Trail Accessibility Survey Field Training

Join Access Recreation, Trailkeepers of Oregon, and the Willamette Valley Visitors Association for this second, field portion of trail accessibility survey training! This training series is limited to trails and outdoor recreation professionals and volunteers.

Prior to this in-person event, volunteers will first attend an online training on October 9th. Register for the online session here.

Access Recreation works to bring better information to trail users on the accessibility of parks and recreation trails in the states of Oregon and Washington and beyond. This information increases opportunities and safety by allowing trail users to make more informed decisions as to which trails may best suit their needs and ability levels without being limited solely to designated ADA accessible trails.

If you’re interested in learning more about accessible recreation ahead of this event, you can check out this recent NY Times article featuring Georgena and other accessibility advocates.

What to bring:

• Snacks/lunch
• Plenty of water
• Writing supplies
• Any medication you may need
• TKO will supply all survey tools

What to wear:

• Comfortable walking shoes (please wear something sturdy enough for a few hours of walking and standing. Open toed shoes are NOT recommended.)
• Comfortable walking clothes
• Rain gear and warm layers as appropriate for the weather

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT: We recognize that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes and communities. Champoeg State Heritage Area in particular lies on the traditional lands of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes, the Kalapuya, Atfalati, and Ahantchuyuk tribes, the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde, and the Confederated Tribes of Siltez Indians, as well as other tribes, bands, 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 ackowledgment 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, please contact TKO Stewardship Manager Lindsay McIntosh-Tolle at lindsay.mcintosh@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

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.