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Longwood University invites community members of all ages to participate in its annual BioBlitz event on Saturday, April 18 at the Environmental Education Center at Lancer Park. This free event, held in celebration of Earth Month, encourages participants to become citizen scientists while exploring the natural world.
The BioBlitz will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and offers a unique opportunity to discover and document biodiversity in the Lancer Park area. A BioBlitz is a focused effort to find and identify as many species as possible within a set location and time period.
Participants will work alongside experienced naturalists to explore and identify various plant and animal species, and record their findings. Attendees are encouraged to bring a smartphone and download the iNaturalist app to upload photos and contribute to real-time scientific data collection.
This opportunity to learn about local wildlife and natural history is designed to be family-friendly and children are welcome. Interactive “touch tables” will be available to help participants learn more about biodiversity, and a scavenger hunt will add an element of fun and discovery.
Hosted by Longwood’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, the BioBlitz aims to inspire curiosity about the natural world and foster a deeper appreciation for local ecosystems. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
The entrance to Lancer Park is located off of Third Street, at Cormier Drive. For more information, please contact Dr. Benjamin Campbell at campbellbk@longwood.edu or (434) 395-2910.