As a science communication intern at Indiana Phenology (a citizen-science nonprofit), I created a guide to the Backyard Observers program. The program encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and record the natural world, starting in their own backyard. Participants learn about phenology, which is the study of phases of life. For example, phenology looks at how a plant might grow leaves in one season and produce fruit in another.

 

Program participants use the Nature's Notebook app to record their observations. My goal was to develop a guide that was easy to use, encouraging, and inspiring so that more people would join the Backyard Observers program. You can view an excerpt from the guidebook below.