Implementing the FrogWatch USA Citizen Science Program as a Versatile Ecological Educational Tool

Abstract

Citizen science programs, like FrogWatch USA, offer simple training guidelines to collect field data, which provides records across broad geographical locations, allowing for the study of population trends on a large scale. Due to the relative ease of implementing the protocol, this program can easily be used in undergraduate and high school courses to provide an active learning environment and independent research opportunities. Here, we describe how FrogWatch USA call surveys were paired with traditional trapping surveys and conclude that call surveys can be useful in ecological monitoring. We suggest recommendations on how this program can be utilized in different settings and across disciplines.