Nearly 70 cities will be participating in this year's City Nature Challenge from April 27-30, competing to see who can make the most observations about their local flora and fauna. We're excited that you'll be able to take part in the local challenge right here in Forest Park!

Our partners at the City of St. Louis will be using the STL City Nature Challenge as an opportunity to help build the City’s Urban Biodiversity Inventory through citizen science observations with the free iNaturalist app.  

In addition to events happening all over the city, the following will be taking place in Forest Park:

Friday, April 27 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center | 5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis, MO 63112

• David Wilson, Chair of the Meramec River Recreation Association, will be present at the Visitor Center to handout materials regarding the Challenge and answer participants’ questions regarding site locations. 

Saturday, April 28 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Kennedy Savanna | Meet at the intersection of Rosebury Avenue & Skinker Blvd (on the Forest Park side)

• Join Thibaud Aronson and Gary Schimmelpfenig, both birding experts, will engage with participants in the City Nature Challenge by providing their naturalist experience to gather data through the iNaturalist application, provide commentary, and answer questions.

Saturday, April 28 | 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center | 5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis, MO 63112

• Join award-winning naturalist and Forest Park Forever volunteer, Mark H.X. Glenshaw, on an owl prowl; a tour to look for, learn about and observe the Great Horned Owls he has studied in Forest Park since December 2005. As a top-of-the-food-chain predator, Great Horned Owls have a vitally important ecological role. Owl prowls yield observations of many other animals ranging from raccoons and bats to herons and egrets to toads and frogs. All observations will be logged in iNaturalist as part of the City Nature Challenge.
• RSVP to Mark by email mglenshaw@gmail.com. Those who RSVP will receive an email from Mark with detailed instructions on what to wear and bring on the owl prowl.
• Group size limited to 10 people, 2 attendees maximum per RSVP, no children under 4.