Create Tools
Overview
OuterSpatial Mobile includes tools that make it easy to share your outdoor experiences with the community. You can create check-ins, posts, reports, and reviews — all tied to specific locations like areas, trails, points of interest, or outings.
Your contributions help other visitors discover great places, stay informed about current conditions, and make the most of their time outdoors.
Accessing Create Tools
You can access create tools from two places in the app:
The create button on the main tab bar — Use this to create content from anywhere in the app
The floating create button — This appears in the bottom-right corner of location screens (areas, trails, points of interest, and outings)
Tapping either button displays the actions available in your current context. At minimum, you'll see options for Check-in, Post, Review, and Report. If you're viewing a location that's part of an active challenge, you may see additional actions specific to that challenge.
Types of Content You Can Create
Check-Ins
Check-ins let you record that you visited a location. They're a quick way to track your outdoor adventures and share them with others.
Some check-ins require location validation, meaning you need to be physically present at the location to create them. See Location Validation for details.
Posts
Posts let you share photos, updates, or information about a location. Use posts to share wildlife sightings, scenic views, or anything else others might find helpful.
When creating a post, you can add photos and write a description.
Reviews
Reviews let you rate and describe your experience at a location. Your reviews help other visitors decide where to go and what to expect.
Reports
Reports let you share conditions, incidents, and hazards at a location. They're useful for both the organizations that manage locations and other visitors planning their trips.
Use reports to share:
Conditions — Current trail or facility status, crowdedness, or icy/muddy/snowy conditions
Incidents — Events that occurred at a location, such as accidents, wildlife encounters, or emergency situations
Hazards — Safety concerns like fallen trees, damaged infrastructure, washed-out trails, or other obstacles
Reports help steward organizations stay informed about what's happening on the ground so they can respond appropriately. They also help other visitors know what to expect before heading out.
Visibility Settings
When creating a post, you can choose who sees it:
Public (default) — Visible to all OuterSpatial users
Private — Only you can see it
Organizations Only — Shared only with the organization stewards who manage the location, not other visitors
To change visibility, tap the visibility text underneath your name on the create screen.
Location Validation
Some create actions — like check-ins — may require you to be physically near the location when creating them. This helps ensure that contributions reflect genuine, on-the-ground experiences.
For location-validated content:
Grant the app access to your device's location when prompted
Be within close proximity of the location you're checking in to
Check-ins that are location-validated display with a validation checkmark throughout OuterSpatial, distinguishing them from check-ins created without validation.
Overriding Location Validation
In some cases, particularly for check-ins associated with challenges, the app may let you override location validation. This is useful when your phone's GPS isn't accurately detecting your position even though you're physically at the location.
When you use an override:
Your post will be flagged to indicate the location wasn't validated by GPS
Organization staff may review the submission to confirm it's a valid check-in
Creating Content for Challenges
If you're completing a challenge task — like checking in to a park that's part of an active challenge — make sure to select the challenge when creating your post.
On the create screen, look for the option to associate your post with an active challenge and select the appropriate one. This ensures your completion is tracked and you receive credit toward the challenge.