Kristin Smith, a volunteer with the Siskiyou Mountain Club of Ashland, takes in the view of the Illinois River area during a work party outing in mid-February to clear brush and logs from the Illinois River Trail. Other work party outings are set for March 9-10 and May 4-5.

Volunteers with the Siskiyou Mountain Club recently cleared brush and logs along the Illinois River Trail and have more trips planned. Additional volunteers are invited to join those trips, set for March 9-10 and May 4-5.

“The work is easy and the setting is gorgeous,” according to a club announcement.

On Feb. 17-18, seven volunteers and a club staff member braved the rain and worked between Briggs Creek trailhead and Clear Creek, northwest of Cave Junction.

“A few highlights from the trip include: drying off by a campfire, a break in the weather with epic views on Sunday, catching the first Kalmiopsis leachiana blooms of the season and sharing laughs and stories,” the announcement said.

For the March 9-10 outing, a shuttle leaves Gold Hill at 8 a.m. March 9 and returns by 6 p.m. the next day. Participants will need overnight backpacking gear and to be prepared to camp about 3 easy-moderate miles from the trailhead.

Founded in 2010, the Ashland-based Siskiyou Mountain Club contracts with landowners to maintain trails. In other club news:

• The organization has joined with two other nonprofits to form the Siskiyou Wilderness Area Trail Collective in an effort to support the rehabilitation of 150 miles of trails in the 179,847-acre wilderness area, located about 60 miles southwest of Medford, in California. To fill out a related survey, visit bit.ly/49yCfqy.

• The club is hosting the premiere showing of a 28-minute documentary, “A Long Way to Nowhere,” about a crew restoring hiking trails in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness of Southwest Oregon.

The showing is set for 7 p.m. April 4 at the Varsity Theatre in Ashland. Cost is $20, with an option for an after-party gathering for $10.

Free showings are set for 7 p.m. April 15 at REI, 85 Rossanley in Medford, and 6 p.m. April 16 at Taylor’s Sausage Country Store, 202 Redwood Highway in Cave Junction.

To sign up for trips, purchase tickets for the premiere or learn more, visit siskiyoumountainclub.org. Reach the club office at 458-254-0657.

Learn about insects at Feb. 29 panel presentation

The Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is hosting a “pub talk” Thursday, Feb. 29, featuring a panel of experts discussing the world of insects.

The talk is set for 6-7:30 p.m. at the Grape Street Bar and Grill, 31 S. Grape St. in Medford.

Presenters are Jacob Youngblood, Laura Lowrey, Dana Ross and Michael Parker. They will discuss grasshoppers, forest insects, moths and macroinvertebrates, respectively.

Early arrival is suggested. For more information, visit landconserve.org. Contact the organization at 541-482-3069.

Auction, dinner to benefit equestrian teams

An auction and dinner to benefit high school equestrian teams in the region is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, March 2, in the Padgham Pavilion at The Expo in Central Point.

The second annual event is hosted by the Southern District of the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams organization, which includes schools in Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties.

The evening will feature live and silent auctions, tri-tip dinner, dessert dash and games. Tickets are $25. The Expo is at 1 Peninger Road, Central Point. Visit southern.ohset.com for more information.

Wildfire, preparedness fair set for March 9 in Ruch

Fire professionals, conservationists and others are teaming up March 9 to present an “All Things Fire Fair,” a family-friendly event in Ruch about preparedness, wildfire and related issues.

The event is set for 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the headquarters of the Applegate Valley Fire District, 1095 Upper Applegate Road. It will feature presentations, interactive demonstrations and information, including how to obtain financial help to reduce fuels on private lands.

The schedule for the day includes:

• 11 a.m., opening activities;

• 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., kid-friendly experiment on fire behavior;

• Noon to 12:45 p.m. and 2-2:45 p.m., mastication, slash and pile burning;

• 1-1:45 p.m., home hardening and defensible space;

• 3-3:45 p.m., introduction to prescribed burning and fire behavior;

• 4-5:30 p.m., learn about the Douglas fir die-off and Bureau of Land Management strategies to deal with it.

Food and drink will be available. Smokey Bear will be on hand.

The event is hosted by members of the Applegate Valley Forest and Fire Working Group, which includes the Applegate and Williams fire district, Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council and A Greater Applegate, along with conservation organizations, federal and state agencies and other organizations.

For more information, visit agreaterapplegate.org.