Dragonfly {Photo by Adam Baron}
Dragonfly {Photo by Adam Baron}
By Sharon Aron Baron
Nature enthusiasts, get ready! The South Florida City Nature Challenge is about to begin, and Coconut Creek is one of the cities participating in the event.
The City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe.
It’s a bio-blitz-style competition rooted in citizen science where cities compete against each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people.
South Florida, which encompasses Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, competes globally from Friday, April 28, through Monday, May 1.
Residents and visitors of Coconut Creek will have the opportunity to compete with cities worldwide to find and document the most species of wildlife in their area. High School students can even earn service hours for participating.
To participate in the challenge, individuals can download the iNaturalist application on their mobile devices and start exploring the natural beauty of Coconut Creek. Participants are encouraged to take pictures of any plant, animal, or fungi they come across and share their observations on the app. Mobile devices and cameras will not be provided, so bringing your own is essential.
To kick off the event, Coconut Creek Park Rangers will host a special event on Friday, April 28 at 5:00 PM at Sabal Pines Park – Pine Pavilion, at 5005 NW 39th Avenue.
During the kickoff event, participants of all ages can make their own “pollinator ball” out of clay, soil, seed, and water.
The event is free, and no registration is required. Everyone is welcome to join and explore the natural wonders of Coconut Creek.
For more information on the South Florida City Nature Challenge in Coconut Creek, please call 954-545-6600 or visit www.CoconutCreek.net/Parks.
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