Amphibian Week 2025 a cross-country success!

Amphibian Week 2025 was celebrated by ARMI scientists who planned and participated in public events from Wisconsin to Florida and from California to Washington, D.C. Over 3000 people participated in these in person events.

On the west coast, amphibian events began early, in February and March, to get folks primed for Amphibian Week. Scientists from USGS Forest and Rangeland Science Center (FRESC, Oregon) partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service Willamette Valley Refuge Complex to host information tables on two occasions during Winter Wildlife Field Days. ARMI scientists from Western Ecological Science Center (WERC, Point Reyes Field Station) joined FRESC in providing amphibian walks during Amphibian Week. The walk at Point Reyes engaged 4th and 5th graders in not only a walk, but a beta test of an amphibian game. The game was developed by the Einstein Fellows Program with input from ARMI scientists. In southern California (WERC San Diego Field Station) partnered with the Santa Ana Zoo to host a table with activities from coloring sheets to opportunities to practice monitoring for disease by collecting “DNA” on a cotton swab from a plushie “frog”.

In the Rocky Mountains (Fort Collins Science Center), an amphibian-themed art show, “Art Meets Science: The World of Amphibians” was held at a local venue showcasing local art from pottery to watercolors to frog-themed crafts. An evening amphibian walk drew a crowd. At Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (Missoula Field Station), partners at the Washington Middle School presented a weeklong focus on amphibians with book suggestions and activities that melded biological science and library science.

In the Midwest, scientists from the Upper Midwest Science Center (La Crosse, WI) partnered with The Nature Place to present a talk and an evening amphibian walk. The activity at Myrick Marsh featured field gear like parabolic microphones to listen to frog calls. The National Wildlife Health Center (Madison, WI) partnered with the Kettle Moraine State Forest and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to host drop-in Amphibian Week activities at the Southern Unit Headquarters in Eagle, WI.

On the east coast, scientists from the Wetlands and Aquatic Research Center (Gainesville, FL) hosted amphibian walks and talks in partnership with the Florida Museum of Natural History. In partnership with the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, ARMI scientists hosted an Amphibian Week event with talks, activity tables, and conservation games. The South Atlantic Water Science Center and the New Jersey Water Science Center showed an Amphibian Week informational slide show in the Center lobbies.

In Washington, DC, four ARMI scientists participated in an Amphibian Week kick-off event at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History’s Q?rious exhibit. This event included other federal agencies such as the US Forest Service, with ARMI scientists providing information, activities, games, and displaying live amphibians local to the east coast. ARMI also led an Amphibian Week event at the Smithsonian National Zoo at the historic Reptile House (which also houses amphibians), where scientists partnered with National Zoo staff to provide amphibian demonstrations, pose trivia questions, and provide information about amphibians. Phil the Frog was present at both events, dancing through life and providing inspiration to visitors and staff.

ARMI / USGS also participated in social media focused on Amphibian Week from official USGS posts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X, to collaborating with partners such as NW Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in developing posts for the week.