East Goshen and West Goshen are about to settle a question no one knew they were asking: which township can spot more wildlife?
The Goshen 250 Nature Challenge pits the two neighboring communities against each other in a weeklong species hunt launching at noon on Sunday, September 20, at East Goshen Park. Using smartphones and the free iNaturalist app, residents will photograph and identify at least 250 species of plants, birds, insects, fungi, and aquatic life across parks, trails, and their own backyards.
The competition runs through noon on Sunday, September 27. Each township has its own project inside the iNaturalist app, so every observation counts toward that community's total.
Why 250?
The target honors America250, the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. East Goshen Township announced the challenge on its website, calling it a friendly and fun competition that doubles as community science. The format is sometimes called a BioBlitz, in which amateurs and experts alike spend time finding and cataloguing as many species as possible outdoors.
West Goshen Township posted its own save-the-date notice on June 18, and its Sustainability Advisory Committee has discussed logistics for the event.
No expertise required
The iNaturalist app uses photo recognition to help identify what users snap, so participants don't need to know a red-tailed hawk from a Cooper's hawk to contribute. Experienced iNaturalist users will be on hand at the September 20 kickoff to walk newcomers through the app.
Users must be at least 13 years old to create an account. Children younger than 13 can participate alongside an adult who has one.
How to join
No registration is required. Residents can download iNaturalist free on Android or iOS, create an account, search "Goshen 250 Nature Challenge," and tap their township's project. Observations count anywhere within a township's geographic boundaries, including private yards.
Those who can't make the kickoff can still participate on their own at any point during the September 20–27 window.
Upcoming dates
- Sunday, September 20 — Goshen 250 Nature Challenge kickoff, noon, East Goshen Park
- Sunday, September 27 — Challenge ends at noon; final species tallies recorded
