The New York Phenology Project is part of a network of organizations (The National Phenology Network, supported by USGS) that aims to empower the ecological goals of communities. NYPN was founded by Kerissa Battle who appears in C&C program 4. Each independent organization has its own research initiative and collects data in unique ways, which allows the network to track the quality of each data collection model and decide what works best and where. NYPN provides training and coordinates data collection sites for volunteers, students, and teachers who want to participate. Phenology is “the study of life cycle events for plants and animals”, and can be performed by anyone, at all ages. The idea is to learn how to notice and understand the biological impacts of natural, seasonal change, as well as human-caused climate change. The data is connected to both a national and regional database, and is used by scientists, land managers and individuals to inform decision-making and build long-term data sets capable of answering pressing ecological questions. A phenology site, or trail, can be built just about anywhere. Some great places include pristine hiking trails in nature reserves, abandoned city parking lots, school yards, community gardens, and backyards. For example, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve has three phenology trails connected to the National Phenology Network, where they have developed their own guides for plants included on the trails.

http://www.nyphenologyproject.org/