Welcome to our ongoing effort to catalog citizen science and other public participation in scientific research (PPSR) projects for UC California Naturalists and other citizen scientists. We invite you to browse the listed projects or enter key words (like birds, youth, invasive, coast, Alameda, etc.) in the search box above to find projects in your area. It's a great way to stay involved and keep developing your skills as a natural scientist!
A vast majority of the information in the database was gathered from project websites and may be out of date. We encourage you to contact projects directly to get involved and learn about most recent opportunities. If you work with a listed project and would like to add to, update, or correct the information we have, please email cghdixon@ucdavis.edu. Also, please consider filling out the "PPSR perspectives" survey. Click here to access the survey, which will help guide this project in the coming year.
If you know of a project not on our list, please go to the "tell us about a project" link on the left so we can list the project here. Thanks for your help!
Special thanks goes to the National Science Foundation Informal Science Education program and the Stephen J. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation for supporting this database of projects.
Bay Area FrogWatch
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Organization NameAssociation of Zoos & Aquariums
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Organization Website
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PartnersCuriOdyssey at Coyote Point
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Contact NameN / A
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Contact Emailfrogwatch@aza.org, citizenscience(at)CuriOdyssey.org
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Contact PhoneN / A
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Other Contact Information
Bay Area Frog Watch: citizenscience@CuriOdyssey.org
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Project Purpose (taken from project materials)
Help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads -ongoing analyses of these data have been used to help develop practical strategies for the conservation of these important species.
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Participant Activities
FrogWatch USA volunteers learn to identify local frog and toad species by their calls during the breeding season and how to report their findings accurately. By mastering these skills, volunteers gain increased experience and control over asking and answering scientific questions which, in turn, augments science literacy, facilitates conservation action and stewardship, and increases knowledge of amphibians.
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Data Entry
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Data Sheets
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Other Participant ActivitiesN / A
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System Studied
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Other (see Notes)
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Geographic ScopeStatewide
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RegionAll (see 'geographic scope')
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LocationWherever frogs are found
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Location - MapN / A
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Time Commitment
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Unknown
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Volunteer Qualifications
All you need is:
- An interest in frogs and toads;
- A willingness to participate in a volunteer training session at your local FrogWatch USA Chapter, hosted by zoos, aquariums, and conservation organizations nationwide; and
- A commitment to monitor a wetland site for 3 minutes multiple evenings throughout the breeding season.
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Volunteer Training
Volunteer training emphasizes the nature of science as it relates to frog and toad call identification and reporting. Lecture and course material focuses on the ways in which the volunteers contribute to the FrogWatch USA’s base of scientific data by following scientific and standardized data collection protocols and local frog and toad species as well as their basic natural history, range, and mating calls.
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Cost to ParticipantN / A
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How will the findings be used?N / A
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Other Information
California Chapters:
Bay Area Frog Watch: CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point, San Mateo
Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara
Sequoia Park Zoo, EurekaContact these organizations for training and volunteering opportunities.
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PhotoN / A
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last update:N / A
If you work with this project and would like to add to or update the information below, please email cghdixon@ucdavis.edu.
If you know of a project not on our list, please go to the "tell us about a project" link on the left so we can list the project here. Thanks for your help!
This database is focused on projects in California focused on the environment. For opportunities outside California, as well as national projects that don't have a California-specific components, check http://www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/projects.