Anyone can be a community scientist! That’s what we call our volunteers here at Vermont Center for Ecostudies. As a national leader in people-powered science, VCE invites anyone and everyone to contribute to data collection and wildlife monitoring.
We can’t do what we do alone. Community scientists help us multiply the efforts of our staff biologists, allowing us to monitor species from New York to Maine. The effort, skills, and commitment required of a community scientist are as diverse as a bog ecosystem.
You can start simply, by snapping a picture of a bumblebee visiting a flower in your garden and uploading it to the community science app iNaturalist. Kayak around your local pond to look for a loon nest. Invite a VCE biologist or another volunteer to your property to survey for butterflies, bees, or grassland birds, and learn how to be a good steward in the process. Take a moonlit summer hike to listen for Whip-poor-wills. And invite a VCE scientist to give a talk in your community.
Sound intimidating? It doesn’t have to be! We provide guidance for regular folks looking to get hands-on involvement in conservation in their neighborhood, local public land, and across the Northeast. That includes webinars, workshops, easy software platforms, and hands-on help from our scientists.
Explore below to see how you can get involved
“As a volunteer, it made me happy to know that what I was doing was actually making a difference in helping to track long-term changes of bird populations. In an era where scientific studies can’t be reliably carried out by the government, volunteering to continue bird surveys like the Forest Bird Monitoring Program is now more critical than ever.”
— Spencer Ogden
Community Science Projects at VCE
Eastern Meadowlark Conservation
The Eastern Meadowlark, a large member of the blackbird family, is a favorite among birders for its bright yellow breast and gentle, whistled song. VCE is working to keep this iconic grassland bird on the Vermont landscape through outreach, targeted monitoring, and community-sourced data. By tracking meadowlark locations and population trends, you can help ensure future generations can continue to experience the songs and presence of the Eastern Meadowlark across Vermont.
Learn more and join »
Pollinator Interactions on Plants
In February of 2023, VCE launched a community science project studying plant-insect interactions across the northeastern United States. It's called the Pollinator Interactions on Plants project, or ‘PIP’ for short. You can contribute—all you need is a camera (or your phone), and an enthusiasm for observing insect life and flowers around you.
Learn more and join »
Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas
The Vermont Butterfly Atlas is a five-year survey that is completed every 20 years with the help of volunteer community scientists, who document the abundance and distribution of butterflies across Vermont.
Learn more and join »
Vermont Atlas of Life
The Vermont Atlas of Life is a library of knowledge on Vermont’s animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms—an online, real-time resource with maps, photographs, and primary biodiversity data open for anyone to use.
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Vermont Loon Conservation Project
Four decades ago, Vermont had only seven pairs of Common Loons left in the state. Now 115 nesting pairs call our lakes and ponds home, and the number continues to increase. This conservation triumph is the result of many organizations and people—including regular folks like you—working together.
Learn more and join »
