Enjoy a staff guided hike and learn how you can contribute to science by participating in the City Nature Challenge! We will take a slow pace as we notice all the living things along our trail and use the free app iNaturalist to help us identify plants. The event will begin with a brief indoor presentation, followed by a group wander on the trails to practice identifying spring ephemeral plants.

What is City Nature Challenge? It’s a worldwide community science effort to capture pictures of plants, animals, and fungi to map the biodiversity of our cities. All posts made on iNaturalist, a free app and website, count toward our city team’s total in the competition between more than 400 cities. When you participate, you connect with and learn about nature while contributing to scientific research worldwide! City Nature Challenge is organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and California Academy of Sciences. The Rock River Valley team is organized by Severson Dells Nature Center.

This event is free and your RSVP is appreciated. The event is designed for ages 8 and older, but all people are welcome. Trails are unpaved and may be muddy. If we could offer accommodations to support your visit, please contact info@natureattheconfluence.com or call 815-200-6910. RSVP on our website: https://natureattheconfluence.com/event/beginner-plant-identification-hike/