Top 15 'Backyard-Biologist' Citizen Science Projects to teach the wonders of local ecology on weekends. - Goh Ling Yong
"Is it the weekend yet?"
If you’re a parent, you probably hear this every Monday morning. The weekend is a precious slice of time for family connection, a break from the weekday grind of school and work. But let's be honest, it's all too easy for those 48 hours to get swallowed by errands, screen time, and a chorus of "I'm bored!" What if you could transform those weekends into mini-adventures that not only create lasting memories but also turn your kids into curious, observant explorers of the world right outside your door?
Welcome to the amazing world of citizen science. Don't let the name intimidate you; it's simply about regular people (like you and your kids!) helping professional scientists gather data. By observing the birds in your garden, the insects buzzing around the park, or the timing of the first spring blossoms, your family can contribute to real, important research. As a parent, I, Goh Ling Yong, have found these projects to be an incredible tool for teaching my children about the wonders of local ecology, fostering a deep sense of stewardship for the environment, and sneakily building their STEM skills.
You don't need a lab coat or a PhD—just a bit of curiosity, a smartphone, and a willingness to look a little closer. Ready to turn your backyard into a living laboratory and your kids into 'Backyard Biologists'? Here are 15 fantastic citizen science projects perfect for your next family weekend adventure.
1. iNaturalist & Seek: The Ultimate Nature Detective Kit
Think of iNaturalist as the encyclopedia of all living things, powered by a global community. Using the app, you simply snap a photo of any plant, animal, or fungus, and the community—along with powerful image recognition technology—helps you identify it. Every verified observation becomes a data point that scientists can use to track biodiversity, the spread of invasive species, and the effects of climate change.
For younger kids, the companion app, Seek by iNaturalist, is pure magic. It uses your phone's camera to identify species in real-time, no account needed. It feels like a real-life Pokémon Go, where kids earn badges for finding new types of birds, amphibians, plants, and more. It’s the perfect gateway to get them excited about the names and stories of the organisms they see every day.
Pro-Tip: Start a family "Bio-Blitz" challenge. Spend an hour in a local park or even your own garden and see who can find and identify the most species using Seek. The winner gets to pick the movie for family night!
2. eBird: Become a Birding Family
Birds are everywhere, making them one of the most accessible entry points into wildlife observation. eBird, created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a massive global database of bird sightings. By simply keeping a list of the birds you see and hear on a walk—and for how long you were looking—you contribute vital data for ornithologists studying bird populations and migration patterns.
The platform is incredibly powerful but surprisingly easy to use. The free companion app, Merlin Bird ID, can identify birds from a photo or, astoundingly, just by listening to their songs through your phone's microphone. It’s an incredible "wow" moment for kids when the app correctly identifies a hidden bird just from its chirps and whistles.
Pro-Tip: Create a specific eBird account for your family adventures. Keep a list of all the bird species you've collectively identified. You can even print a map from the website showing all the locations you've gone birding together.
3. Project FeederWatch: The Cozy Winter Window Project
If you live in a region with a cold season, Project FeederWatch is the perfect citizen science project for a cozy weekend indoors. From November to April, participants periodically count the birds that visit their feeders and report the data to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This decades-long project helps scientists understand long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.
This is a fantastic project for teaching patience and careful observation. Kids learn to distinguish between similar-looking species like different types of finches or sparrows. It also creates a wonderful routine and a connection to the wildlife that sticks around even when it's cold.
Pro-Tip: Make building the bird feeder a part of the project! You can build simple feeders from pinecones, peanut butter, and seeds, or get a more complex DIY kit. This gives kids a sense of ownership over the entire scientific process.
4. The Great Sunflower Project: Help the Pollinators
Pollinators like bees are crucial for our food supply and ecosystems, and many are in trouble. The Great Sunflower Project is a simple yet vital project where you help track pollinator populations. The original idea was to watch a lemon queen sunflower, but you can now conduct observations on any flowering plant.
The task is simple: find a plant, observe it for 15 minutes, and record all the pollinators that visit. This data helps researchers understand where pollinator service is strong and where it's weak. It’s a wonderfully zen activity that teaches kids about the intricate relationship between plants and insects.
Pro-Tip: Plant a small "pollinator garden" with native flowers your kids pick out. This not only gives you a dedicated spot for your observations but also actively helps the local bee and butterfly populations you’re studying.
5. Journey North: Track Nature’s Epic Migrations
From the majestic migration of monarch butterflies to the seasonal flights of hummingbirds and robins, Journey North tracks the movement of wildlife across the continent. Participants report the very first time they see a specific migratory species each spring, helping to create a real-time map of these incredible journeys.
This project is fantastic for teaching kids about the changing seasons and the concept of a connected continent. Following the migration maps online as reports come in from the south builds incredible anticipation. When you finally spot your first monarch or hear your first red-winged blackbird of the season, it’s a moment of genuine excitement and connection to a much larger natural event.
Pro-Tip: Raise and release monarch butterflies at home (using a kit from a reputable supplier). This gives kids an up-close look at the life cycle before they contribute their first "adult monarch sighted" report to Journey North.
6. FrogWatch USA: A Symphony of Science
Do your kids love staying up a little past their bedtime? FrogWatch USA is the perfect excuse. This long-running project from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums uses the unique calls of frogs and toads as indicators of wetland health. Volunteers learn to identify local frog calls and then spend a few minutes after sunset on specific evenings listening and reporting what they hear.
Amphibians are very sensitive to changes in the environment, so their presence (or absence) provides valuable information. Learning the different "ribbits," "croaks," and "peeps" is a fun skill that makes kids feel like true experts. It’s a project that engages the ears more than the eyes, offering a different kind of sensory nature experience.
Pro-Tip: Before you go out, listen to recordings of your local frog and toad calls on the FrogWatch website. Turn it into a game by having your kids guess which frog is which, so they’re primed and ready when you go out to listen for real.
7. CoCoRaHS: Become a Backyard Weather Watcher
If your child is fascinated by thunderstorms or loves splashing in puddles, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is for them. This project involves volunteers of all ages measuring and mapping precipitation (rain, hail, and snow). All you need is a specific, affordable rain gauge and a spot to place it.
Every morning, you and your child can run out to check the gauge and report the measurement online. This data is used by the National Weather Service, hydrologists, and farmers. It’s a fantastic way to introduce concepts like the water cycle, climate patterns, and data collection in a tangible, daily routine.
Pro-Tip: Create a family weather chart. Alongside your daily precipitation measurement, record the temperature, cloud cover (is it cloudy, sunny, partly cloudy?), and wind. It turns a single data point into a comprehensive daily weather journal.
8. Globe at Night: Map the Stars and Fight Light Pollution
This project takes your family's gaze from the ground to the sky. Globe at Night is a global campaign to raise awareness about the impact of light pollution. Participants simply go outside an hour after sunset, let their eyes adjust, and compare what they see in the night sky to a set of star charts provided on the website.
You then report which chart best matches your view. This simple observation helps scientists map light pollution around the world and understand its effects on human health, wildlife, and energy consumption. It’s a wonderful, awe-inspiring project that connects kids to the vastness of the universe from their own backyard.
Pro-Tip: Use a stargazing app like SkyView Lite or Star Walk to help your kids identify the constellations they’re looking at, like Orion or Ursa Major (the Big Dipper). This adds another layer of discovery to the activity.
9. Bumble Bee Watch: A Fuzzy Friend Census
While iNaturalist is great for all insects, Bumble Bee Watch is a specialized project focused on tracking and conserving North America's diverse (and declining) bumble bee populations. Participants take photos of bumble bees, upload them to the site, and experts help identify the exact species.
This helps researchers track the population health of different species, some of which are quite rare. It’s a great project for teaching kids the difference between honey bees and bumble bees and the importance of native pollinators. It encourages slow, careful observation as you try to get a clear photo of a busy bee.
Pro-Tip: Remind your kids to be respectful and keep a safe distance. A smartphone with a good zoom is your best tool here. Challenge them to be "bee detectives" and note what kind of flowers the bees seem to prefer most.
10. NestWatch: A Peek into Avian Family Life
For families with a bit more patience, NestWatch offers an intimate look into the life of birds. Also run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this project involves finding a bird's nest and visiting it every 3-4 days to monitor its progress, from egg-laying to the day the chicks fledge (leave the nest).
This is a project that requires commitment and respect for wildlife (the protocol includes specific rules to avoid disturbing the birds). The payoff is an unparalleled lesson in biology and the circle of life. Kids learn about parental care, growth, and survival in a deeply personal way.
Pro-Tip: The best way to find nests is by watching where birds are flying with nesting material (twigs, grass) or food in their beaks. Once you find a nest, observe it from a distance with binoculars to minimize disturbance.
11. Budburst: Chronicle the Coming of Spring
Budburst is a project focused on "phenology"—the study of the timing of life cycle events in plants and animals. Participants select a plant near their home or school and report when it first leafs out, flowers, and fruits each year.
This data is incredibly valuable for climate change researchers, as it helps them track how warming temperatures are affecting ecosystems. For kids, it’s a simple, repetitive task that connects them to the rhythm of the seasons. They develop a special relationship with "their" tree or plant, watching it change throughout the year.
Pro-Tip: Have your child create a "phenology journal" for their chosen plant. They can draw pictures of it each week, take photos, and press a leaf or flower from it. It becomes a beautiful, scientific, and artistic record of the year.
12. The Lost Ladybug Project: A Search for a Tiny Hero
Did you know that many native ladybug species are being outcompeted by non-native ones? The Lost Ladybug Project was created to track these changing populations. All your family has to do is find ladybugs, take clear photos of them, and submit the images.
It’s a real-life treasure hunt! Kids learn that not all ladybugs look the same—they come in different colors and spot patterns. This project teaches them about native vs. non-native species and the delicate balance of ecosystems in a way that’s fun and easy to understand.
Pro-Tip: The best places to search for ladybugs are on leafy plants that might have aphids (a favorite ladybug food), like roses or milkweed. A gentle touch is key. You can let a ladybug crawl onto a leaf for its photoshoot.
13. Stream Selfie: Monitor Your Local Waterway
If you have a creek, stream, or river nearby, this project is a great reason to go exploring. The Izaak Walton League’s Stream Selfie project is part of a larger effort to monitor water quality across the country. The process is simple: you take a photo of your stream, and then you answer a series of simple observational questions about the water's color, odor, and the state of the stream bank.
This data helps build a national picture of waterway health. It’s a fantastic springboard for conversations about where our water comes from, the importance of clean water, and the impact of pollution. Plus, kids love any excuse to get near the water.
Pro-Tip: While you're at the stream, turn over a few rocks (gently, and be sure to put them back) in a shallow, slow-moving area. See what tiny aquatic insects and other "critters" you can find. It’s a whole hidden world to discover.
14. Firefly Watch: Count the Nighttime Sparkles
There is nothing more magical on a summer evening than the blinking lights of fireflies. Firefly Watch, run by Mass Audubon, harnesses this magic for science. For just 10 minutes a week during firefly season, you simply count the number of fireflies you see in your backyard or a nearby field.
Scientists are concerned about declining firefly populations, and this data helps them understand the geographic distribution and seasonal activity of these amazing insects. It’s a peaceful, mesmerizing activity that costs nothing and requires no special equipment.
Pro-Tip: Before you start counting, spend a few minutes just watching. See if your kids can notice the different flash patterns some fireflies use to communicate. It's like they're sending messages in Morse code!
15. Squirrel-Net: Observe Our Nutty Neighbors
Squirrels are so common that we often overlook them, but they are fascinating little mammals. Projects like Squirrel-Net encourage people to observe and record squirrel behaviors. Participants can complete short, 5-minute "spot surveys" or longer "focal animal" surveys where they track a single squirrel's actions.
What is the squirrel eating? Is it chasing another squirrel? Is it burying a nut? These simple observations, when collected from many people, can help scientists understand more about urban wildlife behavior, social structures, and foraging strategies. It’s a hilarious and engaging project for a lazy afternoon at the park.
Pro-Tip: Help your kids create an "ethogram"—a simple checklist of behaviors to look for (e.g., eating, climbing, tail-flicking, chasing, digging). This makes them feel like professional field biologists as they tick off the behaviors they observe.
Your Adventure Awaits
The world is full of questions, and you and your children can be part of the answer. Citizen science transforms a simple walk in the park or a quiet evening in the backyard into an act of discovery and contribution. It empowers kids, showing them that anyone can participate in science and that their observations matter.
Don’t feel pressured to do all of these! The goal here isn't to be a perfect scientist; it's to be a curious explorer alongside your child. As we often discuss on the Goh Ling Yong blog, the most powerful learning moments happen when we are engaged and exploring together. Pick just one project that sparks your family's interest, download the app, and give it a try this weekend.
You’ll be teaching your kids about biology, ecology, and data, but more importantly, you’ll be teaching them to look at their world with wonder.
Which project are you most excited to try with your family? Share your plans and experiences in the comments below—we’d love to hear about your adventures
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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