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Using a plant identification book
April is Citizen Science Month
Written By: Grace van Kan
Date Published: April 25, 2023
Grace van Kan
You probably already know that April is Earth Month and National Native Plant Month, but did you know that April is also Citizen Science Month*?
Citizen science is when members of the general public help conduct scientific research. It involves real people reporting observations and collecting real data that matters to them.
Visitors to Oliver’s Woods engage in citizen science whenever they take a photo at the Chronolog station and contribute to the time lapse of Carmel Creek. The photo station was installed in October 2022 and already we have a tool that shows the creek go from green to dormant, to snowy, to flooded. As we gather more information over time, observable changes in plant life and to the shape of the creek will become more obvious, helping us understand and anticipate how best we can protect and buffer the creek. We may also be able to see how water levels relate to the health of Carmel Creek’s riparian corridor upstream.
But you can practice citizen science from anywhere. Even small acts like sharing a photo of a flower can help scientists understand population distributions. You may be familiar with the smartphone app iNaturalist which allows anyone to upload observations (photos) and share them with both the public and with scientific data repositories. iNaturalist is also a great learning tool for anyone hoping to understand more about plants and critters they may not be familiar with.
Another app, eBird, created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a tool similar to iNaturalist that focuses on birds.
Indy-area folks have a unique opportunity to participate in a global citizen science project at the end of the month. From April 28th to May 1st the city of Indianapolis will compete in the City Nature Challenge. The City Nature Challenge is a friendly international competition among cities to see which one can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people. Only observations uploaded to iNaturalist between April 28th and May 1st will count.
This would be a great reason to visit Oliver’s Woods or another urban preserve or park that weekend, but backyard (or apartment balcony) observations count as well!
The ways to participate in citizen science are endless, and include events and activities such as Monarch Tagging, BioBlitzes, pollinator counts, and more. But remember, citizen science doesn’t only happen in April…
This May, you can get your hands wet with members of the White River Alliance’s River Assesment Field Team (RAFT). During this open house on May 7, stop by Oliver’s Woods and learn how this citizen science group monitors tributaries to the White River and how this data is used.
For more opportunities to learn with CILTI, check out our upcoming Golden Hour Summer Series, where local scientists will share their expertise in things like spider, bats, and more. Also check out our May birding series where you can go on a hike with a birding expert every Tuesday of the month. These opportunities and more can be found on our events calendar.
*Since 2016, SciStarter has organized Citizen Science Month in collaboration with Arizona State University and with support from the National Library of Medicine.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Ben Miller
Land Protection Coordinator
Ben is excited to have officially joined the CILTI team, after many years of collaboration in partner organizations. He spent ten years of his environmental career with the Indiana DNR: Division of Fish & Wildlife, first as a Fisheries Biologist and most recently leading the Healthy Rivers Initiative (one of the state’s largest land protection projects).
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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