TKO’s mission is to protect and enhance the Oregon hikers experience through stewardship, advocacy, outreach and education – there is a reason why stewardship comes first. By being a growing presence through stewardship of Oregon’s hiking trails, we build trust and become a vital resource to respond to all sorts of trail challenges. Our best advocacy is achieved after we’ve earned that trust, helping see trail management concerns met and trail system improvement come to fruition.
The surge of community support and involvement after the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017 is where many of the current TKO Crew Leaders got their start. We have used what we learned from those experiences of bring trails back from the ashes to build a cohort of skilled volunteers across the state. We have been working tirelessly for the last four years to build a training program for trail steward volunteers to be ready to tackle any trail issues that arise, including fire impacts.
We all learned too soon that the instances of wildfire across lands in Oregon are increasing and 2020 hit hard. TKO embraced our role as a recovery partner after the Eagle Creek Fire and offered our experience to trails closed due to the historic 2020 Labor Day Wildfires. We teamed up with Oregon Department of Forestry and a co-hosted 3 interns with Northwest Youth Corps, guiding their efforts in assessing post-fire trail conditions and activating community engagement in the Santiam State Forest.
In 2022 we will be back again, kicking things off with a special TKO Tread School – Fire Recovery Edition. We know from experience that the best way to teach someone a skill is to get a tool in their hands and let them experience the process for themselves. Trailkeepers University programming such as this sets out to empower volunteers to help with recovery in fire affected areas by having our Crew Leaders pass along the lessons learned over the years. This will happen by getting more tools in more volunteers hands on trails across the state. All of this takes resources, this is where our amazing donors come in. Your gift makes an impact and brings you into the legacy we are building together.
We are pleased to know that the credit earned in Eagle Creek fire recovery has allowed our volunteers to begin a journey of restoration across the Clackamas River Ranger District in Mt. Hood National Forest. Starting with small crews of 4-8 experienced volunteers and TKO staff, we are opening up the trail corridor and mitigating the initial risks in this severely fire-damaged area of the Forest. Stay tuned, as those crews get a handle on what needs doing – community members will be called upon to restore this place. And while we are at it, a chance to rebuild in a way like never before, looking to improve those trail systems in a chance for Oregons hikers to have a voice in their return!
Support Oregon’s trails by serving on the TKO Board
Trailkeepers of Oregon’s annual Board application window is now open! We invite applications from those who are interested in broadening access to nature and Oregon’s outdoor places and who are passionate about TKO’s mission: protecting and enhancing the Oregon hiking experience through stewardship, advocacy, outreach and education.
This spring, the Trailkeepers of Oregon launched our very first “hike-a-thon” style fundraising campaign. This campaign, dubbed the Trailkeeper Challenge, was centered around inspiring folks to engage their communities in spending time outside the ways they enjoy most.
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!
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351
