Welcome ISAMR members!

Today marks the beginning of an era for ISAMR. We are now introducing our entire group to inaturalist with a scavenger hunt. If you need specific instructions, see below or reach out to John. Essentially, everyone will download the inaturalist app and begin making observations over the next couple of weeks. The group (from the ISAMR Switch it Up Hot Potato Extravaganza) that posts either 1) the most observations on inaturalist or 2) the coolest observation will win a fantastic, to be determined prize. If you don't know what to look for, check out our scavenger hunt below. This project aims to get everyone out in nature learning about this great new platform and each other's environments and ecosystems.

TLDR- download inaturalist, go outside in nature and post cool images to the “IMET - ISAMR Biodiversity Challenge.” Whichever group posts either the most or the coolest photos will win a prize.

Some things to look for-

• Something you can only find in your area

• A tree too big to hug

• An animal that only lives in the city

• The brightest flower you’ve ever seen

• Something fuzzy

• Something you’ve never seen before

• A brightly colored plant or animal

• Something that smells wonderful (or awful)

• A baby animal

• An endangered species

Step by step instructions-

Download the inaturalist app on android or I.O.S.

Create a free account. Please use your real first name, so we know it's you. (use your last name at your discretion)

How to join the ISAMR "project"-

• On the menu at the bottom of the screen, tap the three dots that say "more."

• Tap "projects."

• Tap the search icon in the top right

• Type "IMET - ISAMR Biodiversity Challenge"

• Tap "join."

• You should now be in the ISAMR group. If you have questions or challenges, please reach out to John using the form below.

How to post an observation - 

• Tap the "observe" button in the center of the bottom menu. It has an image of a camera.

• Tap "camera" if you would like to take the picture in real-time, or tap "camera role" if you would like to post a photo that you took earlier and is saved on your phone.

• Take/select the photo as you usually would with your phone.

• If you would like to add an additional photo, hit the plus sign in the box next to the photo you just uploaded/took.

• Tap "what did you see" to get a list of possible species you could have identified. If you know exactly what you saw, look it up in the search bar. If you have no idea, select an option that looks similar, or if you have no idea, leave this section blank.

• Add any notes or observations in the notes section; also TYPE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP IN THE NOTES SECTION.

• Finally, at the bottom of all the options, it says "projects" next to an image of a briefcase

  • Tap that icon

  • Select "IMET - ISAMR Biodiversity Challenge"

  • Tap the green bar that says "share."

• Congrats! You just posted an observation to inaturalist. If you have questions or challenges, please reach out to John using the form below.