Join The Nature Conservancy, Friends of Mt. Tabor and Portland Parks & Recreation at Mt. Tabor Park for the 2023 City Nature Challenge! Started in 2016 as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) has grown into an international event, motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their own cities. Run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM), the CNC is an annual four-day global bioblitz that begins at the end of April, where cities are in a collaboration-meets-friendly-competition to see what can be accomplished when we all work towards a common goal.
The Greater Portland/Vancouver Metro Area began participating in 2021 and we are glad to take part in the tradition. At our event, volunteers will be split into two groups with experts of different taxa (for example: plants, fungi, insects, etc.) and will walk the park to make observations using the iNaturalist phone app. We will provide training and in-field support for making and uploading your photo observations on iNaturalist. Please bring your phone or a camera to make observations.
Learn more about the City Nature Challenge 2023 on the challenge's webpage. To find out more about the City Nature Challenge Greater Portland/Vancouver Metro Area please visit their iNaturalist page here.
Registration is required.
To register, please fill out the registration form.
Meeting Location
Meet at the Mt. Tabor Visitor Center at SE Salmon Way and, SE Park Dr, Portland, OR 97215 . See the MAP.
Parking
There is a large lot at the Mt. Tabor Visitor Center.
Location Description
Event will take place on uneven terrain.
Questions
For more information, please contact Anne Marie Santos 503-729-0318 or annemarie.santos@portlandoregon.gov.
Getting Ready for the Event
Thank you for helping to keep Portland parks healthy and beautiful! Here are a few tips to get you ready for your stewardship event.
- Registration is required for all stewardship events.
- Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of any contagious illness or have had recent contact with someone exhibiting symptoms of any illness.
- Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, water, and snacks. PP&R will provide training for the activity, tools, and gloves for anyone who does not have their own.
- In order to ensure your comfort and safety, please remember to dress for the weather, wear close-toed shoes, bring a water bottle, and be ready to get dirty!
- Unless otherwise noted, all events are family-friendly and all ages are welcome to participate. However, children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult for the duration of the event. We encourage you to attend events with members of your household/family!
- While groups are welcome to join many of our regularly scheduled stewardship events, please contact the event coordinator listed in the description before arriving with a group. This will ensure that there are enough gloves and tools for everyone to work, and will also ensure that we are following COVID-19 protocols, which limit event size. We are also available to schedule special service events at your group's convenience during the week or on weekends. Learn more about Volunteer Stewardship for Groups.