S2S, Blue Star Families, Master Naturalists, and Military Youth Cohort participate in BioBlitz for the City Nature Challenge - Citizen Science Month!

Apr 29

As part of its Youth Field Science Program at Manassas National Battlefield Park, a mixed cohort of Blue Star Veteran Families, Military Youth Cohort Members, Virginia Master Naturalists, and S2S Staff and Volunteers participated in a BioBlitz for the City Nature Challenge! We hiked the Manassas Trail at Chinn Ridge in the park, a solid loop through a forested area of the park, and it did not disappoint! Check out some of our wildlife photos below the recap!

Participants gather at the S2S meeting point at Chinn Ridge at Manassas Battlefield Park

Our focus this week was pollinators, and while the cooler weather kept many pollinators tucked away, the park continues to deliver pretty incredible days of discovery. With the help of our field guides and scavenger hunt forms, we encountered tree frogs, snakes, and salamanders (FINALLY!:), along with unique wildflowers, bird nests, shed snake skins, hundreds of tadpoles, squirrels, fungi, insects, and a number of notable migrating birds. Some of our young scientists took on scouting roles while others recorded observations—true teamwork in action! Our Master Naturalists provided outstanding field support throughout, and everyone did a tremendous job. I’m really proud of our cohort - I can see them learning in real-time.

We also practiced important field techniques, including how to carefully check under logs, identify promising habitat, and—just as importantly—how to gently return everything to its original position to preserve moisture and protect the ecosystem.

Our efforts for the City Nature Challenge helped the D.C. Region stand out internationally. We contributed over 166 observations, 86 distinct species, and the numbers are still coming in. DC is currently jockeying between 6th and 8th place in the global standings. The region’s observations total, as of now, is 20,656, with 2,145 species identified, and we’re holding firm at 2nd place globally in number of observers with 1,197. You can see our efforts displayed on the iNaturalist map!

We are excited for upcoming Module 4 at Stonebridge where Veteran and Soil and Wetlands Scientist Professor Taylor Blackman (Juanita College) will be joining alongside Capital Naturalist and Master Herpetologist Alonso Abugattas to lead our Youth Cohort on another exciting day at Manassas Battlefield Park!