Northwest Volunteer Days
March 15, 2008Friends of the Forest Days are volunteer events that invite families and corporate sponsors to take care of our outdoor treasures, our local National Forests.
Volunteers roll up their sleeves and get dirty to improve trails and campsites, and restore streams. Each event includes lunch served onsite, as well as education about the Forest. Local corporations help to make these events possible.
Individuals and families volunteer to care for our environment, to connect with nature, and to share conservation values with the younger generation.
Most of these half-day events are suitable for all ages--from kids to grandparents! It's a great opportunity to help keep our forests healthy while having fun with fellow community members!
May 10, 2008: Ape Cave Lava Tube, Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Help improve the cave trail and adjacent picnic grounds in preparation for summer visitors to the longest lava tube in the United States.
May 17, 2008: Dodge Park , Mt. Hood National Forest: Remove invasive English Ivy vines that threaten trees and sensitive salmon spawning areas at this historic park, located at the confluence of the Bull Run and Sandy Rivers.
June 7, 2008: Multnomah Falls, Columbia Gorge: Fix trail erosion problems at one of the most visited sites in Oregon. Install low post and rail fence to protect restoration area and increase safety for summer visitors.
June 28, 2008: Sandy River Delta, Columbia Gorge: Build a new section of trail through a riparian forest and meadow to the site of a bird-watching platform at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia Rivers.
July 26, 2008: Gold Creek Pond, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: Restore mile-long nature trail that circles Gold Creek Pond, repair picnic tables and build bird nesting boxes to support prevalent local bird population.
October 8, 2008: Sandy River Delta, Columbia Gorge: Build a new section of trail through a riparian forest and meadow to the site of a bird-watching platform at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia Rivers.
October 11: Gold Creek Pond, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: Restore mile-long nature trail that circles Gold Creek Pond, repair picnic tables and build bird nesting boxes to support prevalent local bird population.
August 2-3, 2008: Mount St. Helens Trails, Gifford Pinchot National Forest: On the first day of this 2-day event, volunteers will repair trails near the Coldwater Visitor Center and Johnson Ridge Observatory. Following an optional overnight campout, work parties will focus on invasive species removal.
August 10, 2008: Timberline Lodge Trails, Mt. Hood National Forest: Volunteers will refinish seating in the Timberline Amphitheater and repair trails that lead from the lodge to the 40-mile Timberline Trail.
September 20-21, 2008: Metolius River, Deschutes National Forest: Improve and enhance trails on both sides of the Metolius River. Due to last year’s high demand, a campout option will enable volunteers to continue work the following day.
October 4, 2008: Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood National Forest: Harvest native seed from the summertime slopes which will later be used to restore native plant populations to Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area.
November 1, 2008: Archer Creek/Good Bear, Columbia River Gorge: Plant native hardwood trees along the banks of a salmon spawning area that will help preserve and restore valuable habitat for use by native Coho and other species.
If you have volunteered for any of these events before, tell us about it below!
Volunteers roll up their sleeves and get dirty to improve trails and campsites, and restore streams. Each event includes lunch served onsite, as well as education about the Forest. Local corporations help to make these events possible.
Individuals and families volunteer to care for our environment, to connect with nature, and to share conservation values with the younger generation.
Most of these half-day events are suitable for all ages--from kids to grandparents! It's a great opportunity to help keep our forests healthy while having fun with fellow community members!
Volunteer Opportunities
After widespread success of last year’s Friends of the Forest Days, we have added more dates and offered some overnight camping options to our 2008 schedule. In the Northwest, there are currently twelve public events that will take place this year.May 10, 2008: Ape Cave Lava Tube, Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Help improve the cave trail and adjacent picnic grounds in preparation for summer visitors to the longest lava tube in the United States.
May 17, 2008: Dodge Park , Mt. Hood National Forest: Remove invasive English Ivy vines that threaten trees and sensitive salmon spawning areas at this historic park, located at the confluence of the Bull Run and Sandy Rivers.
June 7, 2008: Multnomah Falls, Columbia Gorge: Fix trail erosion problems at one of the most visited sites in Oregon. Install low post and rail fence to protect restoration area and increase safety for summer visitors.
June 28, 2008: Sandy River Delta, Columbia Gorge: Build a new section of trail through a riparian forest and meadow to the site of a bird-watching platform at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia Rivers.
July 26, 2008: Gold Creek Pond, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: Restore mile-long nature trail that circles Gold Creek Pond, repair picnic tables and build bird nesting boxes to support prevalent local bird population.
October 8, 2008: Sandy River Delta, Columbia Gorge: Build a new section of trail through a riparian forest and meadow to the site of a bird-watching platform at the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia Rivers.
October 11: Gold Creek Pond, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: Restore mile-long nature trail that circles Gold Creek Pond, repair picnic tables and build bird nesting boxes to support prevalent local bird population.
August 2-3, 2008: Mount St. Helens Trails, Gifford Pinchot National Forest: On the first day of this 2-day event, volunteers will repair trails near the Coldwater Visitor Center and Johnson Ridge Observatory. Following an optional overnight campout, work parties will focus on invasive species removal.
August 10, 2008: Timberline Lodge Trails, Mt. Hood National Forest: Volunteers will refinish seating in the Timberline Amphitheater and repair trails that lead from the lodge to the 40-mile Timberline Trail.
September 20-21, 2008: Metolius River, Deschutes National Forest: Improve and enhance trails on both sides of the Metolius River. Due to last year’s high demand, a campout option will enable volunteers to continue work the following day.
October 4, 2008: Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood National Forest: Harvest native seed from the summertime slopes which will later be used to restore native plant populations to Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area.
November 1, 2008: Archer Creek/Good Bear, Columbia River Gorge: Plant native hardwood trees along the banks of a salmon spawning area that will help preserve and restore valuable habitat for use by native Coho and other species.
If you have volunteered for any of these events before, tell us about it below!
Visitor Comments
20 March 3:48 | Annie Cole said…
I love the outdoors and everything that our Country Forests has to offer but I live in New Jersey and I don't know where to find forest chepters where I can volunteer, I would love to do my share of keeping our forest going for many years to come.