Learn and Get Involved
You already love spending time in Central Oregon's National Forest, why not take it to the next level? Whether you sign up as a volunteer, attend a ranger talk or join as a member, you can go beyond just visiting and make an impact!
Volunteer
Central Oregon’s National Forests are home to a group of wonderful volunteers ‑ men and women of all ages with a passionate interest in conservation, education and the rich environmental, cultural and geological history surrounding Central Oregon’s public lands. Join the dedicated people helping the Forest Service to protect our region’s most treasured places.
SHOP
We are proud to offer visitors a chance to support their Public Lands by purchasing items from our many Discover Your Forest stores. Proceeds from your purchases in our stores support student education programs, interpretive programs, exhibits, publications and other services on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests. Visit one of our retail locations to pick up passes, guides, maps and more!
Events
Mar
29
Sun
Mar 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Join a naturalist on a snowshoe tour at Mt. Bachelor! Learn about alpine environments and the natural features of the Cascade Range. Wear snow boots and warm winter clothing. Snowshoes will be provided. No previous experience is required.
Snowshoe tours are FREE, however, donations to support tours and other Discover Your Forest programs are greatly appreciated. Tour size is limited, so first come first served. Minimum age is 8 years old. Advanced reservations required for parties of 6 or more.
Tours run December 21st, 2019 through March 29th, 2020 on weekends, school breaks and holidays (except Christmas and New Years Day). They generally last about an hour and a half, and start at 10:00 AM and again at 1:30 PM. Tours begin at the US Forest Service snowshoe hut near Mt. Bachelor’s West Village Mountain Gateway building.
To register or for more information, contact Karen Gentry at (541)383-4771 or karen.gentry@discovernw.org, or check out our website for a comprehensive list of our winter programming discoveryourforest.org/all-programs
Join a naturalist for two groomed, intermediate runs to experience alpine environments and natural features of the Cascade Range! On this special tour of the mountain, you will learn about wildlife, geology, volcanology, flora, high altitude adaptations and more. Due to the nature of this program, attendees must be 18+ and wearing a helmet. Meet the ranger at the top of Pine Marten at 12:00 PM for a tour lasting about 1 ½ hours.
Tours are free with a lift ticket for that day. Drop ins are welcome, however if you have a group of 6 or more, we ask that you register ahead of time. Tour size is limited, first come first served. To register, or for more information please call Karen Gentry, Director of Education at (541)383-4771 or karen.gentry@discovernw.org. Check out our website to see a comprehensive calendar of our programming at discoveryourforest.org/all-programs.
Discover Your Forest and the Deschutes National Forest invite you to enjoy some fun family time in the forest as your kids become Junior Snow Rangers!
The Junior Snow Ranger events are designed for children to explore Central Oregon’s winter wonderland. Activities include snowshoeing, winter safety, exploring snowflakes, wildlife tracking, winter ecology, and the joy of winter fun. The program mission is to inspire youth to embrace a life-long relationship with the winter environment, and to become stewards of the land.
These events will be held at the Mt. Bachelor West Village once a month on Sundays: January 19th, February 16th and March 29th, 2020 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. It is a family program, and adults are encouraged to play along with their kids. The curriculum is geared towards kids aged 7-13, however we have activities for younger siblings to enjoy as well. Attendees can stay for an hour or for the entire time. The event is free, but donations are greatly appreciated to support Discover Your Forest conservation programs throughout the Deschutes National Forest.
To register, or for more information please call Karen Gentry, Director of Education at (541)383-4771 or karen.gentry@discovernw.org. Check out our website to see a comprehensive calendar of our programming at discoveryourforest.org/all-programs. 
Visit Us Today!
Newberry National Volcanic Monument is open, come experience the wonder of Central Oregon's Volcano!
2937
Volunteers donating their time on Deschutes National Forest
53,186
Hours Volunteers dedicated to conserving our Forest
125+
Types of conservation specialty projects completed on Central Oregon's Forests
$1,223,657
of donated labor from volunteers on Deschutes National Forest.
Volunteering for Discover Your Forest is a fun and rewarding way to meet others and provide opportunities for children that otherwise would not have the chance to see what our forests have to offer them. There are a variety of activities to get involved in and the best part is that you get to choose which ones interest you.
Sharing the forest and the monument with visitors is a total blast! You get to meet people from all over our country as well as from around the world!
We have volunteered at the Guard Station for 6 years and enjoy the location and meeting people. We first learned about the opportunity at the Station while on vacation in the area, and then enjoyed the great volunteer opportunities.
