Friends of the Tonto National Forest

This is such a rewarding volunteer opportunity. I volunteer on the Riparian Photopoint project. You get to travel somewhere beautiful that is truly off the beaten path AND positively contribute to crowd sourced science! How could it get any better?

Cool people. They care about the area. Very friendly and answer any questions I have.

I have volunteered with this group for several years, mostly with the riparian monitoring project but also with invasive grass removals. The mission of Friends of the Tonto is much larger. When you look at the totality of their work, they study and protect wildlife, native vegetation, cultural resources, water resources, recreational resources, and archeological history. Even better, this group is led by outstanding people with good leadership skills and even bigger hearts. One thing is certain. When you come out to help with any of the interesting projects, you will have fun, you'll make new friends, and you'll know you're making a real difference in protecting and improving our amazing Arizona lands.

These projects: Grow native milkweed at your home using a grow-kit provided by the Friends Get together with other growers to plant at designated sites on the Tonto every November Help the plants establish by signing up to water Learn how to monitor the milkweed to see if monarch butterflies are actually using it! Work with a group to remove invasive grasses from a weed-free zone in the Superstitions Learn how to use gps map apps Learn how to identify invasive plants Do archaeological survey with a retired Forest Service archaeologist! Use your smart phone to help photograph over 900 riparian sites every spring! So many interesting things to do and learn! Nice for families, or as a way to meet other outdoor folks.

Friends of the Tonto is a great organization to volunteer with. The work that they do in the Forest is really impactful, and I feel like I am contributing to protecting this beautiful place. I've done the Riparian Photopoint project for 3 years and it is something I look forward to each year as it gives me an opportunity to explore new places in the Tonto. I also volunteer to help with administrative and operations. This is an all-volunteer group, and everyone is welcoming and delightful to work with. Safety is prioritized in all projects. There are plenty of opportunities to choose from - truly something for everyone who enjoys the Forest!