Las Vegas families, get ready to easily add citizen scientist to your résumé. The city's Parks and Recreation Department is rallying the troops for the third annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz event set for Sept. 13. As per a city bulletin—fully intending to couple education with entertainment—the free gig at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs promises a full deck of activities ranging from STEAM games for kids to a plant/seed exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Yes, you heard that right: zero entry fee at 9200 Tule Springs Road during the shindig; dust off those garden tools you've been hoarding.
Oh, and for those with extra garden accruements lying around, consider this your official invitation to swap till you drop. At the Hay Barn/Lakeside Courtyard Gazebo, they encourage you to trade whatever green thumb goodies you've got. Peruse exhibitor booths, nab prizes playing BioBlitz Bingo, and dive into STEAM activities, all while rubbing elbows with the likes of DISCOVERY Children’s Museum and Red Rock Audubon Society, among a smorgasbord of community players.
This isn't just local fun and games, though. Nationally sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association alongside The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, the BioBlitz campaign shines the spotlight on pollinators across parks in the U.S. It's a nationwide challenge in September to spot and record as many wingmen as possible. Want in on the action? Las Vegas encourages you to join their project page and use the iNaturalist app to make observations and upload your finds. Who knew a day at the park could feed into global research?
Why does this all matter? Because, in simple terms, understanding local biodiversity is key to safeguarding it. Signing up is a snap. Create an account on iNaturalist, join the park's project page for 2025, and just like that, you're on the team. Your findings can helpfully contribute to "research grade" data about local flora and fauna, a key to better protection and sustainability efforts.
If this prospect of playing detective with a green cause tickles your fancy, or you're scratching your head over the technical details, don't stress. All the info you could need is readily available at here, or you can reach out directly to the source, via email at [email protected] or give them a call at 702.762.4280.
