Utah HerpSearch
A Utah HerpSearch volunteer takes water quality measurements while conducting a habitat survey. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Season: Spring-Fall
What: Volunteers collect observations of amphibians and reptiles and submit them through iNaturalist. Expert and amateur “herpers” can use the Choose Your Own Adventure map to survey for species of interest.
Volunteer Commitment: Attending our training is required. Schedule is flexible and varies depending on individual interest. Volunteers may visit recommended sites as desired.
Boreal Toad Project
Katie Figueroa, one of our Volunteers of the Month, examines a boreal toad at Strawberry Reservoir. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Season: Spring-Fall
What: Volunteers collect information about boreal toads in all life stages, along with habitat data. This supports conservation planning for these toads and amphibians across Utah.
Volunteer Commitment: Taking our training is required. Sites are outdoors and vary in accessibility and time requirement. You may visit sites as many times as you wish over the summer, either for independent surveys or on a field trip with a scientist and other volunteers.
Riverscape Restoration
Volunteers Karen Valcarce and Calen Smith build a stream restoration structure at Branch Creek in Utah. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Season: Summer-Fall
What: Volunteers work on restoration projects along riverscapes in need of a boost to improve water quality and create wildlife habitat.
Volunteer Commitment: No training before the selected volunteer date is necessary. Volunteers sign up for individual volunteer days and meet a team to build beaver restoration structures and/or plant native plants. Sites are outdoors and vary in accessibility.
Shorebird Survey
Esther Sumner, one of our Volunteers of the Month, surveys Lee Creek for shorebirds. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Season: One survey date in the Spring and one in the Fall
What: Volunteers survey sites for shorebirds across Great Salt Lake, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Utah Lake, and the Amalga Barrens Sanctuary. This supports shorebird and habitat conservation.
Volunteer Commitment: Taking our training is required to gain the ability to identify shorebirds by sight. Volunteers must also attend one day-long project in wet, uneven areas in the field.
Utah Pollinator Pursuit
A Utah Pollinator Pursuit volunteer documents pollinators and habitat. Photo by Sierra Hastings.
Season: Spring-Fall
What: Volunteers collect data on Utah’s pollinators, providing valuable information that informs conservation efforts and habitat restoration. Volunteers may also participate in planting days to benefit pollinators and other wildlife.
Volunteer Commitment: Taking our training is required. The project can be done from a backyard or neighborhood or by visiting specific outdoor sites that vary in accessibility. Commitment varies according to volunteer interest (season-long or occasional).
Wildlife Watch
Volunteer Brandan Ngo installs a trail camera. Photo by Sarah Woodbury.
Season: Year-round for image analysis volunteers. Late spring to fall for field volunteers (selected in the spring).
What: Volunteers set up trail cameras in the Wasatch Mountains and/or analyze wildlife image data from this region. This supports wildlife movement and conservation.
Commitment: Taking our training is required. Volunteers can choose to engage by analyzing photos from a computer or getting outdoors to complete fieldwork of varying intensity and accessibility.