Use the following resources to learn more about springs and the ins-and-outs of our Spring Seeker program. And if you have any questions about this project, feel free to reach out to our Habitat Conservation Manager Sarah Truebe.
Enter Volunteer Time
Want to Know More About Springs?
- Watch Seeking Sky Island Springs. In this video, you’ll learn how springs bring life to the Sky Island region and what it’ll take to save springs for generations.
- Watch Seeking Springs in the Perimeter of the Bighorn Fire. In this video, we discuss how volunteers can collect info on the health of springs affected by the 2020 Bighorn Fire in Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains.
- Watch Exploring High Elevation Springs at Saguaro National Park. This discussion focuses on the park’s efforts to learn more about high-elevation springs, undocumented springs, rare plants, and where the water comes from.
Confused by the App and Need Help?
- Check out our Spring Seeker Video Training. Our staff will introduce you to our Spring Seeker survey and guide you through the steps of completing it during your next hike.
- Read the in-depth Spring Seeker Field Manual. This resource offers step-by-step instructions on downloading the survey to your smartphone or tablet, completing the survey in the field, and submitting your data to Sky Island Alliance.
Want to Learn More About Plants and Other Projects?
- Download Seek by iNaturalist. This useful app will help you identify woody, wetland, and invasive plant species in the field, even without a cell signal or internet.
- Contribute to iNaturalist: From their website, “Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed.”
Need Tips for Navigating in the Field?
- Check out the classes offered at REI or Summit Hut.
- Explore Avenza PDF Maps Application. This app will help you navigate in the field. You can add maps from the Map Store, then see your location on the maps when outdoors.
- Download Gaia GPS. This app has a free and paid version. Another option to help you navigate in the field. It’s what our staff uses.
- Check out Google Earth Pro. This app can be used to view satellite imagery, including multiple years of photos for the same location.
Planning a Trip to a Wilderness Spring?
- Visit Hike Arizona for trail descriptions, GPS routes, water reports, etc. Our staff uses this extensively when planning trips, especially the Plan > Map page!
- Watch our Wilderness Springs Training.
Looking for Something Geared Toward Kids?
- Check out our Junior Spring Seeker booklet. Reminiscent of Highlights magazine (with fun activities like mazes, crosswords, matching, and coloring), this is a great resource for parents, teachers, and anyone who loves working with kids. Free to download or print. We also have a few hundred hard copies that we can share. If interested, contact Sarah Truebe.
