City of Long Beach Office of Climate Action and Sustainability to Host Fifth Annual Family Days in Nature Spring Event Series

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Participants explore local flora and fauna at the 2025 City Nature Challenge, an event that is part of the City's Family Days in Nature spring event series at Willow Springs Park.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Office of Climate Action and Sustainability will host its Fifth Annual Family Days in Nature spring event series. These free events, which will take place at Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.), will increase engagement and curiosity around native habitat preservation through nature activities and community education. The spring event series will include the Monarch Day of Action, taking place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 14, and City Nature Challenge, taking place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.

"These events have been a unique and engaging way for community members to participate hands-on in taking care of our local flora and fauna," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "People will also have the opportunity to learn about other ways they can get involved with local Long Beach organizations that are preserving and protecting our native ecosystems."

Monarch Day of Action will offer attendees opportunities to plant Narrowleaf Milkweed and other native plants to support pollinator populations, learn more about monarch butterflies and other native pollinators, and support native habitat restoration. The event will feature music, crafts, restoration and planting activities, and opportunities to engage with local community organizations that will share sustainability offerings. Those interested in attending can learn more and register at lbcity.info/monarch.

City Nature Challenge is an annual international event that challenges more than 100,000 people in cities across the world to exercise community scientist skills and document local flora and fauna using the iNaturalist app. The event will offer attendees an opportunity to contribute to community building and gain knowledge about some of Long Beach's biological richness. This year's event at Willow Springs Park will feature guided walks, a scavenger hunt and activities with local partners. The City Nature Challenge is a collaboration between the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and California Academy of Sciences. The Office of Climate Action and Sustainability is partnering for its fifth year of this global event. Those interested in attending can learn more and register at lbcity.info/cnc.

Monarch Day of Action and City Nature Challenge are two opportunities to explore the restored wetland habitat at Willow Springs Park, which was approved as an official park space by the Long Beach City Council in December 2024. Last year, over 300 visitors attended both events, planting 150 native plants and recording 104 nature observations.

"Willow Springs Park is abundant with diverse native species and rich history," said Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr. "Monarch Day of Action and City Nature Challenge are the perfect opportunities to explore the park and its offerings to the fullest."

To learn more about these events, future events, and about the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability's programs, visit longbeach.gov/sustainability.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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