OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Trail clearing, fundraiser run, seed swaps and more

Published 6:03 pm Tuesday, February 25, 2025

The Siskiyou Upland Trails Association reports that it expects to have crews out two or three days a week for the next several weeks to clear more than 100 trees that fell during recent storms on the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail system and on the Jack-Ash Trail.

Any volunteers who wish to help with manpower or by donation may send an email to sutaoregoncontact@gmail.com.

“Please use the trails with caution,” the organization stated in a social media post on Saturday. “This recent winter storm is a reminder that high winds, wet soils and dead and dying trees increase the risk of trees falling …”

Mountain Club to clear Osgood trail

The Siskiyou Mountain Club has scheduled a work party for Saturday and Sunday along the Osgood Ditch Trail in the southern Illinois Valley.

Volunteers are welcome and no experience is necessary.

The club also has scheduled a backpack trip work party on March 8-9 to clear brush and logs along the Illinois River National Recreation Trail.

To sign up, call 458-254-0657 or contact trevor@siskiyoumountainclub.org.

For anyone interested in a summer intern position to help clear trails, online meetings are set for 5 p.m. Thursday Feb. 27 and March 13. Access to the meetings is at bit.ly/4gwlj6t. Use the passcode 2025.

Fundraiser run set for Saturday in Phoenix

Southern Oregon Runners is hosting the Camelback Run on Saturday at Phoenix High School, 745 N. Rose St. Activities include a Kids Mile at 9 a.m., a 15-kilometer run at 10 a.m. and a 5-kilometer run at 10:15 a.m.

The races start and finish at the school’s track. The event is a fundraiser for the school’s track team.

The Kids Mile, for children 14 and under is free. The other runs are $25.

Registration ends at 5 p.m. Thursday. Sign up at bit.ly/3ETqL6x.

Three seed swaps set for this weekend

Seed swaps are planned for Saturday and Sunday:

• The Shady Cove Seed Library and Gardening group is hosting its annual seed giveaway from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Shady Cove library, 22477 Highway 62.

Each family may take up to 20 seed packets. Seeds include tomatoes, corn, zucchini, pumpkin, herbs, flowers and more.

Also at the library, a presentation about bee swarms is set for 2-3 p.m. March 13. Presenters are with the Master Gardener Program at Oregon State University.

For more information, contact the library at 541-878-2270.

• The Williams Propagation Fair is set for noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Williams Grange, 20100 Williams Highway, featuring a seed, plant and scion swap. Presentations include grafting at 1 p.m. and fruit tree pruning at 2 p.m.

The event is organized by the Agrarian Sharing Network. Visitors don’t need to bring anything to participate. For more information, visit agrariansharing.net.

• Pick up free seeds at the reference desk at the Medford library from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Limit of five packets per patron, while supplies last.

Workshops on small farms, dying trees set

The Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center in Central Point is offering workshops about small farms and dying trees:

• On March 3, there will be a workshop about exploring the small farm dream. Subjects include opportunities, objectives and finances. Cost is $60 per person or $75 for two farm partners. Register at bit.ly/3Qa1tn3.

• On March 26, there will be a presentation about tree mortality in Jackson County. Subjects include causes, uses for dead trees and replanting. Register at bit.ly/4hJ6RJG.

For more information, call the center, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, at 541-776-7371.

Extension Service continues wildfire series online

The Oregon State University Extension Service is hosting a continuing series of online presentations about wildfire in Oregon. The next presentation, about Oregon’s dry forests, is set for 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Other sessions are Southwest Oregon forests, March 6; eastside forests, March 13; sagebrush ecosystems, March 20 and oak savannas and woodlands, March 27.

For more information and to register, visit blogs.oregonstate.edu/fireeco/.

Help plant willow cuttings along Bear Creek

Join the Rogue River Watershed Council from 10 a.m. to noon on March 1 and March 7 to help with willow staking along Bear Creek at Lynn Newbry Park in Talent. Willow staking uses willow tree cuttings stuck into the ground to grow willows that help stabilize soil.

Bring work gloves and wear appropriate attire. Feel free to bring loppers or pruners. The March 1 event is geared toward families and children.

RSVP at buff.ly/4ilAh1v. Reach the watershed council at 541-423-6158.

Audubon Society outing set for Denman Wildlife Area

Join the Rogue Valley Audubon Society on March 5 for its monthly outing to the Denman Wildlife Area near White City. Walks begin at 8:30 a.m. and end by noon.

For more information, visit roguevalleyaudubon.org.

Learn about bees at Jacksonville events

The Pollinator Project Rogue Valley will be in Jacksonville on March 5 for two events:

• Learn about bumble bees, including their adaptations and how to convert birdhouses to bee habitat, during an event set for 2-3:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville Community Center.

Cost is $5. The event is open to all ages. Adults are free when accompanied by a child. Register at jacksonvillecommunitycenter.org.

• A bee-themed storytime for ages 3 and older is set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Jacksonville Library. There will be stories, crafts and discussion. For more information, visit bit.ly/3D7jnnk.

Pacific to host presentation about prescribed fire

Pacifica: A Garden in the Siskiyous is hosting a presentation to introduce people to prescribed burns, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 7.

The event is part of an effort to reintroduce ecological and cultural fire to stewardship efforts at Pacifica, located at 14615 Water Gap Road, Williams.

To register, go to bit.ly/4h1N4nM. Lunch will be provided. Meet at the Sky Lodge.

Pacifica, established in 1998, is a nature center, botanic garden, horticulture school and community center. About half of its 500 acres is substantially unaltered native habitat.

Forest Fridays program to begin in the Illinois Valley

The Arts and Science Kids organization in the Illinois Valley is about to begin a 16-week program, Forest Fridays, for children 5-9 years old to study and explore local forests.

The program runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays from March 7 to June 27. Cost is $600. Some scholarships may be available.

For more information, visit artandsciencekids.com or call 541-415-0161.

All Things Fire Fair set for March 8 in Ruch

The second annual All Things Fire Fair is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 8 at the Applegate Fire District facility at 1095 Upper Applegate Road in Ruch.

There will be a mix of informational tables, presentations and live demonstrations focusing on wildfire and community preparedness.

Ashland Parks and Rec seeks public input

Ashland Parks and Recreation is seeking public input via a survey to help guide a 10-year plan for parks, recreation and senior services. The survey, available online through March 15, takes about 30 minutes to complete.

For more information, contact Rocky Houston at 541-488-5340.

Josephine County Parks seeks park hosts

Josephine County Parks is seeking park hosts to act as caretakers in exchange for a free RV site.

Duties include grounds maintenance; enforcing park rules and cleaning bathrooms. Other duties include cleaning campsites, managing reservations and selling firewood and ice.

Hosts must have their own RV, pass a background check and provide references. For more information and to apply, visit JospehineCountyParks.com.

Learn about birds at Ashland’s Mountain Park

Learn about birds with local bird experts from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on March 19 and from 9-10:30 a.m. on March 22 at the North Mountain Park Nature Center, 620 N. Mountain Ave. in Ashland.

Cost is $20. Sign up at AshlandParksandRec.org or call the center, 541-488-6606.

Siskiyou Field Institute offers variety of classes

The Siskiyou Field Institute in Selma is offering several field courses this spring and early summer.

The courses include a visit to Lower Klamath Lake on March 29, $20; mushroom harvesting near Ashland on May 4 and June 8, $80 each; and foraging for medicinal plants on May 10 near Jacksonville, $80. Other courses include serpentine botany on June 15 near Cave Junction, $75; and astronomy with free tent camping on June 27 at SFI’s location, 1241 Illinois River Road, $45.

In addition, other courses include nature filmmaking on April 12-13 at SFI, $250; coastal ecology at the mouth of the Coquille River on May 12, 17 and 18, $135; and butterflies and moths on June 17-19 at SFI, $195.

Register at thesfi.org. Contact the organization at 541-597-8530.

Take a hike with Medford Parks and Rec

Medford Parks and Recreation offers several hiking opportunities for adults 55 years and older, including a hike to South Fork near Jacksonville on March 4.

Other hikes include Roxy Ann Peak and Provolt Recreation Area on April 8. There’s a dog-friendly hike on the Jacksonville Railway Trail on April 14.

Cost is $18 for residents and $24 for non-residents. Participants meet at Rogue X, 901 Rossanley Drive, and take a van to the trailhead.

Space is limited and slots can fill fast. For more information, visit bit.ly/3WJoNeZ or call 541-774-2400.

Snowshoe with a ranger at Crater Lake

Crater Lake National Park offers free ranger-guided snowshoe walks on weekends through April and also on weekdays during spring break, March 24-28.

They start at 1 p.m., last two hours and cover 1-2 miles over moderate to strenuous terrain. Participants must be at least 8 years old. Snowshoes are provided.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Separate groups tours might be available. Park entrance fee of $20 applies. Call 541-594-3100.