Tag Archives: citizen science

Join the Regional Parks Snap & Share!

Join the Burnaby Lake Park Assoication as we celebrate the change of the seasons. We’re participating in the Regional Parks Snap & Share event and invite you to get out into nature. During the month of October, park visitors are encouraged to SNAP a photo of flora or fauna and SHARE their observations to iNaturalist app to contribute to Citizen Science!

This event is taking place in Burnaby Lake Regional Park and all Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways. Pay attention to plants, fungi, mosses, and wildlife you haven’t noticed before. Then simply snap photos of what you discover and share your photos on iNaturalist.

TWO EASY STEPS TO PARTICIPATE

1. Go to iNaturalist.ca or download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and set up an account.

2. Take photos in any Metro Vancouver regional park or greenway from October 1st-31st and upload them to iNaturalist.

The BLPA has a month full of activities in October to help you learn to use the iNaturalist app effectively as well as opportunities to increase the number of species that you can observe.

iNaturalist is a great way to build your nature knowledge and get feedback on your observations. What’s more, you’ll be joining a global community of citizen scientists and contributing to biodiversity science.

Click here for iNaturalist Tips and Tricks to get started.

It’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone, on your own or with your friends and family!

WIN PRIZES! 

  • All registered participants will be entered into draws to win these prizes:
    • Capilano Suspension Bridge Park family admission ticket (family of 4)
    • $100 gift card for Book Warehouse
    • VanDusen Botanical Garden family membership (family of 4)
    • Beatty Biodiversity Museum family membership (up to 2 adults & 4 kids)
  • Individual with the most observations:
    Talasay Tours – Tour of your choice (2 adults, 2 kids)
  • Individual with the most species observed:
    Vancouver Aquarium family membership (2 adults, 2 kids)

All draws will take place on November 1.

PLEASE NOTE: To be eligible for prizes you will need to register for this project with your iNaturalist User Name. Register any time up to October 31.

You can check out the Regional Parks Snap & Share project page on iNaturalist to see what others have been observing and view the leaderboard.

Please take photos safely. Stay on trails. Do not approach wildlife. Please do not pick or remove anything.

This program is generously sponsored by

Our vision is for a healthy, dynamic regional park system, loved and supported by the community, and protected and enhanced for future generations.

Other Participating Organizations

Catching the Spirit Youth Society, Colony Farm Park Association, Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association (DRBIPA), Kanaka Education & Environmental Partnership Society, Minnekhada Park Association, Pacific Spirit Park Society

BLPA Guided Nature Walk Using the iNaturalist App

Have you ever gone for a walk in the park and saw a pretty flower or cool bug and you wondered what it is? Join the BLPA for a guided nature walk using the iNaturalist app and get to know the nature around you!

DATE: Sunday, September 11, 2022
TIME: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
PLACE: Burnaby Lake Nature House, 4519 Piper Avenue

What is iNaturalist?

  • It is one of the world’s most popular nature apps.
  • It helps you identify the plants and animals around you.
  • It connects you to a community off over a million citizen scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!
  • By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
  • What’s more – you can register to participate in upcoming projects which can often have special events and prizes, like the Regional Parks Snap & Share happening in October.

Your BLPA Guide will review how to make an observation using the app and offer tips and tricks to get the best identification for your nature encounters and keep track of them.

After the introduction, we will go out into the park so you can use the app right away.

This event is free but registration is required. Limited spaces, register today!
Click here for registration and app download information here.

The BLPA invites you to Regional Parks Snap & Share

Visit Burnaby Lake Regional Park to discover and connect with nature, contribute your observations to citizen science, and learn about the natural world around you.

Two easy steps to participate:

1. Go to iNaturalist.ca or download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and set up an account.

2. Take photos in any Metro Vancouver regional park or greenway from May 15-June 13 and upload them to iNaturalist.

This spring, explore Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways. Pay attention to plants and wildlife you haven’t noticed before. Then simply snap photos of what you discover and share your photos on iNaturalist.

iNaturalist is a great way to build your nature knowledge and get feedback on your observations. What’s more, you’ll be joining a global community of citizen scientists and contributing to biodiversity science.
It’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone, on your own or with your family bubble.

You can check out the Regional Parks Snap & Share project page on iNaturalist to see what others have been observing and view the leaderboard.

Please take photos safely. Don’t approach wildlife, stay on trails, and don’t pick or remove anything.

Win prizes!

  1. All registered participants will be entered into weekly draws:
    • Monday May 24: Family membership to Museum of Anthropology (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18)
    • Monday May 31: Family membership to Beaty Biodiversity Museum (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18)
    • Monday June 7: Family membership to Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association and commemorative book
    • Monday June 14: Gift certificate for 2 adults for any 1.5 hour-long virtual or in-person tour with Talaysay Tours
  2. Individual with the most observations: OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society 40-minute owl pellet program with a bag of 10 owl pellets, plus a $60 gift card from Book Warehouse
  3. Individual with the most species observed: $120 gift certificate for Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, plus a $60 gift card from Book Warehouse

Please note:
To be eligible for prizes you’ll need to register for this project using this form. Register any time up to June 13.

If you’re new to iNaturalist:

We’re hosting a FREE “Introduction to iNaturalist” webinar on Tuesday, May 11th, 6:30-7:30pm. Presented by John Reynolds, SFU professor and iNaturalist expert. For the Zoom webinar link, click here.

You can also check out these tutorials on how iNaturalist works:

From the iNaturalist phone app: How to make an observation on iNaturalist

From the iNaturalist website: How to use iNaturalist’s Photo and Sound uploader

Generously hosted by:

The Pacific Parklands Foundation was founded in 2000 to protect and preserve Metro Vancouver’s regional parks. We understand that healthy parks help build healthy, happy people and strong communities. Please join us!

Other Participating Organizations

Boundary Bay Park Association, Catching the Spirit Youth Society, Colony Farm Park Association, Kanaka Education & Environmental Partnership Society, Minnekhada Park Association, Pacific Spirit Park Society

Prize Donors

Aboriginal & Eco Tours, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Museum of Anthropology, Talaysay Tours, Van Dusen Botanical Garden & Bloedel Conservatory

Tips & Tricks

  • Remember to turn on the GPS location function for your camera or mobile device so coordinates can be embedded into your photo
  • While you can use the app in the park, it can take time and data.
  • We actually recommend you take as many photo observations as you can while in the park and when you get home, upload them via your computer.
  • Either download your photos onto your computer or upload from your mobile device (like an external drive).