In partnership with The Maritime Aquarium and Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, volunteers help monitor local wetlands by keeping a frog log to record the calls of frogs and toads. Working alongside experts, participants learn to identify local species, then visit nearby wetlands once or twice a week for about 15 minutes each night throughout spring and summer.
The watches begin about a half-hour after sunset, making them perfect for families with older children. Observations are submitted to a national online database to support amphibian conservation, and FrogWatch coordinators at each facility provide updates on the collected data.
During this training, participants will learn about citizen science, the important role amphibians play in the ecosystem, and how to identify ten species of frogs heard in Connecticut. After the training, participants will be sent a virtual assessment they need to complete in order to become a certified FrogWatch Volunteer.
All 2026 Frog Watch Trainings have been completed. Thank you to everyone who participated. Keep an eye on this page and sign up for our e-newsletter for 2027 Training Sessions.
Please note: Trainings focus on frogs native to Connecticut. While all are welcome to join, we strongly encourage participants to attend a session near their area. To find a training close to you, click here.
Frogs and toads are essential to wetland ecosystems, acting as both predator and prey, and are key indicators of environmental health. Many species that were once abundant have seen dramatic declines in the U.S. and worldwide. Understanding the extent, location, and causes of these declines is critical, and the data collected by FrogWatch USA volunteers helps guide conservation and management efforts. To learn more about frogs in Connecticut, click here.
