The BioBlitz is intended to be fun for the whole family. The following are some of the activities we have set up for adults and children alike.

Activities & Exhibits

• The Caterpillar Lab—an interactive activity with live caterpillars—it is amazing! Kids get to touch, hold, and share the menagerie of harmless caterpillars.
• An amazing high-end genomic component that will explores microbial diversity found in the Connecticut River, as well as Mark Twain’s Park River, and different types of Connecticut compost.
• Spectacular insect collections will be on display—two of Connecticut’s finest.
• A chance to see and talk with Charles Darwin, who may join us!
• The most diverse living insect zoo ever assembled in the Northeast.
• See live birds, including an eagle, and learn about northeastern birds of prey from Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation.
• There will be live CT reptiles and amphibians at the event too, with Riverside Reptiles.
• The world authority on eating insects, Louis Sorkin, will speak and have some of his edible insects available to enjoy!
• The creator of iNaturalist (Ken-ichi Ueda) from California will lead a mini BioBlitz for the public around Two Rivers Middle School.
• More than 50 exhibitors from diverse CT nature-oriented organizations and groups will be on hand, with a variety of public activities.
• Many of the State’s top mushroom experts showcase their recent discoveries to the public—the “mushroom hunters’ of the Connecticut Mycological Society are always a crowd favorite!
• Watch scientists work on identifying and observing species.

Nature Walks

• Nature walks and mini-safaris will welcome people of all ages, guided by our team of experts.

Workshops

• iNaturalist workshop on citizen science led by the iNaturalist co-founder Ken-ichi Ueda. Learn how to contribute to Science on your own in your spare time! Bring a laptop if you’re interested in this workshop.

Book Signings

The following great authors will be at the event with books to meet and autograph copies.

• Richard Conniff: Spineless Wonders: Strange Tales from the Invertebrate World, The Species Seekers: Heroes, Fools, and the Mad Pursuit of Life on Earth, Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with Animals, Every Creeping Thing: True Tales of Faintly Repulsive Wildlife, and more.
• Charley Eiseman: Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates: A Guide to North American Species
• Lawrence Millman: Fascinating Fungi of New England, Giant Polypores and Stoned Reindeer
• Karen Monger: Adventures in Edible Plant Foraging: Finding, Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Native and Invasive Wild Plants
• Tom Murray: Insects of New England & New York
• Jane O’Donnell: The Connecticut Butterfly Atlas
• James Prosek: Ocean Fishes: Paintings of Saltwater Fish, Trout of the World, Eels: An Exploration, from New Zealand to the Sargasso, of the World’s Most Mysterious Fish.
• David Wagner: The Connecticut Butterfly Atlas, Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History, Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America.