The City of Sault Ste. Marie, in partnership with the Central Algoma Land Trust, the Sault Naturalists, the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority, the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is inviting area residents to take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge. The City Nature Challenge is a global competition that encourages communities around the world to document local plants and wildlife. Participants in the Algoma District and Chippewa County will once again compete as an international team. The competition will take place from April 24 to April 27, 2026. Identification of recorded species will occur from April 28 to May 10, with results announced on May 13. In 2025, the Algoma region achieved an 11th place ranking in Canada.
Residents can participate by downloading the iNaturalist app from the App Store or Google Play and creating an account. During the challenge period, users can submit observations by selecting ‘Observe,’ capturing photos of wild plants and animals, and recording sounds. Additional details, instructions, and tips are available at www.citynaturechallenge.org.
A number of group activities have been organized to support participation:
- Friday, April 24 – 9 a.m. at Thessalon Coastal Trail led by The Central Algoma Land Trust. Registration is available at calt.ca/events.
- Saturday, April 25 – 10 a.m. at Whitefish Island (Parks Canada, lower parking lot of Canal Drive), led by the Sault Naturalists. Non-members are required to complete and sign the Sault Naturalists Waiver.To RSVP, contact Val Walker at 705-542-5066 or valwalker8@yahoo.ca.
- Saturday, April 25 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sault Seal Recreation Area (2601 Minneapolis St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) led by the Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District and the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
Participants who actively contribute observations will be entered into a draw to win a free Sault Naturalists membership. Winners will be notified through the iNaturalist platform.
Launched in 2016 as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the City Nature Challenge has grown into an international event that inspires people worldwide to explore and document biodiversity in their communities. For more information about the Sault Ste. Marie City Nature Challenge, please contact Emily Cormier, Sustainability Coordinator, at 705-989-8748 or email e.cormier2@cityssm.on.ca.