Beginning this weekend, teachers, students, community groups and map lovers, in the US and around the world, will join together to celebrate geography and make maps with OpenStreetMap, the free and openly editable map of the world.
OpenStreetMap Geography Awareness Week - a collaboration between OpenStreetMap US, National Geographic, MapGive, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, and Missing Maps - takes place November 16-22 (with a few early bird Mapathons November Saturday 15, because when you’ve got the urge to make a map, it’s tough to wait an extra 24 hours!) This year’s Geography Awareness Week theme is ‘The Future of Food’ and participants will be mapping everything from local food resources such as food banks and community gardens to farmlands and orchards in the countries affected by the recent Ebola virus outbreak.
So how do you get involved?
If you’re in the Washington, DC area, make sure to come to the flagship OpenStreetMap mapping party on Friday, November 21st, hosted by National Geographic, and help put food resources on the map.
Not near DC? No problem! You can find an event near you or you can plan your own event using the OpenStreetMap GeoWeek Event Planning Guide.
There will be a lot going on next week, so check back at osmgeoweek.org frequently and follow all the happenings on twitter using the hashtag #osmgeoweek.
If this month will be your first time contributing to OSM, welcome and happy mapping! And if are an experienced OSM contributor, remember that mapathons and events are a great way to get friends and neighbors involved in mapping. Invite new people, offer assistance as needed, and let’s grow our community and our map at the same time.
