Opportunities From: Willamalane Park and Recreation District

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:

These stones were designed to honor the history of the land and the Kalapuya people and to reintroduce their words to the landscape. The beautiful stones were quarried from basalt in traditional Kalapuya territory and serve as educational and cultural reference points. There are 15 Talking stones located throughout Eastgate Woodlands and East Alton Baker Park that are in need of a check-up, including weeding around the surrounding areas, and potential gentle cleaning. To volunteer, "respond" to this opportunity. Please see below for further information and how to register for the first time.

Volunteers will meet at 9:00am in Alton Baker Park (located in Eugene) next to Nearby Nature (the meadow near the host house) with Willamalane and City of Eugene staff at the beginning of the work party to discuss the project guidelines and learn how to maintain the stones in a way that is in alignment with the desires of the local Indigenous community and stewards. Volunteers can expect to help out with some weeding and potential gentle cleaning up or graffiti removal from the stones. The stones are accessed by foot or bicycle, so volunteers should anticipate walking approximately 2 miles or more (wear comfortable shoes), and are encouraged to use bicycle transportation, if possible, for easier access. 

Eastgate Woodlands and East Alton Baker Park are collectively known as the Whilamut Natural Area. The name Whilamut (pronounced "wheel-a-moot) was chosen in collaboration with the Komemma Cultural Protection Association of the Kalapuya Tribe. Whilamut is a Kalapuya word which means "where the river ripples and runs fast." The Citizen Planning Committee (CPC) initiated the renaming of the park and selected a Kalapuya name as a gesture of honor and respect for the tribal members who hunted, fished, and gathered camas bulbs on the land that is now the Whilamut Natural Area. A traditional Kalapuya naming ceremony was held to commemorate the new name on September 7, 2002.

New to the Willamalane volunteer program? To sign up, first register as a Willamalane volunteer by visiting willamalane.org/volunteer and "sign up," and then “respond” to this opportunity. In your response notes, please include anything you would like us to know.

Assist with upcoming Children's Celebration! We have opportunities for volunteers to help with loading and event setup at Island Park on the day before the event.

The full shift is 10:00am – 3:00pm 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.

The West D Street Greenway is a 15-acre natural area with a 1.3-mile-long paved multi-use path along the Willamette River. This path connects to the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path at Eastgate Woodlands. Along this paved path is The Dellinger Trail, an aggregate and bark surface running trail that connects to Pre's Trail. Join this service project to help spread fresh mulch to maintain the surface for the community to enjoy.

No experience necessary. Tools, gloves, supplies and light refreshments are provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and water bottle if available. Volunteers should be comfortable with standing, walking and lifting. Total distance may be up to 3 miles on flat terrain with back-and-forth trips as we work along the route with staged piles of bark to spread out. To sign up, click "respond" and submit.

Meet at Heron Park Playground located at the intersection of West D Street and Aspen Street. Parking is available at the playground and on nearby residential streets.

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 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.

Substitute volunteers are needed to fill in when a regularly scheduled volunteer is unavailable to work their shift. Available shifts are Monday-Thursday from 10:00am - 2:00pm. 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 is provided. 

Lend a hand at Ruff Park on Thursday, May 21 from 9:30 – 11:30am. Volunteers will help in this spring service opportunity at beloved Ruff Park to help with tasks like removing invasive species like blackberries, pulling weeds from the garden beds, and more. This seasonal effort will help the park look beautiful for the community to enjoy this season. No experience necessary. Tools, gloves, supplies and light refreshments are provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and water bottle if available, and to dress comfortably for outdoors/gardening activity. To sign up, click "respond" and submit. If spots are full you are encouraged to click "waitlist" so that you will be notified if a spot opens up.

Ruff Park is located at 1161 66th St., Springfield. Park and meet in the main parking lot at the main entrance off of 66th.

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: 

Note: Hike locations are subject to change based on air quality. 

Lower Soda Creek Falls-May 23
Sweet Creek Falls-June 13
Spencer's Butte-June 27
Santiam Wagon Road-July 18
Alsea Falls & Green Peak Falls - July 25
Cape Perpetua - August 22
Goodman Creek-August 29

Join us and members of the Springfield Twin Rivers Rotary for the spring service project to beautify the garden beds outside of the Bob Keefer Center on Saturday, May 30 from 9:00 – 11:00am. This seasonal effort helps the facility grounds look beautiful for the community to enjoy in springtime!

Please arrive at the Bob Keefer Center, 250 S 32nd St, Springfield, OR 97478. The project will involve weeding, mulching and more around focal areas around the facility grounds.

We will provide the tools, work gloves as well as light refreshments. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves if you have them, a refillable water bottle for drinking water and to dress comfortably for outdoors/gardening activity.

 Volunteers are needed to support a beloved community event! 

Volunteers will assist with event setup, take down, activity booths and more!

Be prepared for a high level of engagement and community interaction. 

We have flexible volunteer shifts to meet your needs. 

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 supervision/participation and prior arrangement with Volunteer Coordinator is needed. 

Do you have an interest in local art and interacting with the community? Join in the effort to share art with the community as Island Park Art Gallery Ambassador.  The Island Park Art Gallery Ambassador will work at a variety of fun tasks, including preparing hors d’oeuvres, greeting guests, serving complimentary refreshments to attendees and creating a welcoming atmosphere.