STEAM Challenges
Grab your friends and family for one of our exciting month-long STEAM Challenges!
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BioBlitz
Ongoing throughout April.
Visit https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2025-msu-science-festival-bioblitz
Appropriate for: Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Visit a participating park or nature center near you and join in on a community-led biodiversity survey throughout the month of April. Download the iNaturalist app to share your observations of nature or help us identify the species in others' observations. Join the BioBlitz iNaturlist project and get started today!
Featured Locations
- Averill Preserve
- Belle Isle Nature Center
- Blandford Nature Center
- Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens
- Capital City Bird Sanctuary
- Chippewa Nature Center
- Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center
- DeVries Nature Conservancy
- Fenner Nature Center
- Genesee County Parks: For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum
- Harris Nature Center
- Sutherland Nature Sanctuary
- Woldumar Nature Center
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Community Cleanup Challenge
Ongoing throughout April.
Visit https://www.litterati.org/get-involved
Appropriate for: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Download the Litterati app and join the MSU Science Festival’s statewide Cleanup Challenge to help pick up trash in your neighborhoods while contributing to data on Michigan litter.
While you clean up trash and litter, you can add geo-tagged photos of what you find and add them to the MSU Science Festival’s Litterati challenge. See how much litter you can clean up throughout the month of April! You’ll join hundreds of Michigan community members just like you who are dedicated to keeping Michigan nature clear of refuse.
Your observations will contribute to open data that helps scientists learn more about what types of litter are most common and where it is most concentrated. The more we know about litter, the more empowered we are to prevent it.
How to Get Started
Step 1. Download the Litterati App from the Google Play or Apple App Store
Step 2. Join the MSU SciFest Cleanup Challenge using code SCIFEST25.
Step 3. During the month of April, join a local cleanup event or go out on your own to pick up trash in your neighborhood. Be sure to log your trash observations in the Litterati app.
Step 4. Have fun and invite your friends and family to join the challenge to see who can clean up the most trash!
More information, including Litterati guides and resources and community cleanup events coming soon!