Palmer Trinity School

E XPLORING NATURE WITH iNATUR ALIST: A N E W W AY T O D I S C O V E R P A L M E R T R I N I T Y ' S B I O D I V E R S I T Y PALMER TRINITY'S LUSH CAMPUS IS HOME TO AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND NOW, THANKS TO THE INATURALIST APP, STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE TAKING THEIR EXPLORATION OF NATURE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THIS POWERFUL TOOL ALLOWS USERS TO SNAP PHOTOS OF WILDLIFE AND INSTANTLY RECEIVE HELP IDENTIFYING SPECIES FROM A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF SCIENTISTS AND NATURE ENTHUSIASTS. BY DR . L EOP OL D O L L IN Á S , DIR E C T OR OF EN V IR ONMEN TA L S T E WA R D S HIP Building on past environmental efforts—such as The Trees of Palmer Trinity book, and former faculty member, Dr. Mealey's bird identifica- tion labs—this initiative is inspiring students to become citizen scientists. Whether it's spotting a turkey vulture flying over Trinity Chapel, identifying a gumbo limbo tree by the science building, or tracking a monarch butterfly's migration, iNaturalist makes learning about our local ecosystem engaging and interactive. Middle schoolers in Science classes have used the app to document lizard species around campus, while IB Environmental Systems and Societies students have analyzed biodiversity trends in different areas. Faculty members, too, are joining in—science teachers are using iNaturalist to enrich lessons, and even staff members on their lunch breaks are contributing observations. This initiative not only deepens our connection to the environment but also contributes valuable data to real-world conservation efforts. Every observation made at Palmer Trinity becomes part of a vast database that scientists use to track species distribution and ecological changes. As of Spring 2025, 118 different species were observed and identified on campus. As Palmer Trinity continues its commitment to environmental stewardship, iNaturalist is proving to be a powerful way to blend technology with hands-on learning. So next time you see a bird, flower, or insect on campus, take a moment, snap a picture, and become part of this growing movement. Who knows? You might even discover a species new to our school! 1. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) by Isabelle Hanemann '25. 2. IB Environmental Systems and Societies student using iNaturalist. 3. Middle School student using iNaturalist. 4. Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) by Dr. Leopoldo Llinás Opposite. Middle school students with field guide. 1 2 3 4 28 PALMERTRINITY.ORG P E R S P E C T I V E S

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