The AZ Native Plant Society Tonto Basin Chapter invites anyone interested in learning about native plants in Gila County to join us for chapter meetings, botany walks, and conservation activities.
Our chapter meets on the first Friday of each month, October through May, and includes guest speakers, botany walks, and field trips. Please join our email list at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com to receive up-to-date information and meeting reminders. You can also visit our Facebook and Instagram accounts for additional information If you don’t want to miss out on our Chapter’s activities, please email your contact info to tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com. We would love to have you join us!
Locations, dates and times will be posted on our Facebook (https://tinyurl.com/27eb2hj3) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/aznpstontobasin/) accounts.
Our chapter is looking for volunteers to help with botany walks, community service events and social media. If you would like to help, please contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com.
Volunteer Opportunities
YOU can be a citizen scientist and help monitor the health of saguaros. The Tonto Basin Chapter is monitoring saguaros in the Tonto Basin and Lake Roosevelt areas. If you would like to help collect data, please go to Saguaro Monitoring – Friends of the Tonto National Forest and submit the Interest Form. Upon completing a 1 1/2 hour YouTube training session in the comfort of your home, we will take you to the monitoring sites for in-field training. All data is collected on the ARCgis Field
Maps App and a smartphone is required. Ten acre grids are available for adoption and are easily accessible. This is a fun project for the whole family!
NEW! Beginning in March 2025, the Tonto Basin Chapter, in collaboration with the Friends of the Tonto National Forest, will be kicking off the “Tonto Basin Stinknet Patrol.” For volunteer opportunities, please visit Friends of the Tonto National Forest Volunteer on the Tonto! for more information.
Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/aznpstontobasin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087102266655
| Name | Role | Contact |
| Becky Settje | President | tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com |
| Teri Balaska | Vice President | |
| Eric Sjoden | Lead Botanist |
Want to get involved? We've got just the thing!
Contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com for more info!
Posted on Sep 03, 2024
Friday, November 1, 10:00 – 11:30 AM:
Kenda Svoboda. Grasses of the Mazatzal Foothills
Kenda Svoboda from the Payson Forest Service will lead us in a grass walk at the Deer Creek Trailhead
located at the intersection of Highway 87 and Highway 188, south of Rye. Bring your hand lens, if you have one, and have fun learning how to ID grasses in the field.
Posted on Dec 01, 2023
Friday, December 1, 10:00 – 12:00 PM
Exploring the Foothills of the Four Peaks Wilderness at Rock Creek Trailhead located on Forest
Service Road 445 & Highway 188. This botany walk will highlight keystone species in the riparian areas of
the Tonto National Forest.
Posted on Aug 24, 2023
We will kick off the fall season with a Meet & Greet Social on
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin.
Regular Chapter meetings will resume in October. Locations, dates and times will be posted on our
Facebook (https://tinyurl.com/27eb2hj3) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/aznpstontobasin/) accounts.
First Friday Field Trips will begin October 6 and be held monthly thru May at various locations in Gila County.
Details and updates for all our chapter meetings, First Friday Field Trips, and special events will be posted
on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. If you don’t want to miss out on our Chapter’s activities, please
email your contact info to tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com. We would love to have you join us!
Our chapter is looking for volunteers to help with botany walks, community service events and social
media. If you would like to help, please contact us at tontobasinnativeplants@gmail.com.
Calendar of Events
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: In the Garden Meet & Greet
Social at 268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Bring your coffee or tea and enjoy the company of other plant loving folks while we have fun identifying
native plants in a six-acre garden.
Friday, October 6, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Plant Families Botany Walk, Payson, AZ (exact location TBD )
Saturday, October 28, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Nighttime Pollinators & Full Moon Walk,
268 E. Stephens Way, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Friday, November 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 PM: First Friday Field Trip, Tonto National Monument
Saturday, November 18, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Botany 101, Tonto Basin Chamber of Commerce, 45675 N. Highway 188, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Friday, December 1, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Exploring the Foothills of The Four Peaks Wilderness
See what your chapter has been up to!
