Community Science | BAT Leader Training 2026

Have you ever seen bats overhead on a warm summer evening? Did you know a single bat can consume 50% of its body weight in mosquitos and other insects each night? Ready to make contributions as a community scientist leader? Woodland Park Zoo and Bats Northwest will facilitate this Bat Activity Trends (BAT) Volunteer Leader training that will enable you to conduct bat activity observations on your own, as well as lead others in conducting observations.

Through this BAT Leader training you will learn natural history information about bats (and Washington bats specifically) and how to gather important research information by estimating the level of bat activity observed for a thirty-minute period after sunset. By completing this training, you will join Seward Park Audubon Center and/or City of Mercer Island Parks as a volunteer BAT observer and BAT Leader. Details about your summer volunteer expectations will be provided by your respective volunteer coordinator.