Badlands Wilderness Stewardship #6
Olivia Guethling
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Young Desert Horned Lizard
Young Desert Horned Lizard
In the summer these lizards begin foraging for food as soon as their body temperature rises as the heat of the day increases. They feed on slow-moving, ground-dwelling insects. In the fall they hibernate by burying themselves in the sand.
Latin name: Phrysonoma platyrhinos
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Sarah Graham, Sage Sustainers Member
Sarah Graham, Sage Sustainers Member
“I contribute to ONDA monthly because it adds up to a larger annual gift than what I’d be able to comfortably afford if I were to do a simple one-time donation annually. I’m able to give more to ONDA this way and have greater impact which is important to me, and my dog Polly.”
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Swallowtail
Swallowtail
The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly is the official state insect of Oregon and a true native of the Pacific Northwest. The Swallowtail can be seen in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage area. Source: State Symbols USA
Latin name: Papilio oregonius
Organizer: Gena Goodman-Campbell
Dates: November 18, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Region: Central Oregon
Difficulty Rating: Level 2: Moderate
Maximum Group Size: 11 participants
About the place
Located just 15 miles east of Bend, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is a 30,000-acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers. This area was designated as wilderness in 2009 and was named for its harsh terrain and fantastic rock formations. Within this landscape, one can find incredible displays of desert wildflowers, dry river canyons, castle-like rock formations, and Native American pictographs.
About the stewardship work
In partnership with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management, ONDA will lead several days of service to improve the Badlands for its human visitors and native wildlife inhabitants.
Through projects such as trail maintenance, signage improvement, and illegal vehicle route obscuring, volunteers will receive an introduction to ONDA’s stewardship and conservation programs.
These single-day experiences are a great opportunity for your first trip out with ONDA and 5 spots will be held for first-time volunteers until 3 weeks before the trip. No previous experience is needed to attend. All that is required is a love of the high desert, a big smile and a willingness to learn.
Trip timeline
- Saturday, November 18, 10 a.m.: Volunteers will meet at the trailhead, approximately 30 minutes from Bend, directions to project locations will be sent out before the trip.
- Saturday, November 18, 3:30 p.m.: We’ll head home by 3:30 p.m.
Difficulty
This project will focus on a fence removal project. We will be using hand tools to remove barbed wire and hiking up to 4 miles.
Participant responsibilities
Sturdy hiking shoes/boots, long pants, and eye protection are required for this trip (sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses are suitable eye protection). Please bring work gloves if you have them. Be prepared to be away from the vehicles all day and please bring a day pack, along with your lunch, snacks and plenty of water.
Gear provided
ONDA will provide all tools required for the work as well as extra work gloves and eye protection. We will bring extra water, expert leadership and perspective on current high desert conservation priorities.
Registration
An ONDA registration application and medical form are required for this trip. 5 spots will be held for first-time volunteers until 3 weeks before the trip.
Apply now
You will receive a confirmation email within 2 weeks of submitting your form. The confirmation email will provide information regarding which trips you are on the “participant list” for, and which trips are full, and therefore you have been placed on the “wait list.”
Six weeks before the start of the trip, the trip leader will send out an RSVP to make sure everyone is still able to participate. Based on RSVPs, open spaces will be backfilled with people from the waitlist.
Three weeks before the trip start date, registered and confirmed participants will receive driving instructions, maps, and additional information in an email sent by the trip leader
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the trip leader.
Your Trip Leader
This trip will be led by ONDA's Stewardship Director, Gena Goodman-Campbell. For questions about the trip contact her by email gena@onda.org.
Meet GenaONDA's Restoration Work
Over the last two decades, ONDA has engaged volunteers in projects to plant thousands of trees, restore dozens of miles of streams, decommission old roads and remove enough barbed wire […]
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