PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is celebrating Citizen Science Day on Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Detroit Zoo. Visitors will have the chance to become directly involved in science and data collection by participating in hands-on activities that are free with Zoo admission.

“Citizen science offers an opportunity for everyone – regardless of any particular experience, expertise or area of study – to contribute to science that will ultimately help animals and our environment,” said Scott Carter, DZS chief life sciences officer. “We can all make a difference in building a better future for wildlife and wild places.”

Among the activities taking place during Citizen Science Day is an introduction to FrogWatch, a program that teaches volunteers how to identify frogs and toads by their breeding calls and to gather and record data that supports a national network. This collaborative effort among Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited institutions throughout the country allows individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and contribute to the conservation of amphibians.

Additionally, guests can learn how to keep local storm drains clean and help prevent harm to our natural waterways. Through the Adopt-A-Drain program, citizens will discover how run-off materials, such as soap and oil, flow into storm drains and then end up in waterways and natural ecosystems. An e-bird activity will allow guests to identify native birds using silhouettes and then record sightings with a special tool, contributing to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s citizen bird-sighting repository.

The DZS’s citizen science programs provide information and tools that empower people in the community to learn about wildlife while contributing to the science that helps keep wildlife and wild places healthy and safe.