Observation Period: April 24–27, 2026
Identification Period: April 28–May 10, 2026
Get connected with nature and help make a difference! Join the City Nature Challenge, a worldwide movement to document nature and help fight biodiversity loss. During this four-day bioblitz, nature enthusiasts and casual observers take photos and upload them to the free iNaturalist app to share their observations and help document biodiversity in cities around the world. Learn about nature in our local area and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History is pleased to partner with various local organizations participating for Pittsburgh and its surrounding counties. The Pittsburgh Region joins hundreds of cities with more than 80,000 participants around the world for this exciting global project!
How to Participate
Participation in the City Nature Challenge is easy and free!
First, download the free iNaturalist app.
From April 24–27, get outdoors and take photos or recordings of any wild nature you observe – plants, insects, wildlife, even animal tracks, bird calls, and plants growing in sidewalk cracks – and upload them to the app. (Wild means it was not put there by people and is not being taken care of by people.) Every observation you make of wild nature is a data point that helps scientists and researchers understand and protect nature for all of us.
From April 28–May 10, help identify species observed by other challenge participants to help build a better understanding of biodiversity in our region.
Observations in Pittsburgh and the surrounding counties will count towards totals for the Pittsburgh Region.
Educational Resources
This is a great activity to host in classrooms and informal learning spaces. Learners will get outdoors, participate in real hands-on science, and get connected to a global effort!
Educators, please explore this educator’s guide first. When you’re ready to dive into planning a City Nature Challenge-related activity or lesson, this toolkit has additional resources to support you!
The City Nature Challenge is organized globally by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Read City Nature Challenge Stories
