Volunteer Spotlight: Meet the People Behind Portland’s High Desert Hootenanny

voices

Taylor Goforth, Sage Sustainers member

Taylor Goforth, Sage Sustainers member

“I support ONDA on a monthly basis as a way I can keep in touch with the root of my conservation ethic and allow for their strong advocacy work to keep going. I count on them!”

voices

Elisa Cheng, member since 2013

Elisa Cheng, member since 2013

“ONDA stewardship trips inspire me. I get to learn new things and see new places, and in the process perform important work that improves the wildlife habitat.”

voices

Aaron Tani, Sage Society Member

Aaron Tani, Sage Society Member

“It feels good to support ONDA on a monthly basis, because I know they never stop supporting our public lands. ONDA works to help make our lands a better place for the future, and I feel like I’m a part of that every month with my support.”

Volunteer with ONDA

Volunteer

Each year, hundreds of Oregon Natural Desert Association volunteers address vital conservation needs in Oregon’s high desert. Volunteers may restore remote desert streams, mail letters, welcome people at ONDA events […]

Read More

Spend Your Weekend Volunteering

Author: Sarah Lindsay  |  Published: August 29, 2024  | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on August 28, 2024. Behind the scenes of ONDA group stewardship trips. […]

Read More

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet the People Behind Portland’s High Desert Hootenanny

By on December 2, 2025 | Posted in: A Conversation With

Author: Mateo Reynaud  |  Published: December 2, 2025  |  Category: A Conversation With Reflections on volunteer engagement from Mateo Reynaud, ONDA’s 2025 Fall Hillis Intern To me, the most rewarding […]

Read More

Steens Mountain: 25 Years Later

By on October 30, 2025 | Posted in: In the News

Author: Bill Marlett |  Published: October 30, 2025  | Category: In the News This guest column originally appeared in The Bulletin on October 24, 2025. Looking Back on a Landmark […]

Read More

Desert Trip Tips

By on October 24, 2025 | Posted in: How-To

Author: James Parsons |  Published: October 24, 2025  | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in the Fall + Winter 2025 Desert Ramblings Newsletter. Experience the far-reaches of Oregon’s high […]

Read More

A Desert Adventure for Everyone

By on February 5, 2025 | Posted in: Notes from the Desert

Author: Malcolm Costello  |  Published: February 5, 2025  | Category: Notes from the Desert This article originally appeared in The Bulletin on January 30, 2025. A volunteer recounts the many […]

Read More

How to Get Started Rockhounding

By on August 29, 2024 | Posted in: How-To

Author: Alison Jean Cole  |  Published: August 29, 2024  | Category: How-To This article originally appeared in The Source Weekly on August 14, 2024. In an ocean of sagebrush, a […]

Read More

Desert Birdwatching at Lake Abert

By on May 17, 2024 | Posted in: Where-to

Author: Haley Tobiason  |  Published: May 17, 2024  | Category: Where-To This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2024 Desert Ramblings If you’re a new birder wanting to […]

Read More

Observing Raptors

By on November 27, 2023 | Posted in: Species Spotlight

Author: Craig Miller  |  Published: November 27, 2023  | Category: Species Spotlight This article originally appeared in The Source on November 22, 2023. Where, when and how to see birds […]

Read More

Look Back: A Summer Desert Oasis

By on October 30, 2023 | Posted in: Look Back

Author: Haley Tobiason  |  Published: October 30, 2023  | Category: Look Back  Reflections from a season of surveying at Lake Abert Rounding the corner of Oregon’s Highway 395, nestled underneath the […]

Read More

Species Spotlight: Chokecherry and Blue Elderberry

By on May 18, 2023 | Posted in: Species Spotlight

Author: Elizabeth MacLagan  |  Published: May 18, 2023  | Category: Species Spotlight  Widely planted for habitat restoration, Chokecherry and Blue Elderberry are important species in the high desert ecosystem. These […]

Read More
Artemisia tridentata

Species Spotlight: Big Sagebrush

By on February 13, 2023 | Posted in: Species Spotlight

Author: Rachel Renne  |  Published: February 13, 2023  | Category: Species Spotlight  This article originally appeared in The Source on February 8, 2023. In May 2021, I hiked the entire […]

Read More