iNaturalist 101

Ever found a plant or animal in the park, or even your backyard, and asked "What is that?" Want to participate in this year's City Nature Challenge, a bioblitz-style competition to see which city can get the most number of people identifying plants and animals? Join us to learn how to use this amazing citizen science app!

iNaturalist is a great free app anyone can use to help them identify a plant of animal they find using a photo or sound recording. It is also the tool used for the annual City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition between cities to see who can get the most number of people outside identifying the most number of organisms right inside there city. 

So, whether you have used iNaturalist before and would like some pointers, or if you have never used it and just want to learn how to better identify plants and animals, join us for an afternoon of discovering the amazing diversity that lives all around us. 

Reservations required; to reserve your spot, call the office at (915) 444-9121.

Fee: $5.00 per adult 13 years of age and older and free for Texas State Park Pass holders, and children 12 years of age and under. 

Bring: cell phone with iNaturalist installed, water, snacks, hiking boots/shoes, and comfortable clothes.

Optional: binoculars, hiking stick, camera, and a map.

 Meeting location: 

The Visitor Center in the Tom Mays Unit. When you enter Tom Mays, pull into the first parking lot to the right and go into the main visitor center to get your entrance permit. The event will be in the Interpretive building next door.

Directions: 

From Westside on I-10, take exit 6 & travel east towards mountains for 3.8 miles. Park entrance will be on the left. 

From Eastside on Hwy 54, take exit 29 towards Transmountain Rd, travel west 7-7.5 miles through the mountains. Park entrance will be on the right.

If using a GPS be sure to search for "2900 Tom Mays Access Road," not "Franklin Mountains State Park."