The document provides summaries of various Bioblitz events hosted by the US Forest Service across the country between May and September. It describes events that engaged communities, families, students, and citizens in outdoor activities and biological surveys. The events aimed to promote environmental education, scientific discovery, and connections between people and their public lands. Over 150 people participated in each Bioblitz, surveying and identifying various plant and animal species in their local forests and helping document biodiversity.
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BIOBLITZSTORIES
A REPORT ON EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION
We, as an agency, are proud of the work being done by our staff members all across the country.
Engaging with communities, youth, and individuals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle is
an enriching experience for Forest Service employees, and the National Geographic Bioblitz
allows us the opportunity to do so.
During the late spring in May through the early fall in September, the US Forest Service
sponsored __# of Bioblitz events for __# of people. These events touched the very heart of the
outreach the Forest Service aims to do—purposeful, meaningful connections with the public.
While reading these recollections of the National Geographic Bioblitz events, think about the
diversity of the staff and the citizens that this is reaching. Some stories are short while some are
long, but all of them include people who were touched and lives that were changed.
Thank You.
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R1: Northwest Montana Bioblitz – Engaging Families and Youth
“I love nature!” “I learned how to find birds with binoculars.” “It was cool seeing fish in the
river.” These were written comments from young Bioblitz participants at this year’s event.
Over 150 people participated in the April 23 Bioblitz event held at the 200 acre Flathead Valley
Community College in Northwest Montana. Flathead National Forest joined several other
community organizations and agencies to provide a successful event. The event drew a record
number of families with at least a third of participants being of elementary age, engaged in many
hands-on science activities. High school science students and community college students from
the natural resources and education departments, teamed up with budding young scientists to
survey and identify aquatic insects, birds and plants. The students also led kids in a Bioblitz
scavenger hunt, building bird houses and exploring micro-habitats with the ‘hula-hoop
ecosystem’. College students and
instructors, and community volunteers led
guided walks to survey specific sites and
helped participants identify species in the
Bioblitz tent using dissecting and compound
microscopes. College instructors also gave
GIS mapping demonstrations and in
recognition of DNA Day—April 25—
demonstrated DNA barcoding. “I learned so
much,” wrote one participant. Organizers are
already planning for the next year’s Bioblitz.
R3: Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger Disctrict
Along with a great day of fishing, kids practiced at the casting station, explored the bug
identification and collecting station, tried some fly-tying and enjoyed the archery range. They
also heard Smokey Bear’s fire safety message and at various display stations learned about
wildlife and fish while participating in BioBlitz events like scavenger hunts and listing as many
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species as they could find. Hot dogs were served at lunch. Mora National Fish hatchery stocked
retired Gila trout broodstock for the event with the opportunity to catch a World Record Gila
trout. The derby coincided with New Mexico Free Fishing day and National Fishing and Boating
week. The event was made possible with the support and cooperation of many agencies,
organizations and businesses. Kids reported a total of 61 fish caught, with the biggest fish caught
being an 18 ½”- 2 ½ lb Gila trout. At the end of the day, children won prizes in categories such
as largest fish, most fish and for
participating. We had a spectacular
turnout with 169 kids registered for
the event, which more than
doubled our total from the previous
event a few years ago. EKIP
(Every Kid In a Park) pass
vouchers were handed out to
interested 4th graders. Everyone
enjoyed the event and are
interested in making it an annual
event for connecting kids with
nature, and connecting Gila trout
and agencies with the local
community.
R3: Sandia Ranger District
Although the weather was a little chilly, roughly 60 people were in attendance at the 2016
Cienega Bioblitz, making the event a huge success! Between U.S. Forest Service personnel,
volunteers, and citizen scientists, 118 observations and 62 species were documented within the
Cienega Picnic campgrounds and recorded in iNaturalist. There were plenty of hands-on crafts
and species experts available to answer questions, lead nature walks and identify species.
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R4: Dixie National Forest
International Bird Day -BioBlitz Cedar City, UT.
Over 200 contacts were made during the event, and 10 4th graders came out as well. The weather
was perfect for springtime birding.
Mist netting and banding performed annually
by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
biologists allowed event participants to get a
new perspective on our feathered friends.
Ultra-fine nets were set up in riparian habitat
and biologists checked nets regularly for
migratory birds. After carefully removing
them from the nets, the biologists studied,
measured, recorded and banded the birds so
that they could be tracked. Bird Festival
participants were able to get an up-close look
at birds of the area, and some uncommon
migrants.
Field guides crafted by Girl Scout Troop 799
were provided to participants to draw on so that they could record the birds they saw at the event.
Crafts and activities were provided by several other agencies and refreshments were provided by
the Grind Coffee Shop.
The FS booth also provided a story walk
focused on the miracle of migration and the
arduous journey that birds make to get to their
breeding grounds.
Children that participated in the story walk were
able to practice their reading skills along the
way. Binoculars were available for the bird
walks and allowed kids to get a close-up look at
birds and their habitat.
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R6: Rogue River National Forest, OR
We held a BioBlitz on Mt. Ashland on July 7th, in partnership with the Medford District BLM,
the Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve (National Park
Service), and Medford REI. Our BioBlitz was multi-faceted in its goals: to observe and collect
data on the mountain (one of the most biodiverse
places in the country); to get our local Every Kid in a
Park pass holders and their families out on their public
lands; and to continue to build partnerships that
emphasize getting kids outdoors.
Mt. Ashland is SW Oregon’s only ski resort,
and is located on Rogue River-Siskiyou National
Forest and is managed by the private non-profit Mt.
Ashland Ski Association. The RRSNF also neighbors
the Medford District BLM’s Cascade Siskiyou
National Monument and Soda Mountain Wilderness
(designated for the biodiversity in the area), so we
decided in 2015 that our Every Kid in a Park events
would be in partnership with the BLM. That
partnership led to also working with the NPS because
we also share borders with them at the Oregon Caves
NMP, and we recognize that their strong interpretive
program is something that we can utilize in working with kids and their families. REI was
brought into the mix because of the area’s strong outdoor recreational community, and wanting
to spread the word to as many people as we can.
This BioBlitz was the second EKiP event we’ve done at Mt. Ashland, and was the first
BioBlitz to be held in Jackson County. We had 6 EKiP pass holders, 4 other kids of varying ages
(4-14), parents, and fellow volunteers (including the Forest Supervisor). All in all, 27 people
hiked 2 miles (1 mile each way) and climbed 1000 feet in elevation from the ski lodge to the
mountain’s summit. We wound up with 73 observations, and a great time was had by all!
R6: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (NPS site)
On May 21st, 2016 100 citizen scientists took part in the first BioBlitz at Fort Vancouver
National Historic Site! Participants helped the National Forest Service and its partners document
the flora and fauna at a national park. National Forest Service staff and partners with expertise in
pollinators, birds, bats, and plants paired up with teams of community volunteers to inventory
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particular types of species that were logged into an online database (iNaturalist). Teams began
inventorying in the morning and continue on a 2-3 hour rotation during the day.
Family-friendly exhibits and activities were also featured that focused on the significance of
native prairie plants to the indigenous cultures of the region, the history of naturalists at the Fort,
human impacts to the site, the value of and the significance of the white oak savannah.
Data collected at the BioBlitz was sent to Washington, DC, where it was broadcast on the
National Mall with data from other participating BioBlitz events. About 20 of the approximate
100 participants appeared to be in the upper elementary age range. While we handed out
information about EKIP, we did not collect information about grade level from each of the
participants.
Fort Vancouver’s Blitz was part of the
NPS’ Centennial effort (dozens of
Bioblitzes happening across the country
on International Biodiversity Day –
May 21st) as well as the Intertwine’s
Regional Ecoblitz Series
(theintertwine.org/blitz).
R6: Colville National Forest, SO
Ft. Colville Elementary School:
Click, click, click. Students aimed their cameras on the wonders of the outdoors to record their
observations. Five classes of 125 4th grade students from Fort Colville Elementary walked from
their school one mile up to the Rotary Club Trail to catalog each species they encountered. While
these young scientists weren’t asked to memorize scientific names, they were asked to look and
compare plants, insects, birds and animals. The goal of the day was to get students outdoors
looking closer at the living things they see every day. The Upper Columbia Children’s Forest co-
sponsored this BioBlitz with the Colville National Forest and Stevens County Conservation
District.
Hunters Campground, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area:
The 13 interagency presenters that gathered at Hunters Campground in Lake Roosevelt National
Recreation Area (LRNRA), included “ologists” from LRNRA, Colville National Forest,
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Stevens County Conservation District and the
Nature Conservancy to explore what was growing and living along the Columbia River with 165
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2-9 grade (42 4th graders) students from four small rural underserved schools in northeastern
Washington (Evergreen, Mary Walker, Springdale Elementary, and Columbia). Bus drivers sat
patiently as the students watched an osprey on its nest overhead; they didn’t want to leave. The
Upper Columbia Children’s Forest co-sponsored this day outdoors.
Colville Junior High School Wetland:
Student: “next time I’ll bring boots like my
teacher suggested.”
Teacher, “wow, that was more fun than I
thought it would be. Let’s plan to do it again
next year.”
Eighty 7th grade students rotated between
plants, wildlife, and macroinvertebrates in an
acre wetland adjacent Colville Junior High
School. Muddy boots and shoes were the order
of the day as students wound their way through
cattails, frogs and stinging nettles. Experts
were provided by the Colville National Forest
and Colville School District.
R8: Atlanta Regional Office
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Georgia Geographic Alliance hosted its first
ever BioBlitz on May 21, 2016 at the
Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve.
Approximately 100, community
members were scientists for a day at
CSNP, a 28 acre urban sanctuary for
wildlife encompassing wetlands,
uplands forests, and pine forests along the
floodplain of South Peachtree Creek. The event will
be geared towards the science standards of K-12
grades while providing fun and scientific intrigue for
those of all ages. The Forest Service partnered to
provide species ID expertise, lead nature hikes, host a
booth, and pass out Every Kid in a Park 4th grade
passes (15 4th graders attended).
R9: Washburn Ranger District
The Washburn Ranger District hosted a BioBlitz with the 4th and 5th grade class
(approximately 90 students) at Long Lake on the Chequamegon Nicolet National forest. The
kids split into small groups and worked with resource specialist to canvas the area for plant, tree
and wildlife species. We started the day out with an introduction of where the kids were and
how special of a place Long Lake is since it really was the public’s or “their” land. We
introduced biodiversity and why it was important, I took the easy route – if we do not know what
we have, we won’t know what we have lost! The kids then went out with natural resource
professionals and surveyed the area. For closing, we reported out what each group found and
what they thought was most special and ended the session with free play of running around the
woods and Long Lake beach. We handed out a bag of fun Smoky stuff and had water bottles
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made with Washburn School, Forest Service and Every Kid in the Park logo so they hopefully
will remember their day out on the Forest.
The day was very special for me to watch as I have a 4th grader. One of the reasons it
was so successful was due to the natural resource staff that took the day to pass their knowledge
on and work with the kids. Since we had five resource specialists, we had small groups of
approximately 8 students so they could really connect with the kids and give individual attention.
Aaron brought tracking devices and wolf calls that made everyone want to be in the wildlife
group, Matt and Mark had kids eating wintergreen and every group reported out that was their
favorite (a few kids had a bunch stuffed in their pockets), Andy and Charly had kids coring and
measuring trees and I know for a fact
each kid can tell you the difference
between a red, white and jack pine
now! A huge thanks to Andy Ledin,
Matt Bushman, Aaron Fahlstrom, Matt
Jaunzems, and Charly Ray (private
forester who led a group) for taking
time out of their busy schedule. And
thanks to the Washburn Elementary
School for working with us and
making this great event happen.
R10: Tongass National Forest
The Sitka Ranger District in Sitka, Alaska, helped the Sitka School District as well as several
other community organizations with its second annual Bioblitz with April 27th, 2016. The
Bioblitz takes place at the Forest Service’s Starrigavin Recreation Area and Campground, and
utilizes experts from the US Forest Service District as well as Pacific Northwest Research
Station, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, University of Alaska Southeast, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, National Park Service, Sitka Conservation Society, and the Sitka Sound Science Center
help all 4th grade students find and identify as many species as possible. The event puts over 100
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4th grade students and 30 volunteers into the field for 4 hours to trap, net, collect, and identify
freshwater insects, juvenile salmon, marine invertebrates, trees and plants, terrestrial insects, and
birds. The students always have a great experience and last year we found a species of freshwater
invertebrate never before found in Alaska. This year one even commented that she’d like to be
held back in 4th grade so she could do the Bioblitz again next year. From the Forest Service
perspective, the Bioblitz is a great way for students in Sitka to interact with their natural
environment, gain an appreciation for the plants and animals that literally live in their backyard,
and just be outside in their National Forest. It also exposes them to Forest Service personnel and
allows them to see that even though the recreation area is relatively developed, it continues to be
an environment thriving with dozens of species of all kinds. In fact it is not uncommon to hear
students comment that they had no idea so many different plants and animals lived so close to
home.