Citizen Science is Blooming!

That's according to the National Environmental Education Foundation. This past year they released a neat poster, highlighting the impact of citizen scientists nation-wide. Some amazing accomplishments in 2011 include the tallying of over 61 million bird observations during the Christmas Bird Count, water quality monitoring at 1,750 sites around the nation on World Water Monitoring Day, and mapping the first detailed fall migration flyway of monarch butterflies in eastern North America. Fine accomplishments indeed!

The Rey Center encourages citizen scientists to get involved wherever they can. One way is to participate in Rey Center citizen science programs, such as, Water Watchers, helping us monitor the quality of our local waterways, Species Monitoring on Welch Ledges, helping us catalog alpine plants for preservation, or Phenology Watchers, recording the timing of seasonal events in our local forests.

You too can make a difference! Join us or look for opportunities in your own backyard. To learn more, contact me at kvotta@thereycenter.org.

Kim Votta