There's a new trend rising across the country, where local citizens are called upon to help in scientific efforts. These "citizen scientists" can work as observers, data collectors and more in efforts to gather information concerning a number of issues.

The Cascade Forest Conservancy is leading volunteer trips to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Lewis County, Wash. The aim of those trips this summer and fall is to collect field data for conservation projects and to carry out habitat restoration projects.

The citizen scientist trips provide a chance for the public to gather information about wildlife, forests and streams, and to strengthen the voice of conservation on public lands, according to the group. The restoration trips will also connect local community members to large-scale conservation projects occurring in the national forest.

The projects will include activities such as wildlife camera surveys to monitor habitat use of carnivores; surveys to investigate effects of forest roads on aquatic health; timber sale surveys to improve the group's work with timber harvest projects; beaver habitat surveys to identify distributions and reintroduction needs; huckleberry monitoring to gauge the effects of forest thinning on restoration; and riparian planting to improve aquatic habitat in the streams of the Cascade Range.

The conservancy also works with local schools to offer stewardship opportunities to high school students in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.

In a release about this year's programs, Shiloh Halsey, conservation science director with the conservancy, and trip leader for many trips, said the trips "offer a unique opportunity to get involved with conservation and to be part of broader scientific projects. Last year, we brought volunteers out to the Mount Adams to locate old-growth ponderosa pine trees and identify priority areas for protection and restoration. It was a fun trip for folks, and their work was used to improve the upcoming forest thinning project."

Interested in joining the effort? No prior experience is needed. The group has a GPS Project Video on its website, and also provides information on upcoming trip dates. Learn more at cascadeforest.org/get-involved.

Source: Cascade Forest Conservancy