Spring is here. FINALLY! The weather isn’t balmy quite yet, but we’re almost there – and once we are, download these apps to motivate you to get outside and enjoy nature.
1. Audubon Insects and Spiders: A Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders
$5.79 | iOS
Spend any time outside and you will definitely come across some cool creepy-crawlies. This app lets you search in real time (no internet connection required) by name, shape, colour, region and more to find out about bugs you may encounter. You can also track and share your sightings with an in-app function called NatureShare. Full of gorgeous photos, this app was developed for conservation group the National Audubon Society (8% of each sale goes to support its efforts), and is one of several field-guide apps it has commissioned to help enthusiasts learn more about creatures with which we share the planet. Note: there is a separate Audubon app for butterflies and moths.
2. AllTrails – Hiking & Biking
Free | iOS and Android
Find biking and hiking trails across North America with this app, which lets you search through 50,000 outdoor spots to enjoy. Trail listings include details such as length, activities and difficulty level. Users can also add pictures, reviews and tracks. Know of a cool trail that’s not in the app? You can add it, too!
3. Leafsnap
Free | iOS
Being able to identify plants is a great way to feel closer to nature. So, download this app for the next time you’re out and about (or digging in the garden) and come across a plant you’re not sure of (like poison ivy, perhaps). Just grab a leaf – maybe with gloves, if you think it could be poison ivy – lay it on a white surface, snap a picture and Leafsnap will tell you which plant family it belongs to. You can then label your own picture (all the pics are added to a public database) to help other people with their own flora hunt. As of now, the app only covers plants native to the Northeastern U.S., but the developers are working on expanding that.
4. iBird Lite
Free | iOS and Android
If you don’t know your chickadees from your cedar waxwings, download this app, which lets you search for birds by colour, pattern, song and more. You can also listen to “birdsong” to help learn to identify bird species by the tunes they twitter. If you find yourself hooked on birding, there are several more-robust versions of iBird (iBird Pro, iBird Yard+, iBird Plus, iBird Pro and iBird Ultimate) available for a fee.
5. Parks Canada Learn to Camp
Free | iOS and Android
Maybe you’ve always dreamed of camping but didn’t know where to start. This app from Parks Canada will help get you going with checklists, recipes and an interactive park-finder, as well as tips on how to set up your campsite, make a campfire and much more. Once you pick a park, you can also look up what to do, animals you may come across and directions for how to get there.
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