Posted on Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Westminster College’s Clarence and Mary Ann Harms Center for the Environment will host a free BioBlitz Oct. 22-24, inviting students and community members to explore the College Woods, discover local biodiversity and help document the plants and animals that call the woods home.
A BioBlitz is a community science event in which participants work together to find and identify as many species as possible in a designated area over a short period. During the three-day event, Westminster senior environmental science and studies students will lead guided walks through the College Woods, helping participants identify and document species using iNaturalist, a free mobile app that allows users to record and map observations of living organisms.
The event is open to the public and suitable for families. Participants may register for any or all of the following guided sessions or explore the woods independently during the three-day event.
• Thursday, Oct. 22, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 23, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, noon-1:30 p.m.
Westminster College has maintained the College Woods for more than a century. The property offers an opportunity to explore a mature secondary-growth forest and learn about the diversity of life in a familiar local landscape. Despite its ecological value, fewer than 15 species have been documented in the College Woods on iNaturalist, creating an opportunity to expand the community’s understanding of the property’s biodiversity.
Westminster’s senior environmental science and studies capstone students are organizing the event as part of a broader effort to better understand community awareness of, interest in and experiences with local natural spaces. In addition to documenting species, the BioBlitz will give participants an opportunity to connect with nature and learn more about the College Woods.
Registration is required. Interested participants can register online here.
For more information, please contact Dr. Kerri Duerr, associate professor and director of the Harms Center for the Environment at duerrkc@westminster.edu.
Pictured above: Jordan Deems, an environmental studies major, uses the iNaturalist app to document a species observed in the College Woods.
