Help Wanted: Kids as Citizen-Scientists!

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 30, 2018) – Children across the Commonwealth have an opportunity to learn about and assist in scientific work at Kentucky State Parks while helping make a positive impact on our environment.

 

On June 9, state parks across Kentucky will hold a “BioBlitz” – a short period of time when students, teachers, scientists and others conduct an overall count of animals, plants and other organisms in a designated area. Park naturalists and other experts will be on hand to help.

 

“The bioblitz will help open your eyes to the diversity of the natural world around you,” said Carey Ruff, special events coordinator for Kentucky State Parks. “These citizen-scientists will help our parks build a database of the plants and animals in the parks.”

 

Participants will learn about plants and animals at the parks as well as meet other people who know and teach about them.

 

Participating state parks include:

 

John James Audubon State Park

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

Nolin Lake State Park

Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park

General Butler State Resort Park

Kenlake State Resort Park

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Carter Caves State Resort Park

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

Pine Mountain State Resort Park

 

The BioBlitz is also part of one of the quests in the Kentucky State Parks’ Family Adventure Quest program, which provides a set of questions or “quests” to teams and families who visit state parks. Prizes are available to teams that correctly complete enough quests. For more about Family Adventure Quest, visit http://parks.ky.gov/family-adventure-quest/

 

For more information about Kentucky State Parks, including lodging and camping reservations, visit www.parks.ky.gov

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Contact:

Gil Lawson

gil.lawson@ky.gov

502-892-3349

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