Two Free Schoolyard Biodiversity Inventories Trainings in February

Jan. 26, 2016

We are looking for student volunteers to help expand the Schoolyard Biodiversity Inventories Program!

In Spring 2016, we are increasing the reach of this program to involve more schools than ever before as part of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.  We will be recruiting a team of UA students to serve as support staff at local schools while inventories are being completed.  Student volunteers must attend a mandatory training on either Friday, Feb. 19th or Saturday, Feb. 20th and then commit to working for a minimum of 15 hours assisting with the implementation of inventories. If you're interested in volunteering with this program, please send a brief paragraph describing why you'd like to participate and a list of the days/times you are generally available M-F to help out at schools to Kristen at kgautierdownes@email.arizona.edu

The expansion of the Schoolyard Biodiversity Inventories Program is generously supported by the University of Arizona Institute of the Environment in Spring 2016.

 

Schoolyard Biodiversity Inventories Program Background:The Schoolyard Biodiversity Inventories Program is a collaboration between WISE, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the National Park Service, and schools throughout the Tucson Unified School District.  This program aims to increase student knowledge and interest in issues of environmental science and biodiversity conservation, while fostering a sense of environmental responsibility among participants.

Through this program, we work with local K-12 schools to conduct biodiversity inventories at local schools using an on-line application called iNaturalist.  iNaturalist allows students to upload photographs of living things to a global database where they are mapped and identified. In this way, participants in this program contribute to a global community of those committed to better understanding and fostering biodiversity.