All events shown on the calendar are free, open to the public, and do not require any prior experience unless otherwise noted in the event description. If you have any questions about a specific event, please email us. Looking for Ambassador events? Find our Ambassador events here. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Wilderness Ambassadors Training
Step into a meaningful volunteer role that directly supports the protection of Oregon’s wilderness.
This 4-hour interactive training (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) prepares you to become a Wilderness Ambassador with Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO). You’ll gain the foundational knowledge, practical skills, and confidence needed to engage trail users, promote Leave No Trace ethics, and support land stewardship across Oregon’s public lands.
What You’ll Learn
During this workshop, you’ll build core skills through interactive discussions, group learning, and scenario-based practice:
- Mission & History: Explore TKO’s values, the history of the Wilderness Ambassador program, and the role of the 1964 Wilderness Act in public lands stewardship.
- Roles & Expectations: Gain clarity on what it means to be a Wilderness Ambassador and how to represent land managers in backcountry settings.
- Public Engagement & ART: Master the Authority of the Resource (ART) technique to educate trail users compassionately and effectively.
- Leave No Trace in Action: Practice applying LNT principles to real-world trail scenarios and conversations.
- Safety & Emergency Protocols: Understand situational awareness, trail safety, emergency procedures, and Search & Rescue (SAR) coordination.
- Data & Reporting: Learn how to collect and report trail data to help land managers track stewardship needs.
Why This Matters
Wilderness Ambassadors play a vital role in protecting fragile ecosystems while ensuring visitors feel informed, safe, and welcomed. Through welcoming education and an active presence, you help reduce human impact, support land managers, and protect Oregon’s iconic backcountry spaces for generations to come.
Who Should Attend
- New Volunteers eager to become certified Wilderness Ambassadors.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts passionate about trail stewardship, conservation, and community education.
- Friendly Communicators who love connecting with people and encouraging responsible outdoor recreation.
No prior experience required! All you need is curiosity, care for the outdoors, and enthusiasm for engaging with fellow trail lovers.
What Happens Next?
After completing this training session, participants will be invited to:
- Join Mentored Shifts: Step onto the trail with experienced leads on upcoming Ambassador outings.
- Sign Up for Opportunities: Access the TKO volunteer calendar to join group shifts and build field confidence.
- Be Part of a Community: Connect with a supportive network of passionate volunteers.
Background Check Notice: All public-facing volunteers are required to complete a background check through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). This is a standard, secure process to ensure safety and accountability across all programs.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes and communities. We are the most recent in a long line of stewards to this land, and it is our responsibility to do so with humility and respect. We are grateful to these tribes and their descendants for being the original and continuing stewards of these spaces, and encourage everyone to go beyond a land acknowledgment by supporting Indigenous communities and organizations in your area.
ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: TKO seeks to make our events inclusive of people of all backgrounds and abilities. If you would like to discuss potential accommodations to allow for your participation in this event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will then contact you to discuss options. Please note: available accommodations will vary by event and typically need to be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, reach out to us by clicking Contact near the bottom of this page.
EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in the outdoors due to issues like racism, bias, and hate. We commit to being part of the solution to this problem and to enact change. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target any individual or group will not be tolerated by TKO.
PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical and emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you may: interrupt directly, tell a crew leader, and/or inform TKO staff via the post-event survey.
While TKO no longer requires masking/vaccination for our events, we do support those who choose to mask for their own safety. We ask participants to respect the health of folks who wear masks by distancing or wearing a mask while in close proximity.