Species Discovery Day George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Join us for a thrilling bioblitz as we participate in the City Nature Challenge 2023! This exciting international initiative is all about discovering and documenting the diverse organisms that call Saskatoon and the surrounding areas home.

Whether you are a researcher, student, or simply a nature enthusiast, this event is for you. By using the iNaturalist app, you can easily capture and upload photos of any plant, animal, or insect you encounter in your local area. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert – our team of specialists will be on hand to identify through iNaturalist and verify the species you spot.

This event on Friday April 28 is at 7:00 pm. for a group gathering in George Genereux Urban Regional Park. Between April 28 and May 1, 2023, we’ll be racing against the clock to submit as many observations as possible- you can do this anywhere in Saskatoon and area on your own as well. By participating, you’ll be helping us compete for the title of the most biodiverse city, as well as supporting vital conservation research.

But it’s not just about the City Nature Challenge competition – it’s also a chance to connect with nature and explore the world around us. So come join us, snap some pictures, and help us learn more about the amazing biodiversity that exists in Saskatoon and area.

By coming out to George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon, you will help the City of Saskatoon create a master plan the afforestation areas when the time is right

A bioblitz is a collaborative effort of people – scientists, researchers, naturalists, and community members to explore and document the biodiversity of a particular area. During a bioblitz, participants work together to take pictures of as many organisms, insects, lichen, fungi, plant and animal species as possible in a set amount of time. This is achieved through downloading the free iNaturalist app to your smart phone, and using to take pictures of organisms or to record sounds of birds, squirrels and other animals. The goal of a bioblitz is not only to document the species present in the area, but also to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the need for conservation efforts. It is a fun and educational way to connect with nature, learn about the local ecosystem, and contribute to scientific research.

For more information on how to participate, visit FriendsAreas.ca. See you there!

iNaturalist CNC YXE 2023 project page

City Nature Challenge CNC YXE 2023 for hints, tips, and FAQ

Map and Directions to George Genereux Urban Regional Park with GPS for smart phone Google Maps

We are excited to announce a series of upcoming events that we are hosting in the coming months, and we hope that you will join us in celebrating our beautiful natural spaces and the important work that we do to protect them.  Can you help share the news?

First up is the Saskatoon and area City Nature Challenge CNC YXE 2023 event, taking place from April 28th to May 1st, 2023. This is a great opportunity for anyone to participate in a friendly competition to see who can gather the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people across Saskatoon and Area. Last year’s participants tracked over 1.6 million observations! We are inspired by the potential this event has to encourage people to explore local green spaces and natural habitats, which has added benefits such as developing a record of local wildlife, protecting species at risk or finding invasive species for rapid response on noxioius species. Let’s be the reason nature believes in humanity!  Host an event or come out to the events planned http://friendsareas.ca/  Support      Press Release         Collaborate

Following the CNC YXE 2023 event, we have the Jane’s Walk festival on May 6th and 7th. During this festival, we will be exploring the rich history of George Genereux Urban Regional Park on one day and Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area on the other day. We will also be connecting these beautiful spaces to the City of Saskatoon’s afforestation initiative and the North American “Green Survival Program,” with a slogan, “It Begins With You.”

Arbor Week is coming up from May 20th to May 28th, 2023, with the slogan “Healthy Trees, Healthy People.” This event will connect Saskatoon with the mixed wood forest within city limits, and we invite you to enjoy a tour and discover exotic and native trees.

Finally, we have Doors Open, Sunday June 25^th 12-5:00pm. During this event, we invite you to discover the history and significance of Richard St. Barbe Baker to the City and the heritage of the afforestation area itself for visitors.

Stay tuned for Every Place A story; Historic Places Days with exploration dates set for July 2023, followed by activities during National Forest Week 2023 September 17-23, 2023 “Canada’s Forests: Supporting Biological Diversity.”   Discover more about wildlife supported by the forest habitat in Saskatoon.

We hope that you will join us for these exciting events, and we look forward to seeing you there!