CLEARFIELD – In conjunction with the beginning of the autumn season, Nature Abounds launched the 2009-2010 season for IceWatch, engaging volunteers from across the United States to monitor local waterways over the winter season. In as little as 10 minutes per visit, volunteers gather and report information, helping to analyze how our climate is changing in different regions of the United States and how our ecosystems are reacting to the change.
Volunteers contribute information about ice coverage on local waterways, snow and rainfall amounts, air temperature and wildlife observations. According to Nature Abounds President Melinda Hughes-Wert, “IceWatching can be done in an area that receives snow and ice regularly as well as areas that do not receive snow and ice regularly. We are looking to collect information from all areas of the country.”
IceWatch USA, a citizen-scientist opportunity modeled after Ice Watch Canada, was launched in November 2008. Nature Abounds launched a second citizen-science opportunity Watch the Wild in March 2009. Between the two opportunities, Nature Abounds has active volunteers in forty-two states.
Nature Abounds is a national 501c3 non-profit, headquartered in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. The mission of Nature Abounds is to educate and empower citizens to sustain their community through environmental stewardship.
More information about Nature Abounds and the IceWatch USA program are available online or by emailing volunteer@natureabounds.org.