The Nature Conservancy Is Helping Get Your Kids Outside This Week

If your kids are the type to stop for every mushroom, beetle or bird call on a walk, there’s a national event with their name on it.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Big Backyard BioBlitz is back for its sixth year from July 27 to August 3, and families across the country are invited to take part. The idea is simple: wherever you are, from a balcony or backyard to a city park, hiking trail or patio, you can photograph or record wildlife and upload what you find to help build a database used by scientists and conservation groups.

According to the NCC, those observations help researchers better understand local biodiversity, monitor changes over time and spot invasive species. Since the project launched, participants have submitted more than 250,000 observations covering more than 9,600 species, including some that are globally threatened.

How families can join

Parents can sign up at backyardbioblitz.ca. Participants will get tips on what to look for, how to share their findings and a welcome kit with activities for kids and families.

You do not need to be a serious birdwatcher or plant expert to participate. The event is open to all ages, abilities and experience levels, and it works just as well in a neighbourhood park as it does on a bigger outdoor adventure.

“Scientists can’t be everywhere, so your findings give them a bird's-eye view of what needs monitoring and protection,” Megan Quinn, a conservation biologist at NCC, said in a release.

The organization says every mushroom photo, bird call and wildlife sighting adds to a bigger picture of what’s happening on the ground in communities across Canada.

What parents should know

For families, the appeal is pretty straightforward: it is free, flexible and easy to fold into a regular summer outing. Kids can look for insects on the sidewalk, birds at the cottage or wildflowers on a local trail, then help upload what they spotted using a phone, tablet or camera.

The 2026 Big Backyard BioBlitz is supported by presenting sponsor Manulife. Participants are also encouraged to share sightings on social media using #NCCBioBlitz.

Registration is open now at backyardbioblitz.ca.

This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI language model. The final content was reviewed and edited by a human and reflects the editorial judgment and expertise of Today's Parent.