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CANADA—Get ready Manitoulin! The Big Backyard BioBlitz is coming up fast, and with it the opportunity to engage in some great summertime citizen science activities that can be fun for the whole family.

What is the Big Backyard BioBlitz you might ask? The Expositor connected with Megan Quinn, coordinator conservation biology, Eastern Ontario, to find out. “The Big Backyard BioBlitz is a nationwide, community science event led by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC),” she said. “This year is our sixth annual event. It invites people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature and help us collect important information by taking photos or recording audio observations of any plants, animals, fungi or insects they encounter. This year’s bioblitz runs from July 27 to August 3, and it’s open to everyone of all ages, everywhere in Canada.”

So, do people need special knowledge or equipment? “No. A smartphone, tablet or digital camera is enough to participate,” said Ms. Quinn. “People are encouraged to try identifying what they find, but the iNaturalist community can help verify observations. There is no cost to participate. For the highest chance of success, take clear photos from multiple angles, and note the exact date and time and location you found it.”