What: Using iNaturalist to document living things for “Snapshot Cal Coast”

Who: For Beginners and Experienced, Family Friendly!

Ever wondered what plants or animals you are seeing? Come out to Pomo Canyon, Sonoma Coast State Beach and practice using iNaturalist with an experienced iNaturalist Ambassador! This event is for those who are new or experienced with iNaturalist.

Before you arrive, download iNaturalist app (FREE) on your phone and join the “2026 Snapshot Cal Coast” project (link below). Or you can take pictures to add them later via your laptop or tablet. We will do a brief intro on making quality observations for iNaturalist, then set out to make as many observations of living things as we can!

“Snapshot Cal Coast” project happens the entire month of June, and is hosted by California Academy of Sciences. Our observations add scientific data that help drive research about what is existing and changing in our coastal ecosystems and environments. This project includes anything from the coastal waters to inland landscapes along the coast. We will practice and play in the redwood forest along the Pomo Canyon trails.

Bring layers suitable for the coastal weather, sturdy hiking shoes, your own drinking water (there is no water on site), hat, trekking poles if you generally use them. Make sure your phone is fully charged. We will cover how to upload your observations from your camera onto your home device, too.

Join this iNaturalist project:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/snapshot-cal-coast-2026

Your leader is iNaturalist Ambassador Sarah Reid, a certified California Naturalist based in Sonoma County.

This is a free event and there is a Day-Use Parking Fee: $10 payable at the parking lot, or use your CA State Parks Annual Pass

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