WEEK 6: Smith Rock

DONATE $50 OR MORE AND YOU WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN ONE OF 5 Pairs of Danner boots of your choosing.

We have a special relationship brewing with Danner & 10 Barrel Brewing to announce in early 2022, but until that time both partners have committed $2500 to matching every donation you give $1 for $1 up to $5000. 

DONATE

There’s more than one way to win! Volunteer at any of our events this week (12/6-12/12) and you’ll also be entered to win!

Volunteer with TKO

Think local, act statewide.

Make no mistake, TKO is growing. Short of 5 years since hiring our first staff person in 2017, TKO now has 8 staff with regional hubs in Portland, the Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood, and both the northern (Manzanita) & southern (Coos Bay) Oregon Coast. Balancing a steady interest of strategic and opportunistic investments across different funding mechanisms and community support, our expansion is going where we see we can make a difference in support of hiking trails.  

Smith Rock State Park is one of several reach projects and regions that we hope to grow into thoughtfully, making sure to complement what local groups have been doing for years with our value added, where needed. Communities that are eager for our introduction to advocacy and stewardship support can only occur by you speaking up and becoming active to bring to our attention the needs of the trail systems in your area of Oregon. Often times this starts with a community member reaching out to TKO to become a local legend to lead ambassador activities and trail parties, bridging our TKO leadership team to build relationships with local, state and federal land managers with our history of service elsewhere in the state.

I want to support trails in Oregon

BY THE NUMBERS:

OREGON STATE PARKS

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Feet of Trails Improved

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Stewardship Events

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Volunteer Participants

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In Kind Value of Volunteer Time

SMITH ROCK STATE PARK

AN OREGON WONDER EXPOSED

The 7 Wonders of Oregon was a tourism campaign that highlighted a number of Oregon’s most special places and regions. Without knowing it, the campaign revealed an international audience that flocked to these places without the land managers being prepared for the sudden uptick in visitor use. Smith Rock had 2 year round staff at the time and a small seasonal maintenance budget. Oregon State Parks staff were forced to put their heads down and focus on the basics – restrooms and visitor compliance (rule enforcement, such as day use fees and parking). THe small park took a beating from all the intrigue of its beauty and the trails are getting wore out continuously.

We are looking to offer added trail maintenance and enhancements to ensure that this Wonder of Oregon can be around for all to enjoy. Donors like you believe that trails and the life changing experiences they provide should be accessible to everyone who wants them. Help Oregon’s trail legacy be one that future generations can enjoy by donating today!

Join the legacy

SCALABLE GROWTH

OPPORTUNITY & STRATEGY

Starting with community member interest or a call from local land managers, initial reach strategies come through Trailkeepers University and staffing/internship projects that are brought on through a grant or a corporate sponsorship. We then build more scalable and sustainable funding to support longer term staffing and project funds. Our goal is not just to build these new trails and run away, but to make sure that they stay open and accessible for many more years to come. You can help us keep the legacy of this and other trails in Oregon going strong by donating today.

Join the legacy

Latest News

Trail Ambassadors are getting ready to launch!

By Loren Payne

Spring is quickly approaching! That means before we know it, Trailkeepers of Oregon will be kicking off another Trail Ambassador season. Through partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks, the Mt. Hood – Columbia River Gorge Tourism Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Friends of the Columbia River Gorge, Trail Ambassadors will take to trails beginning April 22nd to engage with trail users across the state. We are always looking to grow our team – if you’ve been looking to give back to the trails you love, we want you on board!

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@ by Natalie Ferraro

Family Friendly Events are Back!

An adult holds a fern while a child uses lopper to cut it at the base.

Join TKO on the last Sunday of each month to learn all about trail stewardship!

By Natalie Ferraro

Trailkeepers is excited to once again be offering Family Friendly trail parties for 2023. These events are a chance for kids of all ages to learn some of the basics of trail stewardship, spend quality time with family and friends outdoors, and learn the value of taking care of a place they love. We think our Family Friendly trail parties are some of the best fun you can have on a Sunday, but you don’t have to take our world for it. We asked TKO volunteer Jon and his son Liam to share why they love volunteering with TKO. […]

@ by Natalie Ferraro

Safety, Fun, Service – becoming a TKO Crew Leader

A close up of two faces. One person wears a blue jacket and a yellow hat, the other wears a yellow jacket and an orange hat. They both have dirt on their faces and are smiling.

Being a Crew Leader with TKO is rewarding work and comes with a fun and supportive community that can’t wait to welcome you!

by Elaine Keavney and Loren Payne

So you’ve earned your green hat, and are getting “hooked” on trail stewardship.  As you get to know your crew leaders, do you find yourself wondering whether leading a crew would be something you would enjoy? Read on for some information about leading crews, and what you need to do if you would like to become a TKO crew leader!

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@ by Natalie Ferraro
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