Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: Discovery Station – Join the City Nature Challenge!

Learn about this weekend’s City Nature Challenge and free smartphone apps that can help you identify plants, animals, and more, while helping contribute to science! Stop by to learn from Ranger Eric about some free smartphone apps you can use to identify any living organism on the planet, while also increasing our knowledge of where they live. If you are wanting to participate in the April 26-29 City Nature Challenge, we will have information to get you started! This event is an international effort that encourages everyone to find and document plants and wildlife on the iNaturalist citizen science app or website (https://www.inaturalist.org/) in cities across the globe. This bioblitz-style competition challenges local communities to make the most observations in nature during this 4-day period, and then this data is available for science, management, and conservation. So this April 26-29, connect with your open spaces, your community, and other global naturalist using only your phone or camera to record nature wherever you go! For more info, check out www.citynaturechallenge.org. *If you would like to learn how to document via iNaturalist, please download the free app at home and register with a username prior to arrival, as cell service is usually nonexistent at this park. MEETING LOCATION: Spur Cross parking lot trailhead. See park map here: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/assets/1/6/spur-cross-8x11.pdf *Please note: Entry to Spur Cross Conservation Area is $3 per person. Annual Pass or CASH are accepted, and exact change is much appreciated. If the fee station past the parking lot is closed, there are iron rangers with envelopes to place your payment in. No registration required. Just stop by the discovery station anytime between 10:00am-1:00pm!