Champhibians, a citizen science programme for schools: a project introduction and case study from Malls Mire Local Nature Reserve in Glasgow, Scotland

Abstract

Champhibians, the “champions of amphibians,” a pond adoption project instigated by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), provides an interesting case-study of a citizen science project that was specifically designed for schools. This paper highlights the main aims and benefits of the project by showcasing one of the pilot schools that has participated in the project and adopted a pond at the Malls Mire Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in Glasgow, Scotland. The benefits of this project stem from its links to the school curriculum as well as the connection it establishes between schools, the ARC Trust and managers of local community greenspaces. The importance of outdoor education has long been recognised for benefitting children’s mental health and well-being as well as their relationship with nature. It can help to incorporate several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) into the curriculum, such as life below water, climate action and life on land, while at the same time providing valuable data for land managers through its citizen science approach.