November 4, 2026
The Wakulla Environmental Institute (WEI) will host its first-ever Community BioBlitz event on Sunday, November 15, from 2 to 5 p.m., inviting the public to explore the institute’s 200-acre campus and discover the diverse wildlife that calls the region home.
Participants will become “citizen scientists,” working alongside local biology experts to find and document plants, animals, fungi, and other living organisms across the campus grounds. The hands-on event offers an opportunity to explore local ecosystems, learn about the region’s biodiversity, and contribute valuable observations to a global scientific database.
Participants will use the iNaturalist app to photograph and identify organisms, with support from artificial intelligence (AI) and a community of experts. Observations recorded through the app help researchers worldwide study species and better understand biodiversity.
WEI began using iNaturalist to document native species on campus. After sharing the initiative with local experts and organizations, the institute developed the BioBlitz event to encourage greater appreciation of the natural environment in Wakulla County and the broader Big Bend region.
“Hopefully, this event can help people appreciate how beautiful and biodiverse our region is and inspire people to make decisions that help preserve the other living beings that we share our world with,” said Henry Gwynn, WEI’s Instruction and Project Coordinator.
Presented in partnership with the C2A3 Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement, a national organization dedicated to strengthening agricultural education, this event offers opportunities to explore and learn more about local wildlife.
Those interested in participating in the Community BioBlitz event can register here.