Citizen Science – Examine the quality of your local environment.
Ever sampled the water quality in your local creek or slough? Tested the amount of dust, allergens, particulate matter in your air? Tracked the migrations of birds along the shoreline or counted the number of cigarette butts found on a beach? Citizen science can help us learn about how healthy our local environment is for both humans and wildlife. it can also help other scientists collect information. Kids can help too.
Are you prepared? Is your home safe from floods, quakes and fire?
If you’re stuck at home a lot, now is a great time to evaluate what your future risk from climate change might be on the home front. What is your home made of? What kind of foundation does it have, and how high is it above sea level? How far is it from the nearest creek that could flood or forest that could burn? Is your landscaping and yard fire resistant? Are you prepared for power outs or water shortages or extra visitors? Taking stock of all these things can help you get prepared. Local agencies offer lots of good tools for your effort. Or you can ask our Gen Z team of young consultants for advice and help them get job experience.
Four Ways to Get Started
You Decide, Play the Game of Floods
Many local counties have developed scenario building games family groups or communities can play to make decisions about what to save and what to sacrifice. What would you save? Your grocery store? Your church? Your school? Check out these different decision-making games.
Examine the Design & Location of Your Home
Are you in a high risk flood or fire zone? Are you a renter or owner? How can you make sure your building is safe or encourage the owner of your building to make it safer. The materials, structure and age of your home are important, as is it’s proximity to waterways and open space. Start with a quick inventory.
Sketch and note your environment
Citizen science can be for you and your family or to share with other scientists who welcome your eyes, ears, and data points. Whether you’re studying the night sky for stars or logging birds flying by or learning about the different kinds of oak trees that clean our air and nourish our earth, it’s all important to becoming more resilient. Check out these citizen science opportunities Northern California.
Plant trees, restore creeks, clean shores
Putting your hands in the dirt or water, and helping to green our cities and streets. is one way you can take direct action to make the planet more resilient. Growing local food or working in open spaces to restore habitats for wildlife is another. Find out more about volunteer restoration and clean up opportunities.