Author: Gena Goodman-Campbell | Published: January 14, 2026 | Category: How-To
How to sign up to volunteer on one of ONDA’s stewardship trips
Thank you for your interest in working with us to restore key habitats across Oregon’s high desert! Whether you’ve never volunteered before or just need a refresher on the process, read on for our tips on how to have a smooth and easy registration process.
- Make a list of trips you’d like to sign up for ahead of time. Then, carefully review our Trip Difficulty Ratings so you know what kinds of activities and levels of physical difficulty each trip involves.
- Please be prepared to pay a $25 refundable fee to hold a space on each trip you sign up for before you submit your form.
- Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page and, if you have any specific questions you cannot find the answer to, get in touch with someone on our team, preferably before registration opens. If your question relates to a specific trip, please contact the trip leader directly. Trip leader contact information is available on the trip description page, as well as in our Staff Directory. If you need special accommodations or have any questions about participating in stewardship trips in general, please contact Gena Goodman-Campbell, ONDA’s stewardship director, by phone at 541-330-2638, ext. 306 or by email at gena@onda.org.
- When you’re ready to start the registration form, check the box at the top of the form that says, “Save my progress and return later.” Next, fill in your email and create a password. Taking this step will ensure you do not lose your progress on the form if you are unable to submit it right away.
- Plan on spending around 10-15 minutes on the registration form. Registration includes sections where entering personal details and items such as medical issues, physical limitations or allergies is required. This helps us match each volunteer with a trip that is a good fit for them. This information is confidential and is only seen by our trip leaders to promote a safe and enjoyable experience volunteering with ONDA. Please have this information available when you begin the form.
- Be sure to check that the formatting of your answers on the form is correct and that you have filled out all of the required fields, otherwise it will not submit successfully. Read all instructions carefully and take your time.
- Once you’ve completed the form and filled out your payment information for the refundable trip deposit, hit “Submit.” Then, wait for a message to appear on your screen stating that your form has been submitted. You will also receive a confirmation email saying that we have received your form. If you don’t see this email right away, please check your spam folder.
- If you run into any difficulties during the registration process, don’t worry. We are standing by to help, and technical difficulties or delays will not impact your ability to get a spot on a trip. Please contact Gena Goodman-Campbell, ONDA’s stewardship director, by phone at 541-330-2638, ext. 306 or by email at gena@onda.org, if you run into any issues.
- Expect to hear from the trip leader within two weeks of submitting your application. The trip leader will send you an email confirming your status, either registered or waitlisted. While trip spots are limited, ONDA is working hard behind the scenes to ensure as many people as possible can participate. Trip registration is a busy time for us, so your patience is appreciated as we work through our careful and individualized process.
Some popular trips tend to fill up fast, but signing up to volunteer on one of ONDA’s stewardship trips does not need to be a stressful experience. With these tips, we hope you’ll be prepared to have a smooth and easy registration process. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions.
