Jug Bay has an incredible Citizen Science legacy with some programs running continuously for 30 years and counting. Each year, the Sanctuary hosts either an in-person Citizen Science Summit or a virtual eSummit. Each convenes research volunteers by theme to present research findings and thinktank on new questions to pose to the Sanctuary. Each citizen science project completes a summary report at the end of the year that are then posted online early the following year.
"To become a volunteer, you do not need to be an expert - you only need an interest in the environment, a desire to learn, and a commitment to the goals of the Sanctuary."
- Susan Nugent, Jug Bay Volunteer
2023 Summit Presentations & Briefs
Our volunteer scientists poured over years of data to prepare presentations at our inaugural Citizen Science Summit held on Saturday, November 18 2023. Below each of the presentation are available to peruse. In addition to presentations, our volunteer scientists captured an analysis of their season's data and reflections in a short Summary Brief for each topic below:
Presentations:
A Study of Two Populations of Catfish at Jug Bay
A Survey of Eastern Coyotes and Northern River Otters
Eastern Box Turtle Habitat and Population Study
Emerald Ash Bore Tree Canopy Survey
Integrated Monarch Monitoring Project
Long-term Water Quality Chemistry of Three Streams
Monitoring long-term population trends for bird species using the Jug Bay wetlands
Prothonotary Warbler Population
Salamander Road Crossing Surveys
2024 Presentations
Our 2024 Citizen Science Summit theme was "Exploring Current Citizen-Led Herpetological Research at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary". Featured projects included our Eastern Box Turtle Habitat & Population Study, Eastern Box Turtle Telemetry, Vernal Pool Monitoring, and Salamander Road Crossing Surveys. All on-site research accomplishments were achieved by our outstanding and dedicated volunteer community at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. Our Keynote Speaker was Kerry Wixted who delivered an opening address titled, "Shellebrating Herps and the People Who Steward Them".
Presentations:
Keynote: Shell-e-brating Herps
Eastern Box Turtle Habitat & Population Study
2025 eSummit Briefs
For 2025, the first Citizen Science eSummit was published with "dashboards” featuring volunteer-written and year-end summaries with
visual components that present key at-a-glance results and data.
