Join the City Nature Challenge April 25-28, 2025
Join community scientists and nature lovers across the capital region in celebrating local species and ecosystems by participating in the 2025 City Nature Challenge, happening April 25-28. During the City Nature Challenge over 400 cities across the world compete to photograph and document their local biodiversity.
Join the 2025 City Nature Challenge
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This is your chance to connect with other nature lovers across the capital region in celebrating local species and ecosystems by participating in the 2025 City Nature Challenge. Join now: City Nature Challenge April 25-28, 2025(opens in new window)
Over four-days, April 25-28, photograph and document local biodiversity in the capital region using the free iNaturalist (opens in new window)website or app and help to build a record of the nature that surrounds us. More than 700 cities around the world will be participating in the City Nature Challenge this year. By joining in, you will help build a record of the nature that surrounds us, which is used by local governments and scientists to protect biodiversity.
Join the Greater Victoria City Nature Challenge project to be eligible to win one of three exciting prizes:
- First prize (Most species observations): $50 gift card to Satinflower Nurseries
- Second prize (Most observations overall): $30 gift card to Wild Birds Unlimited store
- Third prize (randomly selected participant): Greater Victoria nature guidebook
Participating in City Nature Challenge in the capital region is easy:
- Create an account using the free iNaturalist app (AppStore (opens in new window)or Google Play(opens in new window)) or website(opens in new window)
- Become a member of the Greater Victoria City Nature Challenge project(opens in new window). Members will receive project updates and have the chance to win great prizes.
- Join the hunt! Search for local nature in your backyard, neighbourhood, or favourite park or beach between April 25 and 28. Observations of wild native plants, animals, fungi, insects, tracks, or even scat are all welcome.
- Use a digital camera or smart phone to capture your sightings, and upload to iNaturalist. Any iNat observation made within the capital region between April 25-28 will count towards the Challenge.
- Identify your findings as best you can and have people from the iNaturalist community help confirm your identifications
Don’t miss any of the City Nature Challenge Events! Partners across the capital region are offering free events to encourage people to join this fun competition. Click on the links for more information, and check back as new events are continually added:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 24 | Rocky Point Bird Observatory “Feathers and Flight” iNaturalist virtual training (zoom link coming soon) |
| April 26 | Mini Biothon at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary(opens in new window)CRD Wildflowers of Horth Hill guided walk (Pre-registered program,18+)Nature Walks at Goldstream Provincial Park (opens in new window)Earth Day Celebration at Oak Haven Park(opens in new window) |
| April 27 | Saanich Gorge Park Tour and City Nature Challenge |
