We are making the shift from citizen science to community science.
Here at Ontario Parks, we love that our visitors can get involved in science.
From iNaturalist to Bumblebee Watch, eBird, bioblitzes and more, volunteers help us collect important information about our parks.
These efforts help us understand how plant and animal populations change over time and help us discover populations of previously unknown rare species. They also allow us to react quickly if someone discovers an invasive species in a new area.
we are all in this together
You may have heard us use the term “citizen science” in the past. The terms citizen science and community science are intended to recognize the important work volunteers do in our parks.
Birding checklists help parks know what species of birds they are seeing and also help scientists understand demographic trends and migration patterns.
We want to show our appreciation for our volunteer community in any way we can, and a small part of that is recognizing that we welcome everyone.
Whether citizen, resident or visitor, we invite everyone to appreciate what the parks have to offer and to participate in helping us understand them.
The word “community” is also representative of the relationship we want to foster with our science enthusiasts.
Many community science efforts involve us all learning from each other, enhancing our collective knowledge and our connection to this incredible province.
We truly are a community that values learning and sharing.
Do you want to help your favorite park rise in the iNaturalist rankings? Take a photo next time you visit and upload it using the app!
If you have already joined the ranks of those who collect and share important park data, we sincerely appreciate it.
And if you haven’t jumped into the world of community science yet, we’d love for you to join us.