City Nature Challenge at the JC Raulston Arboretum
Friday, Sunday and Monday, April 24, 26 and 27, 2026 — 10 am - 12 pm
Do you want to spend time in nature while contributing to real scientific research? Join the JC Raulston Arboretum for the City Nature Challenge (CNC)!
From Friday, April 24 to Monday, April 27, visit the gardens, take photos of any wild plants, animals, or fungi you observe, and submit them to iNaturalist to be counted toward the City Nature Challenge.
How to Participate
- Visit the JC Raulston Arboretum between April 24 and April 27
- Take photos of wild organisms you see (plants, animals, fungi)
- Upload your observations to iNaturalist by downloading the free iNaturalist app (Android or Apple), or take photos with a camera and upload them later through the website. Be sure to upload your photos by May 10, 2026 for them to count toward this year's Challenge!
On-Site Support & Observation Stations
On select program dates, volunteers will be available in the gardens from 10 am to 12 pm to help you get started. They can assist with:
- Using the iNaturalist app
- Making quality observations
- Borrowing simple nature observation tools
Observation stations will be located at:
- Frogs and Pond Life — Cascade (in front of the Ruby C. McSwain Education Center)
- Insect Pollinators — Perennial Border
- Birds — Color Trials
Raulston Blooms! (April 25)
On April 25 from 10 am to 3 pm, the JCRA will host Raulston Blooms!, our annual garden festival. CNC participation is still welcome and encouraged on this date, however, please note that this is a ticketed event (tickets available day-of at the entrance). CNC information and support will be available at the Education Yurt during the festival. More information about Raulston Blooms! can be found here.
Earning ecoEXPLORE and Science Across NC Credit
Participants can earn credit through ecoEXPLORE (for K — 8 youth) and Science Across NC (all ages).
- ecoEXPLORE: Youth can earn the bioblitz badge by making 10 observations in iNaturalist and submitting a screenshot through their free ecoEXPLORE account at ecoEXPLORE.net.
- Science Across NC: Participants of any age can earn a bioblitz badge by submitting qualifying observations through iNaturalist during the event. Learn more at scienceacrossnc.org/events/bioblitz.
What is the City Nature Challenge?
The City Nature Challenge is a four-day international bioblitz where people around the world document plants and wildlife in their cities to support biodiversity research.You can participate anywhere in North Carolina! To find other participating locations, visit citynaturechallenge.org.
