Great Lakes Literacy’s 2026 BioBlitz
Center for Great Lakes Literacy’s seventh annual Great Lakes BioBlitz returns for 2026. Students, families, and colleagues are invited to celebrate Earth Day with the Center for Great Lakes Literacy’s annual event.
This free event is an opportunity to engage youth and the public in community science, collect data to support biodiversity research and conservation, and learn more about the organisms in the Great Lakes Basin. Anyone in a U.S. state or Canadian province that has land within the Great Lakes region is welcome to participate.
What is the Great Lakes BioBlitz?
A BioBlitz is an event to observe, identify, and record as many different, non-domesticated species as possible along the Great Lakes coastline during a specified period of time.
When is the Great Lakes BioBlitz?
The BioBlitz begins April 22 and it ends May 23.
How do I participate in the Great Lakes BioBlitz?
The BioBlitz will remain open for submissions during the above dates, and you can join in the fun any day! Take an afternoon to explore and document some wildlife in your area, pick a location to return to weekly, or set a goal to find something new every day.
If you take multiple images of the same individual organism, at the same time, in the same place, please post the images as a group (a single observation within iNaturalist).
If you take multiple images of the same organism at different times or places, please post the images as different observations within iNaturalist.
In other words, an observation should include date, time, location, and organism identity (to the best of your ability).
You may participate as an individual, a family, a class, or other group.
- Visit iNaturalist or download the app onto your phone and create an account.
- Visit and become a member of the 2026 Great Lakes BioBlitz project
- Get outside, get out your cameras, and start making and posting observations! As you are able, verify other participants’ Great Lakes BioBlitz Project postings.
Want to learn more about the Great Lake BioBlitz?
Visit the Great Lakes BioBlitz Educator Site for more information about the project and educator resources for engaging youth in this wonderful learning experience!
