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!
Young Horny Toad 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
Time Lapse: a night at Canyon Camp in six seconds
Bonnie Olin, 2017 Volunteer of the Year
“If you spend enough time in the wild, it will change you. So it was for me in Oregon’s high desert, especially in the Owyhee Canyonlands.” To support ONDA, Bonnie says, is to strive to protect the very values of Oregon’s high desert that are critical to the human experience: quiet and connectedness with nature. “Oregon’s desert,” she says, “broadens your understanding of your relationship to all living things.”
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. Trainings are offered periodically throughout the year. Email Renee for more information.
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.