Explore the Wild Side of Your National Parks!

WASHINGTON-From northern leopard frogs to eastern red bats, Greater Washington's national parks are home to incredible biodiversity. Join the National Park Service and the National Geographic Society on May 20-21 for BioBlitz, a fast-paced expedition to discover and document the species that thrive in 13 nearby national parks. This free public event, nationally sponsored by American Express, will bring together more than 200 leading scientists and naturalists, more than 2,600 students and even more friends, families and future scientists to explore and celebrate biodiversity.

The National Parks BioBlitz-Washington, D.C., is the cornerstone event for more than 100 BioBlitzes taking place across the country. The National Parks BioBlitz is the culmination of a 10-year partnership between the National Park Service and the National Geographic Society, in the run-up to the National Park Service centennial -August 25, 2016.

Because most people associate D.C. with memorials and museums, it may be surprising to learn that this area provides important habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals-the biodiversity here is unexpectedly rich, National Park Service Regional Director Bob Vogel said. BioBlitz is a great opportunity for people of all interests and skills to discover these species and to contribute valuable information to national park scientists. We invite the Greater Washington community to join us in this exciting adventure.

Nine years ago at the first National Parks BioBlitz in Rock Creek Park, we had about 1,000 people documenting species on paper, said National Geographic Society President and CEO Gary Knell. This year, for the National Park Service centennial, tens of thousands of people will join forces at more than 100 parks for the first nationwide BioBlitz. This massive effort to uncover the amazing natural resources in our parks dovetails with National Geographic's longtime commitment to exploring and protecting our planet.

To be part of a scientist-led inventory team, register online at natgeo.org/bioblitz-dc. Examples of species inventories include:

Early morning birding adventures on Theodore Roosevelt Island

Pollinator surveys in Piscataway Park

Meadow exploration and fish counts in Rock Creek Park

Wetland exploration in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Spider surveys at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

Butterfly surveys in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Discovery of stream insects at Manassas National Battlefield Park

Acoustic bat inventory at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall

A concurrent two-day Biodiversity Festival will be held at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall (17th and Constitution Avenue NW). The festival will feature hands-on science exhibits, food and art, yoga classes and family-friendly entertainment and activities. Constitution Gardens will also serve as base camp for the National Parks BioBlitz-Washington, D.C., and a connection to more than 100 BioBlitz and biodiversity events taking place at national parks across the country that weekend. The festival will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 20-21, 2016, with a special evening of science fun planned for Friday night.

American Express is committed to serving and preserving our nation's parks and public lands, said American Express Foundation President Timothy J. McClimon. As we gear up for the 2016 National Park Service centennial, we are excited to sponsor BioBlitz and empower volunteers across the country to discover and celebrate the wealth of biodiversity in our national parks.

American Express is a national sponsor of the National Parks BioBlitz and a premier partner of the 2016 National Park Service centennial. To learn more, visit amex.co/goparks.

Verizon, Southwest Airlines Co. and the Harold M. and Adeline S. Morrison Family Foundation are also providing support for the National Parks BioBlitz-Washington, D.C.

To learn more about BioBlitz and the festival, visit natgeo.org/bioblitz-dc or call (800) 638-6400, ext. 6186.

More on BioBlitz

The ultimate field trip

More than 3,000 students from across our nation's capital will participate in BioBlitz during their school day! Students ages eight and above will work alongside leading scientists to discover and document the biodiversity of our region's national parks. BioBlitz provides classes with an opportunity to experience national parks, to learn about the wide biodiversity of species that inhabit our world and to gain first-hand exposure to the work of scientists.

Going global with iNaturalist

At the first National Parks BioBlitz in 2007, 1,000 BioBlitz participants recorded species findings with pen and paper. Today, thanks to the iNaturalist app, thousands of BioBlitz participants can share their observations and crowdsource identifications of flora and fauna at the press of a button. Whether you're a curious kid or an expert botanist, iNaturalist allows you to share information with citizen-scientists around the world and to directly contribute data to national park species inventories. Past BioBlitz participants have added dozens of species to park inventories and even discovered one species new to science!

Bugs, bats, and brews!

Toast the wilder side of the National Parks at Bugs, Bats and Brews! Join the National Park Service and National Geographic Society on Friday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Constitution Gardens. Enjoy refreshments in the beer garden (21+ only) as you listen to animal sounds remixed into exotic beats by DJ Ecotone, see through the lens of National Geographic photographer Anand Varma, and debunk popular science myths with The Urban Scientist, Danielle Lee. End the night with a search for the bats and bugs on the National Mall set to a live performance by the Fr

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