what?

Citizen Naturalists is a program designed to get young people safely outdoors, exploring and observing living organisms in their natural environments. It is both educational and physical, will expand a person’s understanding of nature, science and their personal place in the world. We will focus on the relationships between living species, how living things impact their environment and our human relationship with it all.

Where?

We run programs at various sites around the Triangle. Currently, we provide after school enrichment by working with schools who host a program site. In the winter/spring (2024) we will offer two 6-week-long after school programs through the Parks and Recreation Department of the Town of Holly Springs, held at Bass Lake Park.

who?

Our after school programming is open to elementary age students.

All programs held on school campuses are populated according to each school’s enrichment policies. All inquiries should run through our participating school(s).

Our Holly Springs programs will be open to the public. See the Parks and Recreation website for more information.

Why?

It’s easy to ignore the wildlife within a town’s limits, but bringing awareness opens up a whole new world. Nature calms a spirit, roots a busy body, inspires, heals and awakens the senses. But time spent indoors and on screens convinces us to ignore our natural instincts for outdoor discovery. This club aims to teach young people how to safely explore the outdoors, how to observe and interact with nature and it encourages advocacy for our natural world through awareness of our local flora and fauna.

how?

Participants will learn naturalists skills through capture and release practice, proper identification of plants and animals, biological and chemical creek monitoring, the use of binoculars and micro-lenses and wildlife cameras, etc.

Each meeting will have an intended focus which may include, but are not limited to:

• Bird Identification

• Plant and tree identification

• Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians)

• Mammal tracking

• Water quality monitoring + aquatic life

• Insect Identification

• Wildflower and local flora identification

• The study of phenology

• Weather

• Participation in global citizen science projects

When?

The Parks and Recreation department of the Town of Holly Springs will be hosting 2, 6-week Citizen Naturalist sessions starting in the winter 2024. See their website or the published Hurrah’s magazine for more information.

Programming run as after school enrichment on school campuses are held during both the fall and spring semesters. Schools that wish to host a program site can reach out to Rachel for more information.