Author: Claire Cekander | Published: September 24, 2026 | Category: Profile
Adding Oregon Natural Desert Association to your will creates a lasting commitment to the high desert.
Mike Parr’s connection to Oregon’s high desert began more than 60 years ago when a detour on a family vacation brought him to Steens Mountain. He returned years later with his wife, Annie, and the pair eventually began taking trips into some of Oregon’s most remote desert landscapes.
The Oregon Canyon Mountains are a favorite landscape, located in the far southeast corner of the state. “Every time I’ve been there, I’ve never seen another car,” Mike says. One of his most memorable desert experiences was on a fall trip to the Trout Creek Mountains. “I’m very colorblind, but when I went to the Trout Creek Mountains and I saw the aspen leaves changing, I think it was the first time I saw color.”
That appreciation of the Oregon desert is what led Mike and Annie to include ONDA in their will.
“We contribute every year, but it’s not the same as designating a gift from your will,” Mike says. “We want our grandkids and their grandkids to be able to experience what we have and what we’ve fallen in love with.”
For Mike and Annie, a legacy gift is about making sure the work continues for decades to come. They want to see the desert restored and conserved so future generations can experience its quiet and open landscapes too. “It’s so quiet, you can hear the silence,” Mike says. “And the stars are so bright, you don’t need the flashlight at night.”
Mike and Annie’s advice to other ONDA supporters is simple. Think about what you want your grandchildren and generations beyond them to experience, and help make that possible.
“ONDA does long-lasting work, and every little bit of support helps,” they say.
Including ONDA in your will is one way to ensure the places you love continue to be protected long into the future.