Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is Trailkeepers of Oregon?

Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO) is a state-wide volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit trail building, maintenance, and advocacy organization. Our goal is to create fun and engaging volunteer experiences for our community by empowering folks to connect with the land and each other through trail stewardship. 

How can I get involved?

There are lots of ways you can support TKO and Oregon’s trails! Some examples are: joining a Trail Party, donating, volunteering as a Trail Ambassador, donating, contributing to a committee (communications, DEI, stewardship, etc.), helping to maintain & improve Oregonhikers.org, and writing for our blog. Whatever your interests and abilities are, we would love to have you on the team! Check out our get involved page here to learn more. 

What’s a Trail Party?

Trail Parties are TKO’s volunteer trail stewardship opportunities. These events involve on-trail stewardship projects (such as improving trail surface or building rock walls), hard hats and tools, and a good bit of dirt. These events are free, open to the public, and do not require any previous experience unless otherwise noted in the event description. 

What are Trail Ambassadors?

Trail Ambassadors are volunteers who support Oregon’s trails by engaging with trail users around topics like Leave No Trace, hiking safety, trail stewardship, and more. They come in two types: Trailhead Ambassadors, who set up a table at popular trailheads and engage with people before and after they head out on their adventures, and Wilderness Ambassadors, who engage with trail users while out hiking on Wilderness trails. Learn more about our Trail Ambassador program and get started here. 

What is Trailkeepers University?

Trailkeepers University (TKU) is the collection of TKO’s training events that cover topics ranging from crosscut saws and chainsaws, timber and rock use, rigging, new trail scouting and construction, and leadership development. Training events have free and low-cost registration options for volunteers. Learn more about TKO training opportunities here.

What is the Oregon Hikers Forum?

The Oregon Hikers Forum (oregonhikers.org) is a community-built resource that connects hikers and provides information for people looking to plan their next adventure. The Oregon Hikers Field Guide includes hundreds of trail descriptions complete with photos and maps and the Discussion Forum where folks can share recent experiences, trail tips, and more. 

Volunteer Opportunities & Logistics

Can minors attend volunteer events?

Minors ages 14+ are welcome at our events. Those ages 14-15 must have a parent or legal guardian present. Those ages 16-17 may attend events solo and will be required to have a Minor Volunteer Waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian and the event’s Crew Leader. Volunteers must be 16+ to operate crosscut saws and 18+ to operate chainsaws. We also host Family Friendly Trail Parties on the last Sunday of every month from April to October, where Trailkeepers as young as 2 years old have come out to volunteer! Please note that there may be exceptions to these statements for certain events, such as multi-days and those involving chainsaws. If you have questions about a specific event, please reach out to us at volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org. 

My group and I would like to volunteer together. How do we do that?

Groups are welcome to sign up for any public Trail Party posted on our events calendar! As you are registering for an event, you can see how many volunteer spots are available – compare this to your group size before getting everyone to sign up. If you have a large group (10+) or would like a private trail party just for your community/corporate/other type of group, please submit this form and we will do our best to make it happen for you. Please note that because of the nature of our projects, our ability to accommodate large groups is dependent on your wants and needs and our current active projects.

Groups can also volunteer together as a Trail Ambassador Team! After a brief online orientation, you and your group can host a trailhead information table at some of the most popular trails in Oregon. Find out more here.

Do  you offer carpooling or shuttles?

We highly encourage carpooling and help our participants to arrange carpooling amongst themselves by asking volunteers to indicate if they would like to carpool in our registration form. Those we say “yes” to carpooling are connected via email. TKO does not provide shuttles.

Can I bring my dog?

We do not allow pets at our Trail Parties for safety reasons and to respect Land Manager restrictions. Trail Ambassadors may bring well-behaved, on-leash dogs to their shifts where permitted by the Land Manager. If you have a service animal, please reach out to us at volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org to let us know and help us prepare any necessary accommodations. 

How do I find the details for an event I’m signed up for?

When you are registered for an event with us you will receive pre-event emails from your Crew Leader in the 2 days prior to the event. These emails come through the Eventbrite platform. If it is the day before your event and you have not heard from us, please reach out directly to your Crew Leader or volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org. If you have marked any emails from Eventbrite as spam in the past, it is possible these emails will get filtered out of your inbox. 

How can I arrange for accommodations I need to safely and comfortably participate in a TKO event?

TKO strives 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 an event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will contact you to discuss options. Please note that while we always do our best, available accommodations will vary by event and may need to be requested up to two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, please contact TKO Stewardship Manager Lindsay McIntosh-Tolle at lindsay.mcintosh@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

Trail Party Specifics

I want to join a Trail Party. Where do I start?

All of our upcoming events are listed on our events calendar and you can use the search bar above the calendar to narrow your results based on your interests or location. All of our events are free, open to the public, and require no previous experience with trails or tools unless otherwise noted in the event’s description. All of our volunteer events require advance registration through our events calendar. Click on an event to read the event description and get signed up! Then, read this blog written by a TKO volunteer to learn what to expect at your first trail party. If you need any hiking or camping gear to participate in our events, you can borrow from our Gear Library! Reach out to us at volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org to get connected with gear. 

How physically fit/able do I need to be to join a trail party?

TKO does not have any requirements for physical fitness, and our volunteer events span a wide range of work and hike intensities. To help determine if an event is a good fit for you, check out the event description (found by clicking the event on our calendar) which includes hike distance, elevation change, types of stewardship tasks, and more. If you have any questions about a specific event, please reach out to the listed Crew leader or TKO stewardship Manager Lindsay at lindsay.mcintosh@trailkeepersoforegon.org. 

Do I need experience in trails, hiking, or tools to participate?

Nope! Almost all of TKO’s Trail Parties are open to people of all backgrounds and abilities. We are so happy to have new folks on the trails and will gladly teach you what you need to know while at your event! Some Trail Parties, such as those involving chainsaws, may require previous experience and/or certifications – when this is the case, the event description will explain what is required of participants. 

What should I wear? 

TKO asks that folks come prepared with a few key clothing items to ensure you are safe and having fun on the trail. For a standard Trail Party, please wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes (hiking or work boots are recommended), and bring layers for rain/sun protection. Events involving the use of saws may have additional requirements – please review individual event descriptions and pre-event emails for details. 

What should I bring?

TKO asks that volunteers come prepared with plenty of water for themselves, snacks/lunch, sunscreen/insect repellent, and any medications or other essentials you may need, as well as a pack to carry it all (you will want your hands free.) We do have a free gear library of hiking and camping gear available to borrow, so if you need anything to be able to participate in our events, please reach out to volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org!

What should I do before I head to the event?

Here is a quick checklist to get prepared for your Trail Party:

• Read the entirety of your pre-event emails. These are full of important information about your event!
• Complete and sign the listed waivers before arriving at the trailhead.
• Charge your phone and pack your bag: include the above items as well as any others listed in your pre-event emails. 
• Check location and directions: Check out your driving route ahead of time. Some locations are behind a gate or will require other considerations. Consider writing down your directions or otherwise have them available if you lose cell phone service. Make sure you have enough gas or charge to get to and from the trailhead.
• Get a good night’s sleep, eat a breakfast that will fuel you for the day, and check in with yourself. If you’re feeling sick or have a known exposure to COVID, please stay home and join us another time.