OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Fire fair, workshops, work parties and more
Published 12:30 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Pile burning to reduce wildfire danger will be among the topics presented Saturday in Ruch at the “All Things Fire Fair” hosted by the Applegate Fire District. U.S. Forest Service photo.
The Applegate Fire District is hosting its second annual “All Things Fire Fair” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the district’s training building at 1095 Upper Applegate Road in Ruch.
The schedule includes a welcome at 10 a.m.; fuel reduction treatment projects by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management at 11 a.m.; home hardening at noon; homeowners insurance at 1 p.m.; thinning and pile burning at 2 p.m. and community resilience at 3 p.m.
Learn about bees at Jacksonville events
The Pollinator Project Rogue Valley will be in Jacksonville on Wednesday, 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.
• 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.
Audubon Society outing set for Denman Wildlife Area
Join the Rogue Valley Audubon Society on Wednesday, 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.
Pacifica hosts workshop on prescribed burns
Pacifica: A Garden in the Siskiyous is hosting a presentation to introduce people to prescribed burns, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. 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.
Wildfire in SW Oregon is topic of talk
The Oregon State University Extension Service is hosting a continuing series of online presentations about wildfire in Oregon, with the next presentation set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss forests in Southwest Oregon. Other sessions are 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/
Mountain Club to host grand opening
The Siskiyou Mountain Club has relocated its offices and store to 106 Talent Ave. in Talent, where it is scheduled to host a grand opening 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday. A “state of the club” address is set for 6 p.m.
In other club news, a work party is set for Saturday and Sunday to clear brush and logs and improve the Illinois River National Recreation Trail. Also, a work outing to help maintain the lower section of the Rogue River Trail is set for March 14-17. To sign up, contact trevor@siskiyoumountainclub.
Trails group to discuss upcoming work
The Siskiyou Upland Trails Association will be at REI Medford from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday to talk about what it takes to develop and maintain the Jack-Ash and Sterling Mine Ditch trails. The public is invited to come learn about plans for getting new trails approved and constructed.
Also to be discussed is the Siskiyou Skyline Trail, which is designated as an Oregon Signature Trail. The trail combines the Jack-Ash and Applegate Ridge trails that are envisioned to connect the Pacific Crest Trail with Ashland, Jacksonville and Grants Pass.
SUTA is a nonprofit that works in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. For more information, visit sutaoregon.org.
Help plant willow cuttings along Bear Creek
Join the Rogue River Watershed Council from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday to help with willow staking along Bear Creek at Lynn Newbry Park in Talent.
Bring work gloves and wear appropriate attire. Feel free to bring loppers or pruners. RSVP at buff.ly/4ilAh1v. Reach the watershed council at 541-423-6158.
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 through June 27. Cost is $600. Some scholarships may be available. For more information, visit artandsciencekids.com or call 541-415-0161.
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.
Workshop set on tree mortality
The Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center in Central Point is offering a workshop about tree mortality in Jackson County on March 26. 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.
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.
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 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.
