Your phone or tablet will be used to record your habitat and location data while you are looking for nests. You will need to download the ArcGIS Survey123 app from the Microsoft Store Apple Store or on Google Play 

If you prefer, we have printable PDFs maps of  the survey areas to help you mark out your survey plot and ensure your safety in the field. 

We are providing all of our volunteers with a badge that labels them as a volunteer. You must wear this badge while you are in the field so county park staff know who you are and what project you are working on. 

WHEN you find a nest you will place one flag 1 m (1 yard) from the main entrance and a second flag an addition 30 cm (1 foot) away, marking the flags front and back, so we know what direction the nest is in.  You will receive flags at in-person events or in the mail.

We prefer you use the Survey123 app to record data in the field, but if you need to record on paper data sheets and upload later, please let us know. 

Accessible here. 

It is important to protect yourself from the sun, as you may be in areas that have little to no shade. It is important to protect yourself by bringing sunscreen and a sunhat, especially during the peak of the summer! 

It's important to stay hydrated! Make sure you have enough water for yourself during your Nest Questing, especially when it is hot. 

While we are not requiring you to ID bumble bees or other plants, it can be nice to have field guides along with you to help answer any questions. Our guide to Minnesota Bumble Bees is a great resource. Plant ID can be difficult. If you are not sure, please snap a photo and check with Nest Quest staff.

A first aid kit that includes band aids and other bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, latex gloves, hydrocortisone cream, Benadryl, and tweezers is a great way to be prepared for an emergency in the field. You can learn more from the Red Cross.