ONDA
Each year, hundreds of volunteers work alongside Oregon Natural Desert Association to protect and restore the public lands of Oregon’s high desert.
There are many different ways to pitch in and help. You could restore streams, improve trails, mail thank you letters, attend meetings, welcome people at ONDA events and much more.
Your skills and passion are needed, your effort will be appreciated and we’d love to have you join our dynamic community!
Helen Harbin, ONDA Board Member
“I connect with Oregon’s high desert through my feet, my eyes, my sense of smell, and all the things I hear. Getting out there is a whole body experience.” Supporting ONDA, Helen says, not only connects her with wild landscapes, but is also a good investment. “I felt like if I gave them $20, they might squeeze $23 out of it.”
South Fork Crooked River and Birds
Cregg Large, member since 2009
“I came to Oregon 12 years ago from Texas. Texas, for all its size, has very little public land. Coming to Oregon has made me realize the special gift we as Americans have in our public lands. Volunteering with an organization like ONDA is my way of reciprocating for this gift. Through restoration efforts, I feel we are helping leave a better place than we found it. Through advocating for protection for public lands, we safeguard migration routes for animals and keep the land where it belongs: with the public.”
Our Bend and Portland offices rely on volunteers to assist with important outreach events and administrative tasks.
Complete the volunteer info form or email Caelin if you are interested in helping out in Central Oregon or email Corinne if you are interested in helping out in Portland or elsewhere on the west side.
Another critical way you can volunteer in support of your public lands is to become an advocate. Email Gena if you are interested in writing letters to the editor or attending town halls, or consider taking part in our Public Land Leaders program.
Hard-working ONDA volunteers have planted thousands of trees, restored dozens of miles of streams, and removed enough unneeded barbed wire from Oregon’s public lands to stretch from one end of Oregon to the other.
Each year ONDA offers more than 30 field-based work trips to the most scenic landscapes in Oregon’s high desert. Our guided trips vary in length from one day to four days. In addition to completing helpful restoration projects, volunteers will camp, hike, and learn about conservation from ONDA’s knowledgeable staff.
Interested in giving your high desert adventure a purpose? Our Independent Stewards program adds self-directed and highly customizable restoration-oriented volunteer opportunities to our slate of guided field-based work trips. A full training will take place April 7-9 in Central Oregon. A refresher training for Independent Stewards who have already attended a full training will be offered March 12.
Calling all photographers! You can use your creativity and talent to support conservation. ONDA invites you to submit your best shots of Oregon’s high desert for possible feature in our iconic Wild Desert Calendar.
Or, to share images at any time for use in our publications or social media, email our communications manager.