April 24-27, 2026

Join in the City Nature Challenge and help the Baton Rouge Region win!

Events will be posted here as they are finalized. Send us your spring nature events!

Grab your field guides and boots and join BREC naturalists and local scientists as we explore and document the diversity of life, or “biodiversity”, of Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. You can participate by attending a scheduled hike, helping to document species with local scientists around the park, meet local groups and organization that work to protect the natural spaces of Louisiana, practice hands on sampling, participate in live animal encounters, and more! Activities for all ages.

Registration is not necessary, but it is recommended that you register for the guided hikes because they are limited in size and fill up fast! More information

April 24, 2026
Nature Night Hike & Campfire

Hosted by BREC Conservation
7-9 p.m. at BREC Frenchtown Conservation Area
$5

Ever wonder what goes on in Conservation Areas after the sun goes down? Join Conservation staff and learn about local nighttime ecology and nocturnal animals while you creep through the woods on a blacked-out night hike. And no Night Hike would we complete without time around the campfire and a S’more! Come enjoy this great way to get the family out after the daytime heat. Preregistration is required and spaces are limited. Ages 6+. Register: https://www.brec.org/calendar/detail/nature-night-hike-campfire/21827

Please post observations of the night critters you spot during the hike in iNaturalist!

April 25, 2026
Aquatic Life Activity

Hosted by LMNGBR & BREC Conservation
11:30a.m. -1:00 p.m. at BREC Frenchtown Conservation Area
Free

Please join Dr. Amanda Marshall at the pond next to the building at Frenchtown to find and document aquatic species in iNaturalist for the City Nature Challenge! Amanda will give a brief training at 11:00 and then we can start scooping! At the end, we will try to identify what is found. Don't forget to document the dragonflies that are flying around the pond too!

I'm told there are newts and otters!!!!!

This is a "walk up" activity - no registration required.

April 24-26, 2026
Northshore Naturalist Weekend Workshop

Hosted by Pelican Park Nature Club & Fontainebleau State Park
Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville, LA
Registration opens February 2nd!

The Northshore Naturalist Weekend Workshop is an overnight quick study of the natural world. This program includes a mix of classroom instruction and guided field instruction from subject matter experts. This program takes place at Fontainebleau State Park and includes optional tent camping at a large group camp site. You may opt out of camping; you will be able to leave the park at night and return for the morning activities.

No experience or prior knowledge required to attend! Anybody with an interest in the natural world of Southeast Louisiana is encouraged to attend. Birdwatchers have what’s referred to as a “spark bird”—the bird that sparked their interest in birdwatching. The primary goal of this workshop is to connect you what whatever your “spark” subject may be in nature, whether that’s a funky insect you’ve never seen before, a wonderful plant you can’t stop thinking about, or the unique role mycelium plays in the environment. You will fall in love with the nature right in your backyard! Ages 18+

Registration is required and limited to 20 people. Registration opens February 2nd! Registration reached its capacity within 48 hours for the last Northshore Naturalist Workshop! What a wonderful opportunity to learn and explore nature while making observations for the City Nature Challenge!

April 28-May 10, 2026

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE IDENTIFICATION WEEK

Phew! We documented a lot of nature. You have this time period to finish uploading all of those photos you took April 24-27 into iNaturalist. But the sooner, the better, so we can get them identified and increase our research grade performance metric. This is also the time to get the observations our participants made identified. Please help by making identifications for any species you know well! The global results will be announced on May 13.

Your event here!

Our partners hold public and private events to promote participation in the City Nature Challenge.
Join us by hosting an event or attending one!

Baton Rouge City Nature Challenge EVENT Partners:

It’s a contest, so get a group together for the City Nature Challenge! If you would like to promote your nature event here, please e-mail the details to citynaturechallenge@lmngbr.org.

Are you are already hosting a nature-related event that weekend? Have it listed here and encourage your event participants to post observations in the City Nature Challenge.