RESTORING BUTTERNUT TREES
VOLUNTEER HOMEPAGE
Welcome, Adventurers!
Your Next Steps:
Claim a Zone
Explore the map below to find available butternut ranges included in the study.
Download & Review the Required Field Resources
- Field Manual: your step-by-step guide for collecting data in the field
- TreeSnap app
Start Your Adventure!
Get out there! Feel free to share your adventure stories and photos with us after your trip.
Review Additional Support & Resources
Connect with the team, explore additional trainings, and browse FAQs for extra support.
Project Goals:
The purpose of this project is to conduct a range-wide assessment of butternut trees, focusing on a tree health assessment to support several ongoing breeding and restoration programs for butternut trees. You will search for and identify butternut trees, record their locations, and either collect leaf samples and complete a health assessment or complete a health assessment only. The map below shows known butternut tree locations that you can use to help plan your adventures, along with the limited number of samples available in each zone, as we are aiming to collect data across a wide geographic range and multiple states.
Step 1: Plan Your Trip
To start your first adventure, please only request leaf collection equipment from one zone. Once you mail your first sample, then come back to the map and choose your next location. Remember, without sampling equipment, it is still very helpful if you complete health assessments on butternut trees in the project area.
How to Use the Trip Planning Map:
1.
Select a zone on the map that you’d like to explore. You will notice some areas on the map are grayed out. These locations have already been thoroughly sampled, so please choose a zone that still needs collections if you would like to collect leaf samples. If an area is closed to collections, you can still sign up to collect health assessments, or observational data.
2.
Follow the link to sign-up for your zone and submit a quick trip plan. You’ll notice that trips can only be claimed up to three weeks in advance. If your planned trip date is farther out, check back closer to your adventure date to see if your zone is still available. You will also notice the first week is blocked, please note it will take 1 week for the sampling gear to arrive. Due to permits, we also have to notify many places in advance (even for observations).
3.
Check your email for trip planning resources and information on equipment and permits.
4.
Before your adventure, check the map for peach-colored circles – those are identified butternut trees. Plan to navigate to known trees that have not been assessed in your zone.
Step 2: Download and Review your Field Resources
Step 3: Start Your Adventure!
Once you’ve submitted your trip plan, here’s what happens next:
- If you’re collecting leaf samples, keep an eye out for a confirmation email! Your gear will be on its way shortly.
- If you’re collecting observational data, you’ll receive an email with reminders to download your field manual and Treesnap app, so you’ll be ready to get out and start your adventure.
Additional Resources
Reach out to Adventure Scientists staff with any questions you have!
When you reach out, you’ll be chatting with either Sam, Volunteers Operations Manager, or Ricky, Senior Manager of Data Science, at Adventure Scientists.
Revisit Your Training
Need a refresher? Revisit your training to be confident in the field.
Webinars
FAQs
Once I receive my gear, can I collect samples outside the zone I signed up for?
Please only collect samples within the zone you selected. Because this project focuses on genetic diversity and operates under specific permits, each zone has a limited number of samples that can be collected.
If you need to change your zone, reach out to us at forests@adventurescientists.org. We can help you find another area nearby that still needs data.
What resources should I use to plan my trip?
There are several helpful tools we recommend for planning your trip:
- AllTrails or Gaia GPS for finding routes, trail access, and difficulty levels
- Trip Planning Map on this Volunteer Resource Page to see if there was a recorded Butternut tree in the zone you signed up for
- Local National Forest or land management websites for updates on road conditions, closures, and access restrictions
We recommend checking conditions before heading out to ensure a safe and smooth trip.
I signed up for an area but didn’t receive any gear. Why?
Great question! We have a limited number of gear kits available for collecting butternut tree samples, so they are distributed to the first volunteers who sign up in each zone.
That said, your role is still incredibly important. Butternut trees are naturally rare and can be difficult to find, so we rely on volunteers to search for and record their locations. Observational data is just as valuable and plays a critical role in supporting restoration efforts.
Any other questions?
Please email forests@adventurescientists.org