Watch the 2026 MacroBlitz Onboarding either on YouTube or using the Zoom recording link. Passcode is 4.8m$OaV 

MacroBlitz is a project that inspires and empowers people to find and photograph freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates and upload those photos to iNaturalist for science and learning.

Started in 2024 through funding from the National Geographic Society, the purpose of MacroBlitz is to leverage the power of the crowd through citizen and community science efforts to document the biodiversity of surface waters.

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are small (but not microscopic) water-dwelling critters that are important to scientists, natural resource managers, anglers, conservationists, outdoor recreationists, hikers, educators, birds, fish, frogs, raccoons, and others.

What do you find when you dip a net into a stream or pond? If you find a critter, take a photo and upload to iNaturalist to share your discoveries with the world. That is ​MacroBlitz.

Be inspired by stories from explorers and Explorers about their experiences with MacroBlitz

Whether you are a classroom teacher or higher ed instructor, naturalist or educator at a nature or science center,  a participant in an adult program like master naturalists or leader in a youth program like Scouts or 4H, or just a passionate individual that wants to be part of a MacroBlitz community, we have resources for that.

MacroBlitz utilizes the power of the crowd to document the biodiversity of freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates. Every observation contributes to a data set that tells an important story, now and in the future.