Local Trainings & Other Programs » Budding Botanists : Spring Stewards
Join our “Budding Botanist” Program
The Plant Atlas of Arizona Project (PAPAZ) is a partnership with the Arizona Native Plant Society, Grand Canyon Trust, Desert Botanical Garden, Forest Service, Northern Arizona University, and Museum of Northern Arizona to document the plant diversity of Arizona by training volunteer botanists to assist on research and collecting excursions. Botanists-in-training learn plant identification, collection, and documentation skills throughout the year in field and classroom settings from regional experts. In turn, they bring high-level technical skills to assist with vegetation monitoring and documentation. We’ve found that this is a win-win situation, by providing a means for interested volunteers to develop and hone a valuable skill set while increasing our capacity for higher-level project implementation work to be achieved by volunteers.
Background and Goals for the Project
A Budding Botanist is an official volunteer of the Arizona Native Plant Society (AZNPS) who has attended an official PAPAZ training session and who collects plant specimens for the PAPAZ. A person does not have to be a formally-trained biologist or botanist to become a Budding Botanist.
The benefits of becoming a Budding Botanist include the following:
- Training on basic plant identification, on the floristics of Arizona, on plant collecting, on data collection, and on herbarium specimen mounting;
- Working alongside regional botanists to learn hands-on; networking with others interested in botany and natural history;
- Opportunities to purchase field equipment at cost;
- Plus the general benefits of all AZNPS members, such as the semi-annual publication, The Plant Press, the quarterly newsletter, Happenings, and invitations to regional monthly talks, plant walks, and conservation and educational activities.
Your Commitment
If you decide that you want to become a Budding Botanist, you will be responsible for the following: 1) attending one mandatory training; 2) reading and following the instructions provided; 3) adopting at least one of the project areas or volunteer trips; 4) becoming a member of the AZNPS—CLICK HERE to access this PDF form; 5) acting as a responsible representative of AZNPS and other partner organizations; 6) contributing to our long-term, overall goal which is to provide the partner herbaria with one voucher plant specimen of each native and naturalized plant species growing within the determined project areas; 7) helping to mount dried and pressed plant specimens; 8) conducting yourself safely and responsibly when doing field work; and 9) keeping track of your volunteer hours on the project. You may occasionally be required to perform strenuous physical activity if you choose to participate in plant collecting.
About the Trips
There are several opportunities to get in the field! From local day trips around Flagstaff to the Kaibab Plateau, Kanab Creek and the House Rock Valley. Visit the Trip Schedule for dates and detailed information about individual trips . Click on the training session you would like to do and hit “apply now.” Remember you MUST complete a training session before signing up for any of the trips associated with the Plant Atlas Project. (There are two training sessions so hopefully one will work with your schedule.) Browse the 2010 projects and sign up for those trips by clicking on the dates and applying online or contacting the coordinating agency directly to reserve your spot.
For more information Before applying read through our Frequently Asked Questions document to help answer questions and familiarize yourself with the projects. We look forward to seeing you!
