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Chicagoland Partners, Host a City Nature Challenge and Identify Wild Species in Our Region
We’re looking for Alliance partners to join the global party and host a City Nature Challenge: Chicagoland Region event anytime from Friday, April 25 to Monday, April 28, 2025. Then from April 28 to May 10, upload observations to iNaturalist and help others identify what was found. The global results will be announced on May 13, 2026.
It can be as simple or as complex as you want. Already planning stewardship or volunteer activities in the spring? Want a reason to host a hike, bird walk, or other adventure for kids or adults? Plan your event anytime on the weekend of April 25 to 28, and encourage people to post sightings to the City Nature Challenge Chicagoland Region iNaturalist page.
This year the focus is on quality additions of wild species to iNaturalist.
Eligible Counties in Chicagoland
All observations in the following counties count for the challenge and are automatically added to the Chicagoland Region project.
- Illinois: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will
- Indiana: Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter
- Wisconsin: Kenosha
Join the City Nature Challenge: Chicagoland Region
It's easy! - Add your project details to this spreadsheet.
- Join the Chicagoland Region project on iNaturalist.
- Host your event anytime from April 25 to April 28, then upload your community's observations of wild species. (Wild means that it wasn’t put there, and is not being taken care of by people.)
- Want to do more? Join the City Nature Challenge: Chicagoland Region planning team! All levels of expertise are welcome. We meet monthly to discuss logistics, brainstorm challenge ideas, and support participating organizations in our region. Email <?> to be added to our planning team.
Help for Educators and OrganizationsNeed ideas for engaging people in community science and nature exploration? Check out the iNaturalist Educators' Guide. Your Data MattersKnowing what species are in our city and where they are helps us study and protect them, but the ONLY way to do that is by all of us – scientists, land managers, and the community – working together to find and document the nature in our area. 
2026 Events
Add your event here.
Illinois
Indiana
Global Events
View cities worldwide who are participating in the City Nature Challenge 2026.
Resources and Links
About the City Nature Challenge
Using iNaturalist
Other Resources
How to Make an Observation on iNaturalist using our Mobile App from iNaturalist on Vimeo.
Partners
To join the organizations and people who will make the City Nature Challenge: Chicagoland Region possible, contact cassi saari (Chicago
Park District). Questions or comments about the global City Nature Challenge can be directed to the international organizers.
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