Become a Citizen Scientist
Volunteer on Snapshot Water Monitoring Day
Do you want to make a difference for our lakes, learn something new, and have a blast doing it?
Sep
18
2025 Snapshot Water Monitoring Day
September 18, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Join dozens of other citizen scientists on Snapshot Day.
Working in teams, you’ll collect and analyze water samples at 100 sites throughout Kosciusko, Noble, and Whitley Counties — all in one afternoon. The data you gather provides a valuable “snapshot” of water health across our watershed, which helps drive action for clean water.
Our amazing volunteers make Snapshot Day possible.
2024 monitoring results are now available! Explore maps and summaries at the link below.
What to Expect
- The event typically takes place over several hours on one afternoon. Estimated volunteer time commitment: 2 to 2.5 hours.
- A few days before the event, you will receive an email with contact information for your monitoring partner(s), as well as additional details to help you prepare for the day. On Snapshot Day, you’ll arrive at your assigned staging location, where you’ll check in, meet your partner(s), and receive your sampling supplies, instructions, and directions to your monitoring sites. After you’ve visited each site, you’ll bring your samples back to your staging location, where you’ll learn how to test samples for pH, nitrogen, and other key data.
- If you’d like to monitor sites close to home or to lakes you know, you can choose your preferred staging location on the registration form. 2024 staging locations included Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion in Warsaw (directions here), Merry Lea Farmstead in Albion (directions here), and North Webster Community Center (directions here). 2025 monitoring sites to be determined.
- Monitoring sites range from wetlands to large streams to small ditches on county roads. Sites have been assessed for their safety and difficulty to access, and we have a wide variety appropriate for every ability. If you have a preference about site difficulty, please note that in your registration form.
- Young volunteers are welcome! However, volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult volunteer, preferably a parent or guardian. Not all sites are appropriate for young volunteers.
- All volunteers must be registered to participate.
Questions? Contact caitlin@watershedfoundation.org or call (574) 834-3242.