WEEK 9: SILVER FALLS 

There’s more than one way to win this week. Sign up below for the TKO Trail Ambassador email list. After you sign up, check your inbox for the first training video – watch the video and you’ll be entered into the raffle!

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The finish line for our Legacy Builders campaign is in sight, and we are sprinting towards the finish.

We have a big, audacious goal this week of raising $20,000. Thanks to the Legacy Keepers Challenge fund, you have TWICE the power to help us get there.

Donate now while your donation is worth twice as much!

The Legacy Keepers challenge fund has been created by hiking/running clubs, partner groups & individual donors. These donors have committed to pool their gifts together as a peer-to-peer matching gift for the last days of the Legacy Builders campaign.

Donate $30+ and you’ll be entered to win 1 of 3 one-night stays at Smith Creek Village. This quaint resort right next to Silver Falls State Park is a get-away you wont want to miss out on. 

I'm up for the challenge

Building Bridges

Silver Falls State Park is the flagship of the Oregon State Parks system.We began forging our relationships with the trails and the rangers there in 2019 and we have come a long way! Beginning by building a cohort of volunteer leaders in the Willamette valley allowed us to steadily drum a beat of stewardship in the the region. Since then, volunteers have moved through a variety of projects including building a crib wall to shore up part of the Canyon Trail that was being eroded, installing gabions to correct trail erosion from drainage and even began work on the brand new North Rim Trail!

In 2021, TKO was asked by the staff at Silver Falls to assist in the construction of two 65 ft bridges that would go over 2 creek crossings on the soon-to-be-opened new North Rim trail. This all-ages, all-abilities trail will extend to a never before seen viewpoint of the iconic North Falls. How could we say no?

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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

STRETCHING AND STEPPING UP

There was no funding in place for TKO to take on helping with these bridge projects. But we knew the importance of leaving a legacy at this iconic state park, so our staff and volunteers stepped up anyway. After many months of hard work by both TKO volunteers and OPRD Staff, both of these bridges have wrapped up construction! There’s still a lot that needs to be done to get the full trail ready for opening, but TKO will be there to continue lending a hand.

Projects like these bridges exist all over Oregon, just waiting for a dedicated volunteer group to step up and say “We can help.” When you become a supporter of TKO you help us reach more trails than ever before, so we can continue to say “yes, we can help!”.

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BUILDING TRUST & MORE CREW LEADERS

TKO has been a nonprofit for just over 12 years. We are Portland-based, but that is now changing and we are growing our geographic reach. Oregon State Parks has been a gateway for our growth, taking our strong partnerships with parks in the Portland/Gorge region and letting that trust spread to other parks. With strong relationships to precede us, stewardship growth can only happen through recruiting and training more volunteer leaders. The only reason we are able to start in at Silver Falls is because local leaders stepped up to the challenge and because of TKO’s strong relationships with park staff who are confident in our work. Help us impact even more trails in more State Parks, become a Legacy Builder today.

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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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