City Nature Challenge logoCity Nature Challenge 2023
Friday, April 28–
Monday, May 1, 2023

2023 City Nature Challenge is almost here!

The Greater St. Louis Region* is gearing up to compete in the 6th annual City Nature Challenge and we need your participation! The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a four-day bioblitz-style competition between 350+ cities across the globe to gather observations of nature. Organized by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, the CNC offers a platform for people to engage in community science by finding and documenting local wildlife. Cities will compete to collect the most observations of nature, document the most species, and engage the most people during the four-day event. Use this Nearby Nature Map to find a participating City Nature Challenge Site near you! Be sure to follow each site's safety policies and procedures. If you can't get out to one of our region's unique nature sites, you can still participate in your backyard! Let's do this, St. Louis!

Participation is easy:

  • Download the FREE iNaturalist app. Find instructions for downloading the app on the iNaturalist website or go directly to the app store.
  • Take photos of plants, animals, insects, and other life forms. You can do this anywhere across the bi-state* region.
  • Upload your images on the greater St. Louis region's iNaturalist page.

* Counties representing the greater St. Louis region in the 2023 City Nature Challenge: Missouri - Crawford, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Warren; Illinois – Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Monroe, St. Clair.

Join us Saturday, April 29, 9–11 a.m. in Forest Park for a guided nature walk using iNaturalist! We will be meeting at the Steinberg Rink parking lot. Registration not required, but appreciated.

Find a nearby nature site to explore using this map!

Stay connected by following our St. Louis City Nature Challenge Facebook page and St. Louis City Nature Challenge 2023 Facebook Event.

For more information visit: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/city-nature-challenge/

The 2023 St. Louis City Nature Challenge is supported by Missouri Department of Conservation.

Missouri Department of Conservation logo