Become a citizen scientist! Residents are invited to join the City of Richmond and Richmond School District No. 38 in the City Nature Challenge from Friday, April 25 to Monday, April 28. This fun, interactive event is part of a global initiative that encourages friendly competition between cities to record the most nature observations, celebrating the incredible plants and animals that live on Earth.

Located in one of North America’s most productive estuaries, Richmond offers residents many opportunities to photograph plants and animals.

How to participate:  

1. Download the free iNaturalist app on a mobile device from inaturalist.ca. 
   
2. Join the Richmond community project page "City Nature Challenge 2025: Richmond, BC". 
   
3. Turn on location data and use the app while recording photos and sounds of wild plants and animals in Richmond between Friday, April 25 and Monday, April 28, 2025.

Once residents upload photos, they can receive feedback from actual scientists, experts and other naturalists who will help identify each observation.

All residents who participate will have three chances to win a City of Richmond reusable street banner bag:

• Four banner bags will go to randomly drawn participants
  
• Three banner bags will go to three participants with the most observations
  
• Three banner bags will go to three participants with the most species observed

During and after the event, participants may view the community’s progress on the Richmond Project page to see what was discovered. Results of all findings will be released on Monday, May 5. Those interested can also track results of other Canadian cities through a national initiative hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Last year, Richmond entered 1,792 observations, including red-winged blackbirds, Dungeness crabs, the Oregon grape plant and the seaside pea plant. 

For more information on the City Nature Challenge, visit citynaturechallenge.org.