A guided walk in North Point Park, Onekama. File photo by Pat Stinson.
From staff reports
North Point Park in Onekama will be the location of the area’s next BioBlitz, an outdoor event that brings together community members, naturalists and scientists to identify as many plant and animal species as they can in a short period of time.
The local program, “Who are you? BioBlitz: Monitoring our Ecosystem,” will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 27, at North Point Park, 8999 Greenway St. Registration is required.
BioBlitz events are hosted in communities worldwide during spring and summer and are designed to gather data scientists can use in their research. People of all ages are invited to participate. Onekama’s event is hosted by the Manistee Conservation District (MCD) in partnership with Onekama Township Parks and Recreation.
MCD Environmental Educator Kathryn Borowicz and MCD Forester and Wildlife Biologist Josh Shields will help participants learn how to I.D. species using field guides and the smartphone apps iNaturalist and Seek.
Borowicz facilitated approximately 54 student programs for youths up to age 18 during this school year, according to a statement in the MCD’s June newsletter. Topics covered included water, invasive and native species, conservation stewardship, and agriculture in the classroom and in the field. Last year, she held Nature Adventures programs at the Manistee County Library and this year will offer the programs in various places throughout the county. Borowicz recently wrote an article for this publication about her classroom visits. (Read “Teaching kids about invasive species,” Freshwater Reporter, March 12, 2025, found HERE — on page 3.)
More information about the local BioBlitz can be found HERE, or email Parks@OnekamaTwp.org. Register for this event at: https://tinyurl.com/OTPR-Sign-Up
