Age of Citizen Science - Four Websites Where You Can Lend a Hand

Crowdsourcing. Group thinking. Call it what you will, but in the past ten years, average Joes tasked with online assignments (from bird counting to cloud identification and more) have contributed reams of data to the scientific body. Just one thing: Few scientists ever took it seriously. That’s changed. Sites are better, questions keener, and citizens are becoming viable foot soldiers in legitimate scientific studies. “We have over 30 ornithology papers published in peer-reviewed journals that use volunteer-collected data,” says Rick Bonney of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Citizen Science Program. Here are four ways you can lend a hand.

Our Favorite Adventurers on Twitter - Updated 9/2

Who better to follow in 140 characters or less than our favorite explorers? We've put together a roster of tweeters, from eco-activist David de Rothschild to alpinist Ed Viesturs, to keep an eye on the ever-changing world of adventure. 

This list is by no means final, so keep checking back to see who's been added. And, as always, tell us who we left out in the comment section below. We're particularly interested in adding gear manufacturers, conservation groups, and outfitters that are tweeting, so if you're out there, let us know.

Of course, you can also follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/ngadventure

See the full list after the jump.

New Guide to the National Parks Now Online

Text by Laura Buckley

When planning a trip to the National Parks you will inevitably have questions--and the National Parks Owner's Guide 2009, a comprehensive online trip planning tool from the National Parks Foundation, will help you answer them.  How long will it take to hike to Fort Bowie and back in Fort Bowie National Historic Site? (At least two hours.)  When's the best time to go to Guadalupe Mountains National Park?  (After 11pm to see the stars.)  What's the deepest lake in the U.S.? (Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park.) 

The guide is fit for both the novice park goer and extreme explorer, complete with must see sights, insider hints, detailed maps, and photos--all for free.  "Every citizen is a part owner of the National Park System, and this guide has everything you need to get started planning your trip in one place," says Jamie Patten, senior vice president of the National Park Foundation.  "Getting outside and into the parks has never been easier."

For more information on the National Parks, check out ADVENTURE's June/July "Best of the National Parks 2009," and National Geographic's guide to U.S. National Parks. 

Five Travel Websites You Probably Don't Know, But Should

Text by Christian Camerota

Reports vary, but it's safe to say there are 200 million+ websites in existence, a number that changes faster than Mount Washington's weather.

Here are five travel sites you probably don't know about but should. They're great for everything from killing those extra ten minutes of prepaid Internet cafe time to prepping diligently for your global adventure.

1. gethuman.com
So Delta overcharged you for your tickets to the Mayan Riviera. But the last thing you want to do is spend time, better served zip-lining and free-diving, navigating an overgrown phone tree. Fear not. Gethuman.com gives you numbers and specific instructions on how to get a real, live person on the phone at over 1,000 different business...so you can therapeutically scream at them and try for some free coupons. No guarantees on them speaking your native language well, though.

2. points.com
Airline points are great, that is, until you've collected 100,000 of them and realize they're relatively useless. Points.com will fix that, though. This site allows you to take that ostensibly valueless currency and turn into something more tangible: miles, flights, hotel stays, you name it. You can even exchange points and miles with other users to find the airline you want. Kinda like an airline mile barter depot. Now all they need is electronic wampum.

3. mizpee.com
Aptly named, considering its appeal to women (guys, generally, can find a functional alleyway or take a knee just about anywhere), mizpee.com will guide you expertly to the nearest and nicest waterclosets just about anywhere in the country (and British Columbia, too). They're rated by a five-roll toiletpaper system, tell you whether or not a purchase is required to use them, and also exactly how far you're going to have to walk with your knees locked together. Oh, and not to forget the "Flush of the Year" section, which will point you toward's the nation's most memorable spots to answer Nature's call.

4. The Universal Packing List 
Wow. Unless you revel in making your travel item checklist (and inevitably forget stuff anyway), this site is a godsend. Put in information like your trip duration, your luggage type, your accommodations, and even how many kids you're bringing, and the Universal Packing List will generate an itemized and personalized register of everything you're going to need. Heck, it even includes necessary vaccines for international travel and what you ought to do before you leave (shave, turn down your home's temp, etc.).

5. Mangolanguages.com
Covering twelve different tongues, Mangolanguages.com will arm you with free quips and catchphrases for just about any country. Whether you want to be able to say "Get me to a bar, stat" when you land in Spain, or whether you want to figure out how to tell the Internet cafe owner he's overcharging you for a prehistorically slow online connection, this site will help you out. Sadly, Chris Kattan and his infamous SNL skit of the same name are not included.

For 25 more sites you didn't know you needed but can't live without, look here: (http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/03/30-useful-websites-you-probably-didnt.html)