City Nature Challenge

JOIN THE MUSEUM'S iNATURALIST TEAM FOR CITY NATURE CHALLENGE 2026!

Join the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as we celebrate the biodiversity of our region and contribute to the largest biodiversity census in the world.

City Nature Challenge is a four-day international bioblitz that takes place at the end of April each year, encouraging community members to identify and record the plant and animal species found in nearby natural areas. Cities across the globe collaborate to document plants and wildlife found in their region. The resulting observations can contribute to scientific research, inform local government policies, foster a deeper understanding of urban biodiversity, and support environmental stewardship. 

The challenge features the use of iNaturalist, a free, easy-to-use smartphone app that allows you to record your encounters with different organisms, identify species, and assist and interact with other users.

During the 2026 City Nature Challenge, held from April 24 to April 27, 2026, the Northern Ohio team will focus on documenting the plants and animals native to the Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and Toledo regions.  

The events below will introduce guests to iNaturalist and the City Nature Challenge. Come join us!