City Nature Challenge
Schedule
Fri, 24 Apr, 2026 at 12:00 am to Mon, 27 Apr, 2026 at 11:59 pm
UTC-04:00Location
425 Hawthorn St, New Bedford, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02740 | New Bedford, MA
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The world’s biggest bioblitz is back, and we’re bringing it home to the South Coast! The City Nature Challenge is a global event where hundreds of cities compete to see who can document the most local wildlife. This year, the stakes are even higher as we split into two local teams: Team Greater New Bedford and Team Greater Fall River!
Whether you’re a pro photographer or just have a smartphone and a backyard, you can help us show the world the incredible biodiversity of our region. Every photo of a plant, animal, fungi, or insect you take helps scientists protect urban nature.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
April 24–27: The Big Weekend
Get outside and snap photos of wild plants and animals in Greater New Bedford or Fall River and upload them to the iNaturalist app. Every observation counts toward our local totals!
April 28–May 10: The ID Phase
Help us identify what everyone found! (No expertise required—the app and community help you!)
NEED A TUTORIAL? JOIN OUR FREE TRAININGS!
We’re hosting hands-on iNaturalist training at the BPZOO to get you ready. No registration is required, but you can fill out our interest form here: [INSERT LINK]
Training Dates at the Zoo:
Saturday, April 18: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Monday, April 20: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
GET READY IN 3 STEPS:
Download: Get the free iNaturalist app on your phone.
Explore: Head to your favorite local park, trail, or even your front porch.
Snap & Share: Between April 24-27, take photos and upload them to the app. They will automatically be added to our local project!
Which team will find the most species? Let’s go, South Coast!
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Where is it happening?
425 Hawthorn St, New Bedford, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02740Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
