlitz Social Media Post

BioBlitz - You're Invited to Participate!

A message from Anne Moser, Anne Moser UW-Madison's Senior Special Librarian, Wisconsin Water Library and Education Coordinator, Wisconsin Sea Grant.

The 14^th annual Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF) is fast approaching (October 14-20), and your library is invited to participate as an event host.  This year the Wisconsin Water Library at UW Madison is assisting the WSF in support of libraries’ participation in the WiSciFest Bioblitz – a community science event that collects data on biodiversity in Wisconsin. Libraries are a perfect fit for hosting a mini bioblitz and the Water Library is here to help.

 

A bioblitz gives community members the opportunity to explore and record the surrounding flora and fauna and can run for one hour, one day or for the whole week of the science festival. Hosting a bioblitz is easy and the Wisconsin Water Library (co-hosts a Great Lakes Bioblitz in the spring) have put together some resources for you.

 

1. A bioblitz resource guide contains important information you need to host your own bioblitz.
2. A free, one-hour informational webinar will be held on Thursday, September 19 at 11:30. This is an opportunity to learn the basics of community science and how you might participate. The webinar is designed for both new and experienced bioblitzers. Click to register for the webinar.

 

Bioblitz in the Library

 Thanks to NFLS's Nic News Weekly, July 12, 2024 for this timely information!

2024 Wisconsin Science Fest: Bioblitz in the library October 14-20   The 14th annual Wisconsin Science Festival (WSF) is fast approaching (October 14-20), and your library is invited to participate as an event host. This year the Wisconsin Water Library at UW Madison is assisting the WSF in support of libraries’ participation in the WiSciFest Bioblitz – a community science event that collects data on biodiversity in Wisconsin. Libraries are a perfect fit for hosting a mini bioblitz and the Water Library is here to help. A bioblitz gives community members the opportunity to explore and record the surrounding flora and fauna and can run for one hour, one day or for the whole week of the science festival. Hosting a bioblitz is easy and the Wisconsin Water Library (co-hosts a Great Lakes Bioblitz in the spring) have put together some resources for you. A bioblitz resource guide contains important information you need to host your own bioblitz. A free, one-hour informational webinar will be held on Thursday, September 19 at 11:30. This is an opportunity to learn the basics of community science and how you might participate. The webinar is designed for both new and experienced bioblitzers. Register for the webinar here.

Great Lakes Bioblitz

Anne Moser of UW's WI Water Library shares for libraries and schools:

Dear Great Lakes Educator,

Educators, families, and students are invited to participate in the Great Lakes Bioblitz! The bioblitz will take place in yards and other outdoor spaces that respect the stay home and social distancing practices required at this time.

What is the Great Lakes Bioblitz? A bioblitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many wild, living things as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. This bioblitz focuses on the entire Great Lakes Basin (US) and Ontario. It runs for four weeks. 

Who should participate? Teachers, educators, students, and families.

Why should I participate? Bioblitzes provide a way to record biodiversity, the variety of wild living things found in a given area. For the Great Lakes Bioblitz, each state will collectively make observations, and the observations from one region can be compared to the observations from another region.

When?

• Starts: Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2020
• Ends: Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Where? The bioblitz will take place in yards and other outdoor spaces all across Ontario, Canada, and the Great Lakes states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. 

Interested in using this in your classroom? We suggest setting up one user ID and password and sharing it with your classroom.

How do I participate in the bioblitz?

1. Visit www.inaturalist.org on your computer, or download iNaturalist app from your app store onto your mobile device.
2. Create an account (free).
3. Become a member of the Wisconsin Bioblitz (CGLL) project.
4. Become a member of the Great Lakes Bioblitz (CGLL) “umbrella” project .
5. Start making observations!

How do I find the projects on iNaturalist? Visit www.inaturalist.org and search for your states’ Biolblitz (CGLL) and the umbrella project or click on the link below:

• Great Lakes Bioblitz (CGLL) - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/great-lakes-bioblitz-cgll
  • Wisconsin Bioblitz (CGLL) - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/wisconsin-bioblitz-cgll

To learn more: You can find a link to a recorded webinar describing the Bioblitz: https://www.michiganseagrant.org/educational-programs/h-o-m-e-s-at-home/

Questions about iNaturalist or the Great Lakes Bioblitz? Contact Anne Moser at akmoser@aqua.wisc.edu or (608) 262 3069