Complete missions. Win prizes.
For kids going into grades K-6 in September 2026, join our Summer Reading challenge!
One of our missions this year is to become a "citizen scientist."
What is a citizen scientist?
- A citizen scientist is any member of the public who helps professional scientists by studying the world around them and reporting the results.
- There is no age requirement to become a citizen scientist and anyone is welcome to join in a project that interests them. Ask a grownup to help you if you need to enter information online.
- One way to become a citizen scientist is to think about what you enjoy learning about most and then read nonficton books that specialize in that topic. Oftentimes these titles will point you towards reputable research organizations and you will find out what professionals in that field need help with studying more.
What are some examples of citizen science projects?
- NASA has a variety of space-related participatory projects: https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science/
- The Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Birds Canada gather data from regular folks for the Great Backyard Bird Count and other projects: https://www.birdcount.org/citizen-science-be-part-of-something-bigger/
- Journey North, Monarch Watch, and other organizations study the migatory patterns of monarch butterflies with the help of citizen scientists: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/citize...
- NOAA offers a variety of ways to get involved with tracking trends in marine biology and more: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/citizen-science/
- iNaturalist uses photographs from everyday people to help identify plant and animal wildlife in their natural habitats: https://www.inaturalist.org/
- National Moth Week falls in July and invites people of all ages to scan the night skies for moths: https://nationalmothweek.org/
How can you become a citizen scientist?
- One way to become a citizen scientist is to think about what you enjoy learning about most and then read nonficton books that specialize in that topic. Oftentimes these titles will point you towards reputable research organizations and you will find out what professionals in that field need help with studying more.
- You can visit SciStarter's online project finder to search for ongoing citizen science projects by location and/or topic. https://scistarter.org/finder
Have more questions?
Visit our summer reading page, call 732-390-6789, or stop by the Youth Services desk to speak to a staff member!