Opportunities From: Willamalane Park and Recreation District

The Mother's Day Tea allows participants to spend the afternoon honoring the mother figures in their lives. The event volunteer will help with set up, decorating, serving sweet and savory treats and cleanup of event and may also help take photos for participants at the photo booth. To help, please "respond" to this opportunity and if you need any schedule accommodations let us know.

Willamalane is working on natural restoration by replacing invasive species with native species. This volunteer party will be working to plant approximately 250 plants along the banks of the waterways at this site. This planting project is part of ongoing restoration and fuel reduction project in natural areas that benefit the community and ecosystem.

You can be a part of beneficial work to reduce wildfire risk and control invasive species!  To volunteer, "respond" to this opportunity and be sure to check your email for more information and reminders. Be sure eat lunch before coming to volunteer as lunch will NOT be provided, but Willamalane will provide snacks and beverages.

WHEN

Thursday, March 19th 12:00pm to 4:00pm.

WHERE

Park and meet at Quartz Park located at 2300 South 60th Avenue, Springfield , OR. Please note that the park is accessed through a residential neighborhood. If needed, you can use the link below for directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YinE9qe45QjiKYTt7

HOW

Volunteers should be comfortable with inclement weather, bending, lifting, and walking on uneven terrain if coming to this planting event. We will be primarily using shovels and wheelbarrows to install the planting. Some personal protective equipment will be provided but be sure to wear hiking boots (waterproof boots are best, closed toe shoes required), long pants, and be sure to bring rain gear with you. Although unlikely, there may be portions of this site that are muddy and slippery. Snacks and beverages will be provided by Willamalane Parks and Recreation. 

Calling all hiking enthusiasts! Join us in introducing the community to hiking in Oregon's wonderful outdoors. Hike volunteer leaders will assist Willamalane staff on moderate to strenuous hikes with check in, help "sweep" the hiking group, and may also contribute to choosing hike locations. All hikes will meet in the Bob Keefer lobby and depart and return from there.

Multiple hikes are offered over May - August. To volunteer, "respond" to the hiking shift below that you plan to help with and Willamalane program staff will follow up with you. If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

The hike locations are as follows:

Silver Falls - May 17
Mary's Peak - June 7
Clear Lake - June 21
Dee Wright Observatory & Proxy Falls - July 19
Alsea Falls & Green Peak Falls - July 26
Cape Perpetua - August 16
Santiam Wagon Road - August 23, 2025
Waldo Lake-September 13
Wizard Falls-September 27
Sahalie & Koosah Falls-October 11

Join us for this monthly volunteer opportunity at Dorris Ranch where dedicated volunteers make a difference to save trees, protect water quality and improve habitat. No experience necessary!

This takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of every month 9:30am - 12pm. To sign up, "respond" to each date below you plan to attend. In your response notes, please indicate your dietary needs so that we may provide pizza accordingly (if blank, we will assume you don't have any dietary needs).

Volunteers lend a hand by using basic tools to remove invasive vegetation, especially targeting English Ivy, and protect the riparian woodland area of this historic ranch. Instruction and tools will be provided. Volunteers should anticipate walking about 1 mile round-trip on a level path and the terrain in the project area includes uneven surfaces.

Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or 541-852-8766 to respond to this opportunity as volunteers under age 16 may be approved on an individual basis.

Dorris Ranch is located at 205 Dorris St., Springfield, OR. Volunteers should park in the parking lot (the parking area in front of Tomseth House or uphill of the barn/closest to the entrance gate are closest, the Middle Fork Trailhead parking area has restrooms) and meet in front of the barn. From there, plan to walk as a group to the project area (about 1 mile round-trip). Parking accommodation for closer access to the project area is available, please let us know in advance.

Schedule Notes:

Help us assemble and stuff eggs for MEGGA Hunt!

Join us from 4:00pm - 6:00pm on Tuesday, March 17th for a fun community activity to help prepare eggs for MEGGA Hunt. Free pizza will be provided at 6pm. To help, click "respond" and submit, and in your response notes, please indicate your dietary needs so that we may provide pizza accordingly (if blank, we will assume you don't have any dietary needs).

We look forward to seeing everyone on March 17th!

Youth Volunteers: Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator to respond to this opportunity and make arrangements. Volunteers under age 16 may be approved to volunteer independently on an individual basis and a waiver for the parent/guardian to sign will be provided. Youth volunteers may volunteer with parent/guardian supervision and prior arrangement with Volunteer Coordinator is needed. 

How to contact the Volunteer Coordinator: Email maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or call 541-852-8766.

Would you like to help community members learn and practice new cooking skills? Culinary Volunteers will assist the instructor in preparing for the class including set-up, food preparation and clean-up as well as assisting participants during class as directed by the instructor or staff. Culinary classes have about 5 - 12 participants and prepare a variety of menu items. 

A Culinary Volunteer will:

To sign up to volunteer, "respond" to the shift (listed below) you want to help with and Willamalane staff will follow up with you. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for multiple shifts. If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

For more information on the culinary classes including the cooking class calendar and menus, visit the Food section of our Adult Classes page.

Put your green thumbs to work for a good cause helping to plant, maintain, and harvest a large garden at Lively Park that supports Willamalane's food pantry. Early in the season, volunteers help around the garden and clear, fertilize, and plant the 40x40-foot plot. Then, we’ll maintain the plot and clear weeds until harvest time. Join us for one shift or respond multiple shifts throughout the season. To sign up, "respond" to each date below you plan to attend.

If the spots are full, you are encouraged to click on "waitlist" to secure a volunteer spot if one opens up.

Be sure to click "next" in the bottom right corner of the shift schedule below to see the full schedule of available shifts.

Please bring:

We’ll provide:

Getting here:

The community garden is located at Lively Park. Drive in the park entry and head around toward the back of the Splash! building. Park near the play structure and dog park. Then walk along the path north of the dog park and meet us at the community garden.

Schedule:

We plan to spend Tuesday mornings in the garden during the early season. In mid-summer we will add Thursday's to the schedule for harvesting. The schedule is subject to change based on seasonal needs and weather conditions. Volunteers should be sure to check your email for important volunteer information and will be notified via email in the event of cancelation.

Youth Volunteers:

Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator to respond to this opportunity and make arrangements. Volunteers under age 16 may be approved to volunteer independently on an individual basis. Youth volunteers may volunteer with parent/guardian supervision and prior arrangement with Volunteer Coordinator is needed. 

How to contact the Volunteer Coordinator:

Email maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or call 541-852-8766.

Help with the Spring Marketplace at Willamalane! The Spring Marketplace features vintage, handcrafted items, food, and more available from community artisans and vendors. Have lunch and shop for gifts and décor at this unique marketplace. It is a one-stop shopping experience that will make the shopping and gift search easy and fun. Spring Marketplace volunteers will help with help with tasks like set up, decor, checking in vendors, beverage station, attendee counts and assisting entertainment set up.

To volunteer "respond" to the shift(s) below that you would like to help with. You are welcome to sign up for multiple shifts!

Help us provide locally made crafts to the community! The Gift Shop Host assists vendors and visitors in the Adult Activity Center's gift shop, featuring handmade goods by local artisans, and maintains the appearance of the store items and displays.

Volunteers should have the ability to learn and utilize point of sale technology (Square) while providing welcoming customer service. Training will be provided.

Available shifts are weekdays from 10:00am - 2:00pm starting in March. Volunteers should commit to a regular weekly schedule one or more days per week on an ongoing basis. To volunteer, click "respond" and include your preferred day(s) of the week and Willamalane staff will follow up with you with next steps! Training may begin in late February.

Assist with upcoming Megga Hunt! We have opportunities for volunteers to help with loading, setup, and decorating for Megga Hunt at Lively Park on the day before the event.

The full shifts is 10am – 3pm and we would be happy for help for any amount of time. For teams, we would be happy to have a few folks, or a group, we would take as many as can participate.

Free lunch would also be provided! Please let us know your dietary needs in the response notes.

2026 Megga Hunt volunteers will monitor and implement competitive and non-competitive hunts for children at Lively Park as well as assist at activity booths like face painting and balloons. Megga Hunt volunteers also help with event set up and take down.

Volunteers available to stay after the event concludes to help with breakdown are needed too! Please indicate in the response notes if you would like to plan on staying to help until about 1:30pm. We hope to have a team of 10-12 for this additional time. We appreciate the extra help since many hands make light work.

Interested in helping as a Mascot or Mascot Handler for MEGGA Hunt? See this link to the Mascot or Mascot Handler opportunity.

Volunteers under age 16 and/or parents of youth volunteers, contact Volunteer Coordinator maggie.odriscoll@willamalane.org or 541-852-8766 to respond to this opportunity (the volunteer coordinator needs to override the background check qualification for volunteers age 15 and younger).

Be a Willamalane Mascot or Handler! We need mascot volunteers for our upcoming events.

Springs is a very curious and bouncy Douglas squirrel. He is always moving around looking for something to do.  He likes playing with kids: high-fives, hugs, fist bumps, and hide and seek. 

Springs has a specific bouncy walk and a few signature dance moves.  He also does not talk so he relies heavily on his handler/friend to help him out and communicate for him. 

Volunteers should:

The handler is responsible for maintaining safety with Mascots. Volunteers must use a good, friendly tone to guide the public’s interactions with mascots.