To paraphrase Joyce Kilmer, you’ll never see an article as beautiful as a tree, but this one should inspire you to go out and not only see trees, but help the scientists who work to understand and protect them . You’ll track threatened trees for TreeSnap; monitor urban trees for ISeaTree; learn about trees with the Girl Scout Tree Promise project; spy on woodpeckers taking up residence in trees with Woodpecker Cavity Cam; and help NASA and the GLOBE program discover how much carbon trees capture, while getting out and enjoying nature!

By downloading the NASA GLOBE Observer and using the Trees tool, you will measure the height and girth of the trees. Your data will complement satellite measurements and help scientists study forests and their ability to capture carbon and slow climate change.

iSeaTree is an application for identifying and tracking urban trees. It calculates the CO₂, H₂O, and pollution reduction benefits of trees across the United States and Canada, and also helps identify tree species. Data helps communities protect and preserve their urban canopies.

The many streets named Chestnut and Elm bear witness to the fame and beauty of these Native American trees. But these and other tree species are now rare due to the devastation caused by invasive pests and diseases. With TreeSnapYou’ll learn about these endangered trees and report their health and location to the scientists who are trying to protect them.

THE Girl Scout Tree Promise aims to take 5 million actions to plant, protect and honor trees, through a SciStarter collection of citizen science projects, many of which align with kits available in libraries. Not only is the program great for wildlife, it will also help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Admit it: you secretly wonder what woodpeckers do all day. Now, thanks to Cavity camera for woodpeckeryou can spy on them and report their activity to the woodpecker research team at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Scientific Reserve. You will also search for other creatures that have moved into vacant woodpecker houses.

As a volunteer Citizen Science Ambassador, you will help introduce the basics of citizen science to libraries and other community centers. Free training, professionally designed materials, and more will help you become a champion, connector, and facilitator.

Applications for the second cohort are open until November 11.

Halloween may be over, but you can still wander through a cemetery, make friends with a bat, socialize with spiders, and so much more! Watch our video to learn how.

Join Emma Giles and the SciStarter team on Tuesdays from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET, to meet inspiring project leaders, get valuable tips for participating in citizen science projects, and discover the incredible impact your contributions can to have. Join the action via Zoom or watch the live stream on SciStarter Facebook Page.

In case you missed it:

Jumpstart Planning for Citizen Science Month 2025: If you’re thinking about helping others participate in Citizen Science Month, watch our recorded webinar to learn how to get started. Watch on YouTube.

Make sourdough for science (and Thanksgiving!) Start at least two weeks before you plan to enjoy the (sourdoughed) fruits of your labor! Watch on YouTube.

Next:

November 12 – Wild Hope, Wildlife Corridors, and Citizen Science Learn how citizen scientists and experts are working together to identify and protect vital wildlife corridors, and how you can get involved in conservation efforts. Register.

November 19 – Leave No Trace announces #LeaveNoTrash 2025 Challenge Join us to find out how your university or community can get involved! Register.