EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC℠) is offering citizen training to help locals monitor frog populations by listening for frog and toad calls in the area.

FrogWatch USA training will take place from 4:30-6 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, at NGRREC’s Jerry F. Costello Field Station in East Alton.

Training includes auditory identification of the common frogs and toads of the region so attendees can be directly involved in gathering data that will ultimately help scientists stop amphibian decline.

“We encourage families, scout leaders, educators, nature enthusiasts, life-long learners and anyone wanting to learn more about frogs and toads to become a FrogWatch USA volunteer,” said Environmental Educator Erica Doerr.

This event is part of the new NGRREC STREAM series that began with a World Water Day photography exhibition last month, which drew more than 150 guests to the Field Station.

The NGRREC STREAM series takes a step beyond traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programming by including aspects of Research and Art. NGRREC is home to an array of multidiscipline research initiatives. The goal is for the STREAM series to help highlight this work in fun and engaging ways.

Doerr said NGRREC is looking forward to offering the public new opportunities to engage in research through its community science programs and by hosting events that bring local artistic talent to the station. She said she’s excited about building community connections through art and science training opportunities. The STREAM series will allow people to learn about NGRREC while sharing their talents and actively participating in the community science effort.

“We believe there are many ways to become a steward of the environment and our great rivers,” Doerr said. “The NGRREC STREAM series has something for everyone.”

For more information, visit https://www.ngrrec.org/stream-series/.

About National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC℠)

NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them, facilitating the efficient implementation of science into policy and practice. Founded in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, the center aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related to the interconnectedness of large rivers, their floodplains, watersheds, and their associated communities.