BC's Big Nature Challenge

Every observation counts

1 MILLION
OBSERVATIONS

2,708,338

OBSERVATIONS SO FAR.

Join over 30,000 other proud British Columbians in BC’s Big Nature Challenge, presented by the BC Parks Foundation. Your 2021 challenge was to help crowd-source 2 million observations of wildlife in our beautiful province, while also getting the health benefits of spending time in nature.

You made it to 2 million. Fantastic! You are inspiring other places in the world, and there are more peaks to climb.

In 2022, BC Nature Challengers will attempt to reach 3 million observations of 16,000+ species while advancing our knowledge of the many rare and threatened species we share this province with.

Plus, we're going for 600,000 observations in BC's provincial parks!

Nature observations from community scientists such as yourselves have helped researchers and conservation managers survey remote areas, spot new or rare species, and track changes in species distribution and phenology, especially in response to climate change impacts.

Look carefully and see what you discover. Join the challenge today!
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What will you find in B.C.’s backyard?

Please click here for COVID-19 guidance

Join B.C.'s Nature Challenge with the BC Parks Foundation

Simply find wildlife (or signs of wildlife)
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It can be any plant, animal, fungus, or evidence of life.

Take a photo using a phone or digital camera

Snap a pic of what you find! Be sure to determine your location if your phone or camera is not GPS-enabled.

Share your photo on iNaturalist or other nature-reporting apps
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Upload your photo(s) and observation details through any of our partner platforms.

On August 22-23, join us for the Discover Parks Bioblitz!

Join our Discover Park Ambassadors for the Discover Parks Bioblitz, a family-friendly activity for your day in the park!

Using the iNaturalist app, give back to your parks by helping us learn more about the incredible diversity of creatures that live in them.

For a list of participating parks, please visit the iNaturalist project.

Bring your phone or a camera, take photos of as many species as you can, and upload to the iNaturalist project– it’s that easy!

The Bioblitz will take place on August 22nd and 23rd at participating parks. Find your local Discover Parks Ambassador for more information, or go to Join the Challenge for step-by-step instructions on how to use iNaturalist and eBird.

How many observations can you collect in one weekend?

BC's Big Nature Challenge makes the news

November 3, 2020

Rare species of dragonfly spotted for the first time in 40 years in B.C.

Vancouver is Awesome

October 15, 2020

The BC Nature Challenge - empowering park users to become citizen scientists

The Local

October 5, 2020

The BC Parks Foundation's "Big Nature Challenge" passes 1 million observations mark

On the Coast with Gloria Macarenko

October 4, 2020

Photo challenge nears goal of 1 million entries for B.C. Parks Foundation database

CBC British Columbia

October 1, 2020

Get out into nature for the BC Parks Foundation

Mornings with Simi

September 30, 2020

BC Parks Foundation has collected 950,000 wildlife pics, thanks to outdoor enthusiasts

Black Press Media

Vancouver is Awesome

We hit one million observations!

Mornings with Simi

Listen to our CEO, Andrew Day, and the Nature Challenge project lead, Emma Griggs, discuss the Challenge and some of the important ways citizen science can be used.