Volunteer

ONDA engages with many volunteers throughout the year who play an integral part in our outreach and events. We appreciate volunteers who assist in the office, tabling or at events such as the ones listed below. To join our list of office and event volunteers in either Bend or Portland, please fill out the volunteer interest form below, or email our team at onda@onda.org to learn more.

Office Volunteering

• Portland Office Crew: Join us in our Portland Office (2009 NE Alberta St.) on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a shift of one to three hours. You’ll assist with hand-writing notes, preparing for events, addressing and stuffing envelopes, phone calls to ONDA members, data entry and other administrative tasks.
• Bend Office Crew: Join us in our Bend Office (50 SW Bond St.,Suite 4) on Wednesdays from 12–3 p.m. or Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a shift. You’ll assist with mailings, data entry, projects to support our stewardship work, and other administrative tasks.
• Wild Desert Calendar Mailing Team: Join us in our Bend Office (50 SW Bond St.,Suite 4) and spend a few hours with us each week addressing and mailing calendars. Commit weekly from October through December or sign up for just a few shifts this fall. Flexible scheduling is available Tuesday through Thursday.

Communications

• We’re looking for volunteers with filming and editing skills to help us create engaging videos. Whether you enjoy being behind the camera or bringing footage to life through editing, your skills will cultivate care for the protection, defense, and restoration of Oregon’s high desert.

Events

• All Events, Photography and Videography: We’re looking for volunteers with photography and videography skills to capture the moments made during our events. Support creative conservation storytelling through vibrant event photography and video production.
• Eugene Sagebrush Social: Wednesday, September 16, from 5–7 p.m. at Alton Baker Park. We are seeking volunteers who can help with the following: pick up food and drink donations and bring them to the park (4–5 p.m.); manage the advocacy table (4:30–7 p.m.); facilitate high desert trivia (5–7 p.m.); support event cleanup (7–7:30 p.m.).
• Calendar Assembly Party: Thursday, September 17, from 2–5 p.m. at the Bend Office (50 SW Bond St., Suite 4). Enjoy food, drinks, community, and a sneak peek of the 2027 Wild Desert Calendar. Together, we’ll count, sort, and add inserts to the calendars that will be sent to retail vendors across the state. This is a flexible opportunity—drop in to the Bend Office for an hour or stay for the duration. No experience necessary.
• Wild & Scenic Film Festival: Friday, October 2, from 4:30–8:30 p.m. at the Tower Theatre in Bend. Volunteers are needed to support event setup and cleanup, sell raffle tickets, and assist staff with managing the membership, advocacy, and stewardship tables.
• High Desert Hootenanny (Bend): Thursday, December 3, at Aspen Hall (18920 NW Shevlin Park Rd.). Join ONDA, friends, and supporters in celebrating Oregon’s high desert and the conservation successes you’ve achieved this year. Volunteers will have the option to choose between an afternoon (1–4 p.m.) or an evening shift (4–7:30 p.m.). The afternoon shift includes event setup and decorating, while the evening shift involves greeting guests, sharing information, facilitating advocacy activities and games, overseeing food and beverage, and cleanup.

Apply below to volunteer with us!

Another critical way you can volunteer in support of your public lands is to become an advocate and urge key decision makers to prioritize desert conservation.

You can get on ONDA’s action alert list by subscribing to our e-newsletter.

Have a story you want to share? We’d love to hear it!

ONDA’s staff-and-volunteer-run blog features a range of passionate storytellers sharing high desert knowledge and offering new insights. Here, we give Oregon’s desert a deserving voice—and we’re at our best when we showcase a rich array of people, experiences and motivations for supporting conservation.

Because outdoor and environmental writing has historically had a narrow focus, we encourage women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other diverse voices to reach out to discuss options for sharing a volunteer piece.

Submissions can take many forms including audio recordings, photo diaries, poetry, narratives, interviews, articles and more. Your creative ideas are welcome, and no experience is necessary.

To get involved, please contact us at onda@onda.org with the subject line “Volunteer Contributor.”

In the spring and fall, we engage volunteers in meaningful restoration, stewardship and monitoring projects in the most important habitats across Oregon’s high desert. New trips and projects are announced twice per year. Learn more and sign up on our stewardship trips page.

We encourage people of all ability levels and backgrounds to get out with us to take part in our hands-on stewardship trips and deepen their relationship with Oregon’s high desert. All trips are free and no experience is required. ONDA provides all of the tools, equipment and training necessary for the projects.

ONDA also partners with school groups, community organizations, and businesses that want to volunteer together.