Imagine a place you could go to learn about trail design, get continuing education credits, learn how to build a bridge, become the leader you were always meant to be, learn new job skills, and meet trail-lovers like yourself along the way.
That’s the dream behind Trailkeepers University. By engaging with local communities across the state, we aim to build up local volunteerism through stewardship to ensure that every trail in Oregon someday gets the high quality of love and attention that we hang our hard hats on at the end of every day. Join us in making this dream a reality and be a part of Oregon’s growing trail legacy. We can’t do this without you!
In 2020, TKO earned the distinction of forming a nationally recognized Sawyer certification training program. This year, the Trailkeepers University Saw School provided over 70 saw related events including 15 nationally recognized Sawyer Training courses. These opportunities have resulted in over 50 new certified sawyers performing saw work all over Oregon. The Columbia Gorge, Mt. Hood National Forest, Portland area state parks, and Sate Parks up and down the coast are just a few of the places that TKO sawyers have been fine tuning their skills this year.
Memorable moments include collaborative efforts between different organizations – coming together to learn from each other and safely restore popular hiking trails from wind storm and fire damage. We dont let these intensive projects go to waste. Heavily damaged sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Timberline Trail were used as a learning laboratory for 5 days of advanced sawyer trainings for both crosscut saws and chainsaws meaning more volunteers than ever are now able to tackle the needs of fire and wind damaged trails all across the state.
Urban trails are a cornerstone to nature access for urban and suburban residents, offering countless physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health benefits. TKO has been busy throughout the Portland Metro Area and beyond in 2023 ensuring that these trails can continue to safely connect communities with the outdoors!
Throughout 2023 TKO has been lucky to participate in some outstanding trail projects in the Willamette and Umpqua River Valleys. These projects, critical to maintaining and reopening trails, allowed volunteers to grow their trail construction skills in some of Oregon’s most beautiful natural areas!
Have you caught the “saw bug” yet? Join TKO on a logout and you just might! This draw to saw work, the itch to feel the saw interact with wood as you cut, captivates many a trail crew member after just one day pulling saw. Saw work is a critical aspect of trail stewardship, and it’s this feeling that TKO has worked to inspire in emerging sawyers across Oregon.
Trailkeepers of Oregon
P.O. Box 14814
Portland, OR 97293
(971) 206-4351