activities · 21
what they do
direct service · 14
- Community Cleanup Events Community Litter and Waste CleanupsOrganizes and participates in community cleanup events to remove litter and trash from the White Tank Mountain Regional Park and surrounding areas, such as the community cleanup event that removed over 1,000 pounds of litter and Earth Day Clean Ups.
- Community Cleanup Events Community Litter and Waste CleanupsOrganizes and participates in community cleanup events to remove litter and trash from the White Tank Mountain Regional Park and surrounding areas, such as a community cleanup that removed over 1,000 pounds of litter and Earth Day cleanups.
- Community Engagement Events Public Environmental Events & OutreachHosts community engagement events such as the White Tank Wild Day, which involves hundreds of community members in conservation activities, and field trips for elementary school students to Skyline Park.
- Community Engagement and Events Public Environmental Events & OutreachHosts and supports community events and presentations, such as the White Tank Wild Day event and field trips for elementary school students, to engage the public in conservation activities and provide guided hikes with Park Rangers.
- Conducts native seed collection for habitat restoration Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementCollects seeds from native plants including Brittlebush, Triangle-leaf Bursage, Desert Senna, and Palmers Indian mallow to support the restoration of areas affected by fire.
- Distributes educational resources about the White Tank MountainsDevelops and provides educational materials such as a field guide, articles, and online links to increase public knowledge of the White Tank Mountains region.
- Environmental Education Programs Guided Environmental Field TripsOffers a variety of educational programs, including a speaker series, Leave No Trace initiatives, articles, and a field guide, to inform the public about the White Tank Mountains and responsible outdoor recreation. This includes educating visitors about invasive plant species and the Connectivity Initiative.
- Habitat Restoration and MaintenanceConducts activities to restore and maintain the natural environment of the White Tank Mountains, including collecting native plant seeds for fire-affected areas, eliminating invasive plant species through the "Desert Defenders" program to reduce wildfire risk, and maintaining over 80 miles of trails in the Sonoran Desert.
- Hosts conservation engagement events like White Tank Wild Day Public Environmental Events & OutreachPlans and hosts large-scale community events such as White Tank Wild Day, which engaged hundreds of participants in conservation activities.
- Hosts educational programming including speaker series and guided hikes Guided Environmental Field TripsOrganizes a speaker series, guided hikes, and community presentations as part of its educational outreach. Also hosts field trips for school groups, such as a 2023 visit by Buckeye Elementary School District students.
- Maintains trails in the Sonoran Desert Single-Track Trail Development & MaintenanceMaintains over 80 miles of approved trails in the Sonoran Desert, supported by volunteer Trail Stewards who assist with clean-up and report maintenance issues.
- Organizes community cleanup and litter removal events Community Litter and Waste CleanupsHosts regular litter pick-up and cleanup events, including an Earth Day Clean Up that removed over 35 pounds of trash and a community event that removed more than 1,000 pounds of litter from White Tank Mountain Regional Park.
- Provides environmental education on Leave No Trace and invasive species Guided Environmental Field TripsDelivers Leave No Trace education programs and informs visitors about invasive plant species and their impact on the ecosystem, including through outreach during events and volunteer activities.
- Removes invasive plant species through Desert Defenders programOrganizes the "Desert Defenders" volunteer program to remove invasive plant species in the White Tank Mountains, aiming to reduce wildfire risk and protect native ecosystems.
advocacy · 3
- Connectivity Initiative Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionImplements and advocates for the White Tank Mountains Regional Connectivity Initiative to support ecological and recreational connectivity and conservation in the White Tank Mountains region.
- Implements the Connectivity Initiative for regional conservation Land Stewardship Education & Field EngagementLaunched and supports the White Tank Mountains Regional Connectivity Initiative to promote ecological and recreational connectivity across the region, including public education and planning efforts.
- White Tank Mountains Regional Connectivity Initiative Land Stewardship Education & Field EngagementImplements and advocates for the Connectivity Initiative, launched in 2016, to support ecological and recreational connectivity and conservation in the White Tank Mountains region.
research · 1
- Conducted archeological research in the White Tank MountainsCompleted an archeology study in 1965 that identified 11 prehistoric Hohokam sites in the park dating from 500 to 1100 A.D.
capacity building · 3
- Supports volunteer coordination and organizational operationsCoordinates volunteers using Volgistics software and email systems, and provides IT, AV, website, and social media management support to sustain organizational functions.
- Volunteer Coordination and Support Volunteer Mobilization & ManagementCoordinates volunteers, including Trail Stewards who enhance hiker experiences and assist with trail clean-up, and provides support for various organizational activities such as website management, social media, IT, and AV.
- Volunteer Coordination and Support Volunteer Mobilization & ManagementCoordinates volunteers, including Trail Stewards who enhance hiker experiences and assist with trail clean-up, and provides support for various organizational activities such as website and social media management, IT/AV support, and assisting Park Rangers with guided hikes and program presentations.
strategies · 23
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advancing Regional Landscape Connectivity regional_connectivityThe organization works to advance regional landscape connectivity as a core strategy to conserve and protect the White Tank Mountains ecosystem and its wildlife.
- Advancing Regional Landscape Connectivity regional_connectivityThe organization strategically works to advance regional landscape connectivity to ensure the long-term conservation and protection of the White Tank Mountains ecosystem, facilitating wildlife movement and genetic exchange.
- Collaborative Conservation for Balanced Development collaborative_conservationThe organization employs a collaborative approach, bringing together conservationists, developers, and cities to balance environmental concerns with development and protect the co-existence of humans and wildlife.
- Collaborative Conservation for Balanced Development collaborative conservationThe conservancy brings together diverse stakeholders, including conservationists, developers, and cities, to balance environmental concerns with development pressures, aiming for the co-existence of humans and wildlife populations.
- Collaborative conservation across stakeholder groups collaborative_conservationBrings together conservationists, developers, and cities to balance environmental protection with regional development, using collaboration as a core strategy to achieve durable conservation outcomes.
- Education-based public engagement for conservation education-based_engagementUses educational programming and community outreach as a core method to engage the public in conservation, with a focus on wildfire prevention and invasive species awareness to foster stewardship and reduce ecological risks.
- Interpreting Indigenous Land Use and Cultural Heritage cultural_interpretationThe organization interprets archaeological evidence to understand prehistoric land use, including subsistence practices and cultural expression, and recognizes and documents the historical presence and seasonal land use patterns of nomadic Indigenous groups.
- Invasive Species Management for Ecosystem Health and Wildfire Prevention invasive_species_managementThe conservancy actively locates, maps, and removes invasive plant species to prevent hazardous wildfire risks and restore the ecological balance of the White Tank Mountains ecosystem.
- Invasive Species Management for Wildfire Prevention invasive_species_managementThe organization actively locates, maps, and removes invasive plant species to prevent hazardous wildfire risks and protect the ecosystem.
- Invasive species management to reduce wildfire risk invasive_species_managementProactively locates, maps, and removes invasive plant species to mitigate hazardous wildfire conditions, recognizing invasive flora as a key threat to ecosystem and community safety.
- Leave No Trace and low-impact recreation leave_no_traceApplies Leave No Trace principles to minimize human impact on natural areas, promoting responsible public use of the White Tank Mountains as a strategy for long-term conservation.
- Minimizing Human Impact through Leave No Trace Principles leave_no_traceThe organization employs Leave No Trace principles to guide visitor behavior and minimize the environmental impact of human activities on natural areas.
- Minimizing Human Impact through Leave No Trace Principles leave_no_traceThe organization employs Leave No Trace principles as a foundational strategy to guide visitor behavior and minimize the ecological footprint of human activities within natural areas, ensuring the preservation of the environment.
- Promoting Conservation through Visual Engagement visual_engagementThe organization utilizes photography as a tool to showcase the beauty and importance of the White Tank Mountains, thereby promoting their conservation.
- Providing Public Access to Outdoor Recreation outdoor_recreation_accessThe organization provides public access to outdoor recreation through a network of trails, allowing people to experience and appreciate the biologically diverse desert ecosystem.
- Public Education and Engagement for Conservation education-based engagementThe conservancy uses educational programming and community outreach to engage the public, promote conservation principles, and raise awareness about specific environmental threats like invasive species and wildfire risk, thereby fostering a conservation ethic and reducing human impact.
- Public Engagement and Education for Conservation education-based_engagementThe organization uses educational programming and community outreach to engage the public, promote conservation, and raise awareness about environmental issues like wildfire risk from invasive species.
- Public access to outdoor recreation in desert ecosystems outdoor_recreation_accessProvides and maintains trail access for outdoor recreation as a means to connect the public with a biologically diverse desert environment, fostering conservation through experiential engagement.
- Regional landscape connectivity for ecosystem conservation regional_connectivityAdvances regional landscape connectivity to protect wildlife habitat and ensure ecological resilience, supporting long-term conservation of the White Tank Mountains ecosystem.
- Visual storytelling to promote mountain stewardship visual_engagementUses photography and visual media to showcase the natural beauty of the White Tank Mountains, increasing public appreciation and support for conservation efforts.
- Volunteer Engagement for Conservation Stewardship volunteer engagementThe organization relies on community volunteers as a core mechanism to protect the plants, animals, and cultural heritage of the White Tank Mountains, leveraging local involvement for stewardship and conservation efforts.
- Volunteer Engagement for Resource Protection volunteer_engagementThe organization relies on community volunteers as a key mechanism to protect the plants, animals, and cultural heritage of the White Tank Mountains.
- Volunteer-powered conservation stewardship volunteer_engagementRelies on community volunteers to actively protect native plants, animals, and cultural heritage, leveraging local engagement as a force multiplier for conservation work.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Desert Defenders
Volunteer initiative focused on locating, mapping, and removing invasive plant species to reduce wildfire risk and restore native vegetation in the White Tank Mountains
Regional Connectivity Initiative
Effort to maintain and restore natural wildlife corridors across the White Tank Mountains to support animal migration, forage, and genetic diversity amid urban development
Trail Steward Program
Volunteer program where community members assist with trail clean-up, enhance hiker experiences, and report trail issues to park management
White Tank Wild Day
Annual giving campaign and community event held on Earth Day to raise funds for conservation, promote awareness, and engage supporters in protecting the White Tank Mountains
relationships · 36
who they work with
- APS/Palo Verde Funder — APS/Palo Verde is a Corporate Charter Donor.
- AZ Parks & Recreation Association Partner — Honored Steve Rugh, WTMC Field Service Team Lead, as Volunteer of the Year.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department Partner — Partnered with WTMC on the White Tank Mountains Regional Connectivity Initiative.
- Arizona Public Service Partner — Sabrina Ireland, Director of Supply Chain for Arizona Public Service, serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Arizona State University Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions Partner — Dale Larsen, Professor of Practice, Honor’s Faculty & Director of Community Relations at Arizona State University Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions, serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Arizona Strategies Partner — Andy Kunasek of Arizona Strategies serves on the Conservancy's Advisory Council.
- Buckeye Elementary School District Partner — Students visited Skyline Park as part of a field trip.
- City of Buckeye Government — Clay Goodman, Buckeye City Council Member, serves on the Conservancy's board. The City of Buckeye is also a Municipal Charter Donor.
- City of Goodyear Funder — The City of Goodyear is a Municipal Charter Donor.
- City of Peoria Funder — The City of Peoria is a Municipal Charter Donor.
- City of Surprise Government — Council member Chris Judd serves as Chair of the Conservancy's board.
- Coast and Geodetic Survey Government — Collaborated on establishing survey stations in the White Tank Mountains in 1910 as part of a national mapping effort.
- Cohere Life, Inc. Partner — Todd Hornback, Partner & Chief Advancement Officer for Cohere Life, Inc., serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Cox YurView Partner — Featured the Conservancy in a "Doing More" episode celebrating Earth Month.
- D.R. Horton Funder — D.R. Horton is a Corporate Charter Donor.
- DMB Associates, Inc Funder — DMB Associates, Inc is a Corporate Charter Donor.
- EPCOR Funder — EPCOR is a Corporate Charter Donor.
- EPCOR Partner — Sponsored an Earth Day Clean Up where trash was removed from the park.
- Fox 10 News Partner — Covered White Tank Wild Day 2025 and Earth Day at White Tank Mountain Regional Park.
- Friends of White Tank Park Partner — Jane Fricke, President of Friends of White Tank Park, serves on the Conservancy's Advisory Council.
- GCC Partner — Manny Mungaray, Market Sales Manager for GCC, serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Howard Hughes Funder — Provided a matching pledge for the annual giving day campaign.
- Howard Hughes Partner — Charley Freericks, President Phoenix Region for Howard Hughes, serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Howard Hughes Corporation Partner — Collaborated with WTMC to raise funds for the first White Tank Wild Day event.
- Jeff Caler State Farm Insurance Agency Partner — Jeff Caler, owner of Jeff Caler State Farm Insurance Agency, serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Kat & Bud Consulting, LLC Partner — Kathryn S. Tracy, owner of Kat & Bud Consulting, LLC, serves as Treasurer on the Conservancy's board.
- Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Partner — Provided information on Maricopa Trail history.
- Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department Partner — Collaborates with the conservancy on native seed collection for landscape restoration.
- Mission of Mercy AZ Partner — Kristi Geiger, Director of Development for Mission of Mercy AZ, serves on the Conservancy's board.
- Neal Summerton Partner — Photographer whose work is featured in the conservancy's photo gallery.
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