CALIFORNIA BIODIVERSITY

VOLUNTEER HOMEPAGE

Welcome, Adventurers!

Thank you for being a part of this project, California needs our help and we are grateful to have you as part of this mission. We can’t wait to have you out on your adventures with science as your companion!

Check out the steps below to ensure you have completed everything you need to be successful

Training

Looking for the Insect Collection training? Email biodiversity@adventurescientists.org for info!

Digital Protocol Book

Trip Planning: Where will you go?

There are two options for selecting a location to collect soil samples for this project.

Public Lands: Use the map to assess a location where you would like to collect data. Permits are required to collect data samples for this project, therefore you may only select an area that is highlighted in the map. Based on your selection, the appropriate permit for this land will be provided to you with your gear shipment.
Private lands: You may sample on private, undisturbed lands with permission from the owner. What is undisturbed land, you might ask? Any land that is 20ft or more away from a road, 20ft+ away from a compacted trail, and not agricultural land (nothing sprayed with pesticides). For example: land 20 ft away from a farm or vineyard is perfectly acceptable!

Please note that gear shipment takes approximately 1 week, so you will need to make sure to choose with enough lead time for your gear to arrive

Gear Provided by Adventure Scientists

Soil Kit Request

Support

You are all set to go out and collect samples! Do you have any questions or need assistance? We have resources available to help.

Check out our FAQ below for common questions
Reach out to us at biodiversity@adventurescientists.org
OR Schedule a time slot during our office hours!

Once you’re back from the field and you’ve collected observations and data, make sure to: submit your samples via post, and check your outbox for any unsent data records!

FAQs

Why are we pausing insect collections?

Please note as of February 2025, we are pausing insect collection to update our training protocols which will ensure high quality data collection. We will let you know as soon as we resume this part of the project. In the meantime, we would love for you to continue with this project by collecting soil samples.

Where do I go to collect samples?

Great question! Visit Step One to determine potential sampling locations. If you are still struggling to identify a location, please reach out to biodiversity@adventurescientists.org!

When will a permitted area for sample collection be available in my region?

Obtaining permits takes time! Please know we are actively working on additional permits, and cannot provide a timeline of when one will be available. Keep checking the map for the most accurate updates of available permitted land.

What do I do with my samples after I collect them?

Like mentioned in the training, please ship your samples within 24 hours of collection. If you are unable to do so:

Store your soil samples in a refrigerator (but NOT a freezer). Ship samples within two weeks of collection. Note that the sample’s eDNA degrades over time.

Can I go into the field alone to collect data?

You are free to submit an application solo, but we highly encourage you to always bring one other person with you into the field for safety reasons.

Can I train my friends to collect data?

No, Adventure Scientists is solely responsible for the training of each of our volunteers. Your friends may help you take a GPS point or photos, but if they want to be more involved in sample collection, they’ll need to be trained. The training ensures that volunteers are capable of collecting top notch surveys.

When will I receive the gear and supplies?

Once you fill out the Request Gear Form in Step 2, you will be shipped a gear kit. Gear usually arrives within a week.

Any other questions?

Please email biodiversity@adventurescientists.org

Field Season Updates

January 2025

Hello amazing volunteers,

Happy new year! We’re reaching out to give some quick updates about sample collections and procedures.

1. If you’re in the LA area, please stay safe amidst the fires and adjust your plans as needed.
2. For shipping, send only completed samples: insect samples to the LA Natural History Museum and soil samples to UC Santa Cruz. Insect vials should be relatively full (see the attached photo for reference) and caps screwed on tightly to avoid spills.

3. When you’ve completed your sampling, please return equipment and unused vials to Adventure Scientists: 214 E Mendenhall St. STE 203, Bozeman MT, 59715
4. If you’re in snowy areas, feel free to pause collections until spring or focus on lower elevations. Data collection runs through August, so there’s plenty of time to contribute!
5. Remember we can collect samples on private land with permission (from you, family, or friends). Sites should be at least 20 feet from roads, free of pesticide use, and undisturbed from human activity.
6. Lastly, if sampling on southern California BLM land, use extreme caution due to unexploded ordnance from WWII. These are very rare but the BLM Field Office said they still exist.

Thank you for your continued dedication! Let me know if you have any questions.