Butterfly Big Day 2026 (A Citizen Science Opportunity!)

Join a worldwide effort to spot and document butterflies right here at Blandford Nature Center! On Butterfly Big Day, you'll explore the trails at your own pace from dawn to dusk, keeping an eye out for butterflies in their natural habitat. This is a citizen science project run by the Urban Butterfly Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about butterflies and other pollinators and their role in our ecosystems. Your observations truly matter—they contribute to real conservation work happening around the globe. Getting involved is straightforward: download the free iNaturalist app, snap photos of any wild butterflies you encounter during your visit, and upload them to the app. That's it! No experience necessary, and no special skills required—just curiosity and a camera or phone. Best of all, admission to Blandford is completely free this month, making it an affordable way to get outside, explore nature, and be part of something bigger. Families of all ages and experience levels are welcome.