We’ve been bombarded with news of deep cuts to federal funding for research, science and monitoring. The immediate impacts are stark: jobs lost, projects canceled, colleagues scrambling to find their footing. There are also impacts we’ve yet to see: fewer people to monitor plant and animal populations, an erosion of scientists’ ability to establish baselines and an overall weakening of our ability to carry out science-backed management.

But there is something you can do. It won’t take long, you can do it alone or with a friend, and it won’t put you on a government watchlist. All you need to do is go outside and look around.

Participating in a nature-themed community science project is a simple action that contributes to transformative changes in the world. Consider downloading iNaturalist, Nature’s Notebook, eBird or other apps designed to help you document nature in your yard and share what you see in your local environment. By contributing observations of leafing, flowering and pollinator activity, you help scientists understand how climate is changing, how species are responding and how our communities can adapt for the future.

We have collectively led contributory community science projects — activities that ask people to volunteer their time to observe and report what they see — for decades. Together, we coordinate efforts to document phenology, seasonal activity in plants and animals, at local to national scales. By intentionally observing the subtle changes plants and animals undergo, we gain access to the not-so-secret lives of other species. Our affinity for nature deepens as we observe life cycles over time while contributing to ecological datasets used for research and conservation.

Co-author Georgia Silvera Seamans shares her experience: “My nature patch is a small public park just blocks from my apartment, where I make observations using Nature’s Notebook and eBird. Visiting several times weekly, I watch the ongoing changes in the trees there. Summer brings the full flowering of Eastern redbud’s rosy, pea-like blooms and the white bracts of flowering dogwood in peak display. I scan for fallen twigs with tiny red oak flowers that could fit on my pinky fingernail. While many look up for birds, I also scan grassy areas where migratory sparrows — chipping, song, fox and field sparrows — forage in a lawn closed for restoration. Hermit thrushes join American robins to bring sweet tunes to the park’s soundscape. There is abundant life in this small urban park in a bustling neighborhood.”

Scholarly literature supports what we’ve experienced directly: being curious about the natural world makes us feel good. Studies show post-surgery patients with tree views recover faster. We derive even greater benefits when we purposefully interact with nature — whether your yard, local greenspace or national park. Benefits span improved cognition to physical wellness to social cohesion. Greater exposure leads to larger benefits. The takeaway is clear: spend time in nature — as much as you can, for as long as you can.

Records of individual observations also benefit science. Community science observers fill gaps beyond what professional scientists can collect. Volunteer data have revolutionized our work, expanding questions we can ask. For example, the Appalachian Mountain Club used over 118,000 plant observations along the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. It found plants are emerging earlier each spring with warmer temperatures, with forest floor plants shifting more rapidly than mature trees. This understanding of how forested landscapes across 14 states respond to climate change wouldn’t be possible without volunteer contributions.

Volunteers provide observations at scales paid scientists could never achieve. Earlier this year, a Big Bend National Park volunteer using iNaturalist discovered not only a new plant species, but an entirely new genus. While volunteers play increasingly valuable roles, they cannot replace professional scientists who analyze data and translate insights into management recommendations. The combination of professionals and volunteers creates the most impactful science outcomes.

As summer continues, let’s reconnect with our childhood sense of wonder, spending time outdoors exploring greenspaces around us. In the process, we contribute to science and spark joy in our lives.