Summer projects for naturalists

Two ways to connect with nature during social distancing no matter your age.
By Joanna Brichetto, USN parent

Here are fun gateways to the world of conservation:
  1. Certify your yard as Native Wildlife Habitat. The National Wildlife Federation offers an easy program that will: show your family what native habitat is, why it matters, and how to help it thrive in your own yard. Even urban habitats are destroyed by infill and development, and sadly, most of our common landscape plants are exotics that did not co-evolve with native creatures here. The NWF search engine helps you find local host-plants for butterflies and other invertebrates, which, in turn, feed birds and other creatures in our shared foodweb. And you can order a Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign to advertise your efforts and to invite neighbors to think native.
  2. Learn your plant and animal neighbors with iNaturalist. This is a free "citizen science" app that can help you ID any living thing in your yard, neighborhood, or anywhere. Observations are saved as a life-list of all organisms in your yard, and you can track when things bloom, seed, come, go. Meanwhile, scientists use your data for research (while protecting your privacy). There are also local iNaturalist "Projects" to join: pollinator sightings, Warner Park biodiversity surveys, and the annual City Nature Challenge.
 
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More USN News

List of 3 news stories.

  • The newest members of the French Honor Society pose for a photo after their induction ceremony.

    French Honor Society inducts nine students

    Congratulations to Libin Abdulle 26, Henry Knowles ’26, Agnes McLemore ’26, Katherine Fast ’27, Abigail Manoukian ’27, Eleanor Mixon ’27, Louisa Nordberg ’27, Falcon Reed ’27, and Julia Young ’27 for their induction into the French Honor Society.
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    USN wins Mid-State Junior Classical League Competition

    34 USN Latin scholars competed against schools from across Tennessee in a competition that tested their knowledge in academic subjects such as grammar, Roman history, and Roman life. After two days of competition, USN emerged victorious.
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  • Henry Knowles ’26 and Alice Littlehale ’26 speak after receiving the award for

    Peabody Press wins state awards

    Peabody Press, USN's High School newspaper, was named the THSPA's Best Overall Website and earned third place for Best Overall Newspaper.
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