For the first time ever, Martin County is participating in one of the world’s largest community science events. Here’s everything you need to know to take part.
From April 24–27, 2026, residents and visitors across Martin County are invited to step outside, photograph the wild plants and animals around them, and contribute to a global biodiversity database — no scientific background required.
What Is the City Nature Challenge?
The City Nature Challenge is an annual four-day global bioblitz — a friendly competition among cities worldwide to see who can document the most wildlife and wild plants. It’s organized by the community science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and each year it draws thousands of participants from hundreds of cities across the globe.
The data collected isn’t just for bragging rights. Every observation uploaded during the challenge feeds into iNaturalist, a free app and global biodiversity platform used by scientists, conservationists, and researchers worldwide. In other words, your photo of a butterfly in your backyard genuinely contributes to science.
Why This Is a Big Deal for Martin County
This is Martin County’s first year participating in the City Nature Challenge, and the timing couldn’t be more fitting — it coincides with Earth Day 2026 and runs through the final Monday of the challenge window, April 27.
Martin County has long been recognized as one of Florida’s most biodiverse destinations. With four state parks, the Explore Natural Martin ecotourism program, and ecosystems ranging from coastal estuaries to inland savannas, this county punches well above its weight when it comes to wildlife. The City Nature Challenge is an opportunity to put that biodiversity on the map — literally.
How to Participate
Participation is straightforward. Between April 24 and 27, anyone in Martin County can take part by following these three steps:
1. Download the free iNaturalist app on your phone.
2. Head outside — your backyard, a local park, a nature preserve, or a waterway all count.
3. Photograph wild plants and animals with location services enabled. Your observations will automatically be added to the 2026 City Nature Challenge: Martin County project.
No manual entry needed. No scientific expertise required. If you can point a camera and press a button, you can contribute.
Join a Guided Nature Walk on April 27
If you’d like a more structured way to participate, Explore Natural Martin is hosting a free guided Hidden Blooms Nature Walk at Kiplinger Nature Preserve in Stuart on Monday, April 27, from 8:30–10:30 a.m. Participants will use iNaturalist during the walk to log observations of native wildflowers, pollinators, and local wildlife — making it a perfect way to close out the challenge window while exploring one of Stuart’s most beautiful preserves.
The walk is free, but space is limited and reservations are required.
Who’s Behind It
Martin County’s participation is being organized through Explore Natural Martin, the Tourism Office’s award-winning ecotourism program developed in official partnership with Leave No Trace. The effort is backed by a broad coalition of local conservation partners, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park, Seabranch Preserve State Park, St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, Savannas Preserve State Park, the Hobe Sound Nature Center, Treasure Coast Wildlife Center, Audubon of Martin County, and Florida Oceanographic Society.
Get Out There
You don’t need to be a birder, a botanist, or a biologist. You just need to be curious. Martin County’s trails, waterways, and green spaces are full of things worth documenting — and this April, your observations will count toward something much larger than a single afternoon walk.
For full details on Martin County’s participation, visit discovermartin.com/event/city-nature-challenge. To see additional Earth Day 2026 celebrations, check out this recent blog post.