Cortinarius mushroom in one of Bobby Valentine's secret spots.
Imagine wandering around in woods or streams, identifying fungi, plants, insects, wildlife — anything alive. This is what's known as citizen science: amateurs observing and documenting nature. And if you like being alone or sharing observations from a distance, it's the perfect activity during a pandemic.
Of the active citizen scientists I spoke with, all three grew up in Southern California, where they witnessed their homes changing rapidly from towns to suburbs, with housing developments and freeways before moving north. One, Kim Cabrera, who now lives in Redway, has earned several tracking certificates in the desert and the forest, and is training to learn to track people for search and rescue.