BHOF Induction Criteria
How we recognize, encourage, and award outstanding young naturalists in the educational system.
The 100 Unique Observations Rule
To incentivize generalist observation strategies and discourage students from simply capturing the same species repeatedly, candidates must meet specific taxonomic quotas.
Induction requires at least 100 unique Research-Grade Observations on iNaturalist. Out of those observations, a minimum of 5 observations must be verified in each of the following groups:
🏆 Leaderboard Jurisdictions
Students compete and earn places in Halls of Fame modeled after sports institutions:
- Top 3: Local school or jurisdiction induction.
- Top 10: State-wide recognition.
- Top 50: Ecoregional induction.
Future Expansion of Recognition
Currently, to keep the entry criteria simple and accessible, we are only recognizing observations and unique species counts. In the future, we would love to expand the framework to reward other important contributions, including identifications, helpful comments, data annotations, and student leadership/engagement (such as hosting bioblitzes or attending training events).