From retirees to home-schooled kids, people of all ages and abilities can contribute to the advancement of science. By helping supply the tens of thousands of data points required to understand sweeping ecological changes, citizen scientists can contribute data for bird migratory patterns and population trends, the influence of non-native species on native species, and the effect of climate change on plants and animals. For citizen science involving birds, contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bumblebee Watch was inaugurated by the Xerces Society and other partners to track and conserve North America’s bumblebees. FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that provides individuals, groups, and families with an opportunity to learn about wetlands in their communities and to report data on the calls of frogs and toads. Locally, the Pioneer Valley Citizen Science Collaboratory has many programs for you to particpate as a citizen science volunteer. Two exciting programs are being launched this year: an Eastern Meadowlock Survey and Firefly Watch.