GUERNSEY - You can be a volunteer scientist this summer at Guernsey State Park which locals know is one of the best kept secrets in Wyoming.

From birds and insects to flowers and trees, the Wyoming BioBlitz seeks help in this one-of-a-kind opportunity for families and outdoor recreationalists to get up close and personal with Wyoming’s natural assets. 

The information gathered from community members during the weekend of June 10-12 will help better understand how Guernsey State Park acts as vital habitat for a variety of species. Bioblitz encourages you to come discover a hidden Wyoming gem, survey wildlife and have a blast.

A BioBlitz is a 24-hour period in which the public team ups with biologists to search for and document as many plants, animals and insects as they can find within a certain location.

The Wyoming BioBlitz has taken place in a new location each summer since 2008 to learn about their unique ecosystems throughout the state. In addition to contributing to science, the BioBlitz provides a hands-on opportunity to learn from experts. Participants meet local scientists and learn how they study their subjects. No experience needed, only a willingness to dig in and have fun learning.

Participants of all ages and interests are welcome.  Registration is required. Learn more at http://rockies.audubon.org/bioblitz.

Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails, the University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute, and Audubon Rockies have organized the event. Additional partners include Wyoming State Forestry, Wyoming State Museum, Teton Science School, Rocky Mountain Herbarium, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails protect and enhance the natural and cultural environment by providing enjoyable, educational and inspiring experiences for present and future generations. 

Guernsey was the first cooperative venture between the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, and the Civilian Conservation Corp to develop a public recreation area. It provides the finest examples of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) work in the Rocky Mountain area including the elaborate Museum, Castle Picnic shelter, and an extensive network of trails. The entire park provides valuable habitat for all types and species of wildlife. The riparian areas, open grasslands, canyons, and timbered hillsides provide excellent locations to watch for the many species of birds and animals that call Wyoming home. Learn more at https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/guernsey.

Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon Rockies is the regional office of the National Audubon Society serving Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah with science, education and policy. Learn more at www.rockies.audubon.org.

The UW Biodiversity Institute fosters conservation of biodiversity through scientific discovery, creative dissemination, education and public engagement. In this setting, scientists and citizens, students and educators, come together to share a wealth of perspectives on the study and appreciation of biodiversity – from microbes to poetry and ecosystems to economics.  Learn more at www.wyomingbiodiversity.org.