Think This Improvement Area is Right for Your Lake?
☐ There are many people interested in playing an active role in monitoring and protecting the lake and its surrounding area
☐ I love spending time outdoors and being within the natural world
☐ I am interested in contributing to scientific efforts and research
If you've answered YES to any of these questions, the Volunteer Monitoring & Nature Connection Improvement Area may be beneficial to your lake!
Volunteer Monitoring:
A Community-Based Approach to Conservation
Volunteer Monitoring involves the public in collecting and recording data or observations for scientific purposes. This data can go on to inform conservation efforts, stewardship initiatives, and sometimes even policy!
Nowadays, free-to-use applications such as iNaturalist and EDDMapS have made community science much more accessible, meaning you don’t need specialized training or equipment to participate! This allows many people of diverse backgrounds to participate in the collection of scientific data!
The Natural World: A Natural Health Booster!
Volunteer Monitoring is also a great way of connecting people to nature, which helps foster our connections with one another and with the natural world.
Nature is essential to our health as human beings, showing many benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing including:
- Lowered heart rates and stress hormone levels
- Increasing relaxation and calmness
- Reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness
- Improving attention spans and cognitive function
- Promoting increased self-esteem and feelings of belonging
So, the next time you need a little extra clarity or are in need of a natural mood booster, try going outside and listening to the sounds of the natural world!
What Can I Do to Become More Involved and Connected to Nature?
Practice your identification skills of local plants and wildlife by going out independently or with a group!
Volunteer with local environmental or wildlife groups to learn more about the natural world!
Join volunteer monitoring initiatives!
There are many opportunities to get involved both with Blue Lakes and with our parent charity, The Land Between.
For more information, click each link below!