Cave Junction’s Jubilee Park is now home to a new splash pad, thanks to years of efforts, a $288,000 grant from Oregon State Parks and other donations.

The splash pad, also known as a spray pad or park, features a frog, snails and flowers. An adjacent new handicapped-accessible playground has been installed, too, with the help of $62,000 in state funding.

Although the splash pad opened to the public July 16, a grand opening is set for 5 p.m. Thursday. The facility operates noon to 7 p.m. daily.

It’s ‘Back to the ’50s’ time in Grants Pass

The Rogue Valley Classic Cruisers organization hosts its annual “Back to the ’50s” events this week in Grants Pass.

Events include a downtown pre-show from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Fourth and F streets; a cruise-in party at Jimmy’s Classic Drive-In, 515 N.E. E St., from 5-9 p.m. Friday; and a charity car show at the Josephine County Fairgrounds starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and an awards presentation at 2 p.m. Vehicles from 1999 and older will be on display.

Bolan Mountain Lookout project progresses

The project to rebuild the Bolan Mountain Lookout is coming to its final stages and the Siskiyou Mountain Club is looking for volunteers on Friday, July 26, and on Tuesday, July 30, to help paint materials before installation. No prior experience is necessary, and the club will provide lunch.

Volunteers can meet at the U.S. Forest Service’s Wild Rivers Ranger District office in Cave Junction at 8 a.m. or catch a ride from Grants Pass. The work will be done at the district office, 26568 Redwood Highway. There will be a second coat of paint applied on July 30.

The Bolan Mountain Lookout, located in the Siskiyou Mountains west of Applegate Lake, burned in the 2020 Slater Fire. The Siskiyou Mountain Club, in partnership with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, has been tasked with restoring the structure, which was a former fire watch lookout but in recent years was used as an overnight rental for visitors.

Sign up for one or both days by emailing alex@siskiyoumountainclub.org. To contact the club, call 458-254-0657.

Meeting set in Williams to discuss Pipe Fork property

A community meeting has been set for 2 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Williams Grange concerning the stalled sale of 320 acres of Josephine County forestland known as Pipe Fork. The sale could have led to the property’s preservation instead of its logging by the county.

The Williams Community Forest Project is hosting the meeting, with plans to provide an update, a question-and-answer period and a look forward. The grange is at 20100 Williams Highway.

The sale to The Conservation Fund and ultimately the U.S. Bureau of Land Management was intended as a way to preserve the property as a research area. The county previously announced plans to log it, but delayed logging while a sale was pursued.

After years of discussion and negotiating, the county’s Board of Commissioners on June 21 took no action to sell the property for a proposed $2.32 million.

More information is available at williamscommunityforestproject.org.

Take a hike with Medford parks and recreation

A variety of hikes, outings and activities are offered for various age groups by the city of Medford through its Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department. To register or get more information, contact the department at playmedford.com, 541-774-2400 or 701 N. Columbus Ave. Space is limited.

Among the offerings are hikes for people 55 years and older. Meet at Rogue X, 901 Rossanley Dr., Medford, and take a van to the trail. Cost is $12 for residents and $18 for non-residents, per hike. The outings start at 11 a.m.

The hikes include a moderate 4-mile hike on the Grouse Gap Loop of the Pacific Crest Trail on July 30; a hard 4.5-mile trek at Enchanted Forest on Aug. 6; an easy 2-mile hike on the Jacksonville Cemetery Loop on Aug. 13; a moderate 4-mile hike on the Sterling Mine Ditch Armstrong-Deming Loop on Aug. 20 and a hard hike of 7 miles on the Petard and Liz’s Loop at Jacksonville Woodlands on Aug. 27.

Summer day hikes out of the area are offered at a cost of $49 for residents and $61 for nonresidents, per trip. They include trips with easy hikes to Tolawa Dunes and Bandon on Friday, July 26; Stout Grove and the historic Battery Point Lighthouse near Crescent City, California, on Aug. 9, and a hard hike of 5.2 miles on Sept. 13 on the Boy Scout Tree Trail in Jedediah Smith State Park near Crescent City.

Visit conifers of the Siskiyou Crest

The Applegate Siskiyou Alliance is offering guided hikes led by naturalists on July 27 to Miller Lake and Aug. 3 to Mount Ashland.

The hikes are part of the alliance’s Siskiyou Crest conifer field trip series to visit all 25 species of conifers that grow in the region and in a wide variety of locations. The hikes are led by local experts, botanists and ecologists. Cost is $45 per hike.

The Miller Lake field trip will take in the Miller Lake Trail loop to see diverse wildflowers, shrubs and conifers. Hikers will take an off-trail detour to visit Baker’s cypress. The hike includes steep, uneven terrain during an off-trail portion. Trekking poles are advised. Participants will park at the Miller Lake trailhead.

To register, go to eventbrite.com and search for Miller Lake or contact Luke Ruediger at 541-980-8974 or siskiyoucrest@gmail.com. Visit applegatesiskiyoualliance.org for more information.

Help clear brush in the Wild Rogue Wilderness

Join the Siskiyou Mountain Club for a work party and car camping outing July 27- 28 along Panther Ridge in the Wild Rogue Wilderness east of Gold Beach. The work involves clearing brush and hanging signs.

A shuttle vehicle leaves Gold Hill at 7 a.m. on Saturday and will be back by 6 p.m. on Sunday. No previous trail work is necessary, but participants need sufficient gear to spend the night at the trailhead and should be prepared for up to 6 miles of moderate hiking each day.

Dinner on Saturday will be pulled pork and jackfruit sandwiches. There will be an opportunity to catch the sunset from Hanging Rock. Panther Ridge sits around 3,500 feet above the Rogue River and is shaded by large firs.

Sign up by emailing alex@siskiyoumountainclub.org. To contact the club, call 458-254-0657.

Help collect seeds to benefit rare butterfly

Join the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center in a stewardship event July 31 to learn about and help the rare Mardon skipper butterfly, found only in high mountain meadows in just a few places in Oregon, including the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers will collect seeds from plants that these butterflies rely on for food and shelter. The seeds will be used to restore the plant populations the butterflies need to survive.

To sign up, go to kswild.org. For more information, contact Allee Gustafson, KS Wild events and volunteer manager, at 541-488-5789, extension 1014.

Learn about water management and conservation

Learn about water management practices designed to enhance drought resistance and improve water efficiency during a tour 9-11 a.m. Aug. 7 at Raptor Creek Farm near Grants Pass. The tour will highlight irrigation systems, soil moisture monitoring tools and water conservation strategies in action.

The event is part of a series of farmer-led water management demonstration projects by the Western Water Resilience Collaborative. Participants will explore cultivation of eggplant, winter squash and watermelon using methods such as paper mulch, biochar, straw mulching and intercropping with beneficial plants.

The farm is at 3658 Upper River Road, the home of the Josephine County Food Bank. Register for the event at eventbrite.com and search for Raptor Creek Farm.

Preschoolers, puppets, nature and crafts

Parents, bring your preschooler for a fun nature lesson with puppets and a craft project set for 10-11 a.m. Aug. 8 at Ashland’s North Mountain Nature Center, 620 N. Mountain Ave.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the program. Cost is $8 per child. Register at https://buff.ly/3W5tvno. For more information, call 541-488-6606.

Lithia Park tours held Saturdays

Explore Lithia Park in Ashland during a free guided tour led by volunteers at 10 a.m. on Saturdays through September. The walks are 60 to 90 minutes. Meet guides at the front entrance of Lithia Park across from the Plaza.

Visit an animal rescue farm

Sanctuary One rescue animal farm, 13195 Upper Applegate Road, offers 90-minute guided tours during the warmer months, at 10:30 a.m. sharp on Fridays and Saturdays.

The tours include a chance to meet the sanctuary’s herd of rescued farm animals and house pets. The farm includes gardens that provide food for the animals. Golf-cart tours are available with prior notice.

Admission is $10 each and reservations are required. Make them online. For more information, call 541-899-8627.

Visit Roxy Ann Peak, help pull star thistle

Help Medford Parks and Recreation limit the growth of the noxious weed star thistle on Roxy Ann Peak. Volunteers are wanted to help pull the weeds 7-10 a.m. every Wednesday this summer. A support booth will be set up near the parking lot at the top of Roxy Ann to provide gloves and information. Take Roxy Ann Road to the lot.

Other park volunteer opportunities are available, including scheduled cleanup efforts in various city parks. Volunteers are provided all materials. A city coordinator will be stationed at the scheduled park site handing out gear and materials.

To volunteer, visit the city’s volunteer opportunities page or contact the parks department at 541-774-2695.

Take a Jacksonville history walking tour

Free outdoor walking tours of Jacksonville’s historic district are offered at 10 a.m. on Saturdays through Aug. 31. The walks are about a mile long and last about an hour. Meet at Jacksonville City Hall, 205 N. Fifth St.

Reservations are required. Call 541-245-3650 or visit historicjacksonville.org.

Hang out with the birds of summer

See and hear a variety of birds that spend the summer in the Rogue Valley during an easy walk led by experts 8-9 a.m. Aug. 17 and Sept. 21 through North Mountain Park, 620 N. Mountain Ave., in Ashland.

Register at https://buff.ly/3XoeM8j. For more information, contact Ashland Parks and Recreation at 541-488-6606.

Tour Applegate organic herb farm

Oshala Farm, an organic herb farm in the Applegate Valley, is hosting a free walking tour 3-4 p.m. Aug. 14 and Sept. 11.

Participants should wear closed-toed walking shoes and bring a reusable water bottle or tea cup if you’d like a cup of herbal tea.

Register at least 48 hours in advance. To register, call 541-846-1120 or visit oshalafarm.com. The farm is at 14900 Highway 238.

Cities publish summer program guides

Summer program guides are available from the cities of Central Point, Medford and Ashland. They include information on senior, adult and youth programs, including classes, day camps, swim lessons, events and concerts.

Want to publicize your upcoming outdoors event for free? Send details to writer Shaun Hall at 541-761-6726 or shaunmichaelhall@gmail.com. Submissions about upcoming events are encouraged.