While enjoying the fresh air on a quiet evening, you have probably heard the peeps, croaks and ribbits of nearby frogs and toads. But how much do you know about these amphibians in your midst? Do you know how many different kinds live near you, and what their ecosystem is like?
You can learn all of this, and contribute to the nation’s largest citizen science program, by training for FrogWatch USA. Volunteers with Frogwatch USA help to monitor and report the populations of frogs and toads across the country. The data they collect helps scientists see the big picture of the health of these fascinating creatures and their environments.
Maymont is hosting a FrogWatch USA training session on Saturday, February 1, from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. Participants will learn about natural history, wetland ecology and monitoring protocols, and are invited to join Maymont’s coordinators at the end of the training session to see how they monitor sites throughout the estate.
To become certified FrogWatch volunteers, participants must attend the entire training and be quizzed on the procedures they learn. Trainees are encouraged to bring a snack or packed dinner, and to bring their own laptops or tablets to use.
The training is geared toward high-schoolers and adults, but FrogWatch is a fun activity for the whole family.
For more information, check out this event page on Maymont’s website.
Check out this video produced by students participating in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab to learn more.
