City Nature Challenge 2023
April 28 - May 1
What is the City Nature Challenge (CNC)?
It's an annual friendly competition among cities all over the world to seek and document plants and wildlife over an extended weekend. The first-ever Citizen Science Day was in 2016 where teams at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and California Academy of Sciences dreamed up the CNC as a fun way to capitalize on their home cities’ friendly rivalry and hold an event around urban biodiversity.
Why Participate?
There is nature all around us, even in our cities! Knowing what species are in our metro area and where they are helps us study and protect them.
Taking part is easy
1) Find Wildlife. It can be any plant, animal, or any evidence of life found in your city.
2) Take a picture of what you find. Be sure to note the location of the critter or plant.
3) Share your observations through iNaturalist or your city's chosen platform.
How Can You Participate?
Join Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium staff and vounteers as we unite forces across the metro. This is our chance to get to know the plants, animals and fungi that are in our backyards, our parks, and our neighborhoods to better understand how our lives affect the ecology around us.
There are four options to get involved:
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Ways to Participate: Promote the Challenge - Advertise the challenge to your school, club, work, or church.
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Ways to Participate: Make Wildlife Observations - Get Outside! Make observations from midnight (12:01 am) April 28th to midnight (11:59 pm) May 1st. Upload photographs of birds, frogs, bugs, plants, grass, etc. INaturalist will help you identify what you don't know and log all your observations in project City Nature Challenge 2023 - Omaha Metro.
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Ways to Participate: Host an Event - Have a Green Space or picnic spot? Organize a walk or meditation during CNC 2023 and get co-workers, neighbors, or classmates outside and participating in observing. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium will be hosting events, as well as our partners, on our website so that the general public can find open events in their area. Contact Julia Janson (Julia.Janson@OmahaZoo.com) with event dates, time, location and info will be posted for public events. Private events are welcome too and do not have to be posted on the website.
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Ways to Participate: Identify Species - Unable to participate in CNC2023 or busy over the weekend? Help us identify species from Tuesday, May 2 through Sunday, May 7. Host an identification party or go on-line with friends to iNaturalist City Nature Challenge 2023 Omaha Metro and verify species using your knowledge or guidebooks, or websites. Wildlife experts, enthusiasts, and nature lover’s welcome!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Educate - Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
City Nature Challenge 2023: Omaha Metro Partner
Saturday, April 29th 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S 10th St., Omaha, NE 68107
Join us for Party for the Planet on Saturday, 4/29/23 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We'll have our City Nature Challenge booth up to help get everyone started on the Challenge and answer any questions. Find us near the Butterfly Pavilion and Garden where you can start your iNaturalist project and take some excellent pictures.
Information Coming Soon!
11809 Old Maple Rd, Omaha, NE
Come walk the trails of the beautiful Heron Haven Wetland Sanctuary and meet expert naturalists from across the city as you observe and learn about the birds, insects, plants, and more – living right here in our city.
Sunday, April 30th 1:00p.m.- 4:00p.m.
Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N., Bellevue, NE 68005
Come search out a variety of wildlife, plants, and fungi for City Nature Challenge 2023 at Fontenelle Forest! We will have various information stations set up around the Nature Center’s Dennis plaza with knowledgeable volunteers ready to inform you about the plants and animals you may discover during your trip. There will also be a raptor specialist on hand to educate visitors about these awesome birds of prey.
Join Omaha’s Public Library for special City Nature Challenge Storytime’s located at various branches. Read books about nature, sing songs, and learn how to identify plants and animals found in the wild. Explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each Storytime. See below or
Click here to find which City Nature Challenge Storytime to attend!
- 4/27/23
- 9:30 am - 10:00 am @ Millard Branch
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am @ Willa Cather Branch
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am @ Florence Branch
- 4/29/23
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am @ W. Clarke Swanson Branch
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am @ Saddlebrook Branch
- 10:30 am - 11:00 am @ Benson Branch
Saturday, April 22nd 11:00a.m.-6:00p.m.
Elmwood Park, 802 S 60th St, Omaha, NE 68106
Earth Day Omaha is back at Elmwood Park on April 22nd! A day filled with education, music, food and all the environmentalism and sustainability one could hope for! Plan on joining "Green" organizations from all over Omaha from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Come Learn more about City Nature Challenge and practice how to use iNaturalist so that you can be ready for the challenge April 28nd - May 1st!