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Join the Humber Arboretum's iNaturalist Student Challenge

Ongoing 

Students from Humber College and University of Guelph-Humber can add an experience to their Co-Curricular Record by taking part in the Humber Arboretum's iNaturalist Student Challenge!

The challenge is a fun way to learn about citizen science, get outside, and connect with the natural world, all with the support of Humber Arboretum staff. Do a little background reading, watch a video, sign up for iNaturalist, and get started on your 30 observations of wild organisms within the Humber Arboretum! 

Read on for all the details of how to take part. 

 

 

Alternative Formats

If you require alternative formats for the video or survey, email marilyn.campbell@humber.ca with your request.

Blue logo for the Co-Curricular Record

Step 1: Get Ready

 

  • Create your free iNaturalist account, if you don't already have one. Download the app, or visit iNaturalist.ca

Step Two: Register

After you've completed everything in step one, use this form to register for the challenge.

(You will need to know your iNaturalist user name and be prepared to respond to the article and video.)

Step 3: Make Your Observations

 Get outside and observe wild organisms within the Humber Arboretum! 

(Safety first - please stay on the trails, follow all public health guidelines in place at the time, and either stick to areas you know well or take a friend along).

 

 

To complete the challenge you need to upload a minimum of 30 high-quality observations that were made within the boundaries of the Humber Arboretum (see the boundary map below).

Please note that we will count no more than 5 observations from the same day, so you will need to go out and use iNaturalist on at least six different occasions.

So what is a "high-quality observation"? Each of your observations must:

  • Be of a wild organism that is naturally present (and not one that is captive or cultivated, which is to say, living where it is because a person intentionally put it there)
    • Within the Arb this means that the following observations do NOT count as wild:
      • Flowers, shrubs, and trees within the main garden areas do NOT count, as they were planted by horticultural staff
      • Trees in the forest or meadow that have a plaque with a six or more digit number do NOT count, as they have likely also been planted
      • Humans, or domestic animals who are visiting the Arboretum with a human, do NOT count
    • However the following observations DO count
      • any wildlife (including birds, insects, or other animals you see ON the cultivated plants and trees, and birds who are visiting the bird feeders in winter)
      • moss or lichen growing on the planted trees 
      • unlabeled plants in the woodland and meadows
      • plants in the garden areas that clearly were not planted (for example something growing up through a crack in pavement)
    • Learn more about "captive/cultivated" on iNaturalist's help page
  • Include at least one clear photo (ideally more than one showing several features/angles), so that an expert would have a chance of identifying your organism. 
  • Include some information in the "Notes" text box. This could be to help with the identification (Examples would be features you couldn't get a photo of, your estimation of the size of something, what an animal was doing when you saw it, etc.) or it could be about your personal response to the organism (For example, is this your first time noticing this organism, or is it something you see regularly? What caught your eye? What would you like to know about it?)
  • An identification to the level you are confident with. iNaturalist allows you to upload observations simply as "Something", but you should at least enter "Plant", "Bird", etc. Try to use the suggestions iNaturalist makes as best you can to help you figure out what you saw.

 

Members of the Arboretum staff (and possibly general iNaturalist users) will look at your observations and make comments to help you with identification. But be patient, as it may be up to a week between when you post an observation and receive comments on it.

 

A map with a large shaded area that covers the gardens, woodlands, and meadows of the Humber Arboretum, along with sections of the West Humber Trail
The boundaries of the Humber Arboretum as defined on iNaturalist

 

Step 4: Wrap Up (and Keep Observing!)

Of course we hope that you will have enjoyed the experience, and will continue to discover the world around you with your iNaturalist account wherever you go!

Remember that if you keep making observations within the Arboretum they will continue to show up in the Humber Arboretum Atlas project and you can move up the Leaderboard. 

FAQ

If your question is still not answered below, send an email to marilyn.campbell@humber.ca 

What is a Co-Curricular Record?

Your Co-Curricular Record is a second transcript offered by Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber which is a formal record of your learning that took place outside the classroom during your post-secondary education. There are many on-campus activities which can be recognized on your CCR, including volunteer opportunities, workshops, and more.

Learn about other CCR opportunities from the Humber Arboretum

Visit the official CCR website

 

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Do I have to make my observations in the Humber Arboretum?

Yes, for an observation to count towards the challenge it must be of an organism you encountered within the Humber Arboretum.

However you do not need to actually be standing in the Humber Arboretum when you upload it. Location data will usually be saved as part of images taken on your phone, or you can always map the observation manually during upload. You are more than welcome to save your data and upload your observations later. You don't even need to install the app; you can upload your photos to a computer then add observations on the iNaturalist website.

Of course you are also welcome and encouraged to use iNaturalist outside of the Arboretum; these simply won't count towards the challenge. Please be aware that by default iNaturalist does place your observations on a publicly visible map, so if you are going to make observations outside your own home, you may want to use the "Obscured location" setting for your own privacy. 

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Can I use old photos? Or old iNaturalist observations?

Although uploading your old nature photos to iNaturalist is a great practice (as long as you know when and where they were taken), for this challenge we want you to get out and explore. So while you are welcome to upload those photos to your account, they won't count towards your 30 observations.

Similarly, if you are an existing iNaturalist user, you will still need to complete 30 new observations after you submit your registration form. Part of the point of the challenge is for our staff to have the chance to provide information on your observations in real time.

 

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What if my observation can't be identified?

Don't worry, that happens a lot on iNaturalist. It can be very hard to figure out what something is down to the species level from photos alone, even for experts. As long as you've provided enough information so there's a chance of identifying it, your observation will count towards the challenge.

 

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Why will you only count 5 observations per day?

Part of the point of the challenge is for you to learn how the iNaturalist identification process works and to get tips from our staff on what types of photos and information will help with the identifications. If you take your photos all in one day, you won't have the opportunity to learn from the feedback! Take it slow, and enjoy the process. :)

Please also note that you're more than welcome to upload more than five observations per day, that just means you'll have to do more total observations as we'll only count the first five towards your 30 minimum.

 

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Can I use iNaturalist observations I've made for a class?

There are some electives at Humber College which include iNaturalist as part of the curriculum. If you are taking one of these courses, yes, you can register in our challenge as well. Any observations you've made for class after you register in the challenge will count, as long as they meet all of our requirements for a high-quality observation.

 

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Can I participate if I'm not taking classes this semester?

You must be a currently enrolled student at Humber College or the University of Guelph-Humber, but you do not necessarily need to be taking classes during the challenge to participate. For example, if you are doing a placement or internship, you are still welcome to participate. 

Also, if there is an iNaturalist Student Challenge running during the summer semester and you are not taking summer classes but are enrolled in a multiyear program, you are welcome to participate in the challenge during the summer months. 

 

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Can I participate if I'm not a student?

The direct support of Humber Arboretum staff is reserved for current students of Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber actively participating in the challenge.

However if you are a staff member or another member of the Humber Arboretum community who would like to get started using iNaturalist, we encourage you to create your account, join the Humber Arboretum Atlas project, and follow the Humber Arboretum's iNaturalist account.

 

 

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How does this challenge relate to Humber Learning Outcomes or the CCR Competencies?

Humber College has identified a set of Humber Learning Outcomes (HLOs) for all students. The Humber Arboretum's iNaturalist Student Challenge supports the development of:

A Sustainability Mindset: 

Connecting with the natural world and learning what lives alongside you can help motivate you to protect and preserve it. Also, contributing to citizen science adds to our collective knowledge about the natural world and is an active step to helping decision-makers at government bodies and conservation organizations.

A Systems Thinking Mindset:

Understanding ecosystems is a natural way to develop and expand your systems thinking. By using iNaturalist, you will start to make connections for yourself about the relationships between various living things, and between living things and the habitats where they can survive.  

Critical Thinking:

Learning to identify organisms is all about critical thinking. Analyze the features of what you see, compare that with available information about what organisms are expected to be found in an area or habitat, evaluate the suggestions you receive from iNaturalist's AI and other users, and synthesize all of that information to reach your well-reasoned conclusion. 

Skills in Action:

Improve your digital fluency as you learn to navigate the app and website, your communication skills as you improve the information captured in your photographs and observation notes, and your professionalism as you communicate with Arboretum staff and people from all over the world through comments on your observations.

 

All Co-Curricular Record experiences must connect with a similar set of competencies. For the same reasons as above, participating in the challenge will help you develop:

  • Communication: writing; visual literacy
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: analysis; decision making
  • Digital Fluency: information management and evaluation; online etiquette
  • Creativity and Innovation: systems thinking
  • Professionalism: personal and professional management
  • Resourcefulness: initiative and self-direction
  • Sustainability: environmental awareness
  • Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement: active citizenship

 

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