Volunteer with Discover Your Northwest
Help connect people to public lands and support stewardship of the outdoors through meaningful volunteer service.
National Public Lands Day Cleanup
Fall Trash Bash
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: La Pine area, Oregon
After you sign up through the link below, you will receive an email with information about the confirmed event location and any other logistical details.
Join us in La Pine for our Fall Trash Bash! Discover Your Northwest and the Deschutes National Forest are teaming up through our Care for the Land Program to host a community cleanup, and we would love to have you there.
This will be our second large-scale cleanup event of the year. At our Spring Trash Bash in May 2026, just 15 incredible volunteers removed approximately 25,000 pounds of trash, 600 pounds of scrap metal, and 23 tires from our public lands. It is amazing what we can accomplish when we work together.
No experience or equipment is needed. We will provide gloves, trash bags, litter pickers, buckets, and everything else you will need.
What to bring:
- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
- Clothing suitable for the weather
- A willingness to lend a hand
Whether you are a longtime volunteer or joining us for the first time, everyone is welcome. Come meet fellow community members, spend time outdoors, and help make the Deschutes National Forest cleaner, healthier, and more accessible for all.
Please note: Due to the nature of the site, dogs and minors under age 12 will not be allowed at this event. Minors ages 12–17 must remain with a parent or guardian for the duration of the event.
Questions? Contact Christina Edwards, Care for the Land Coordinator.
Volunteer Opportunities
Central Oregon’s National Forests and Grassland benefit greatly from the incredible community of diverse volunteers who are devoted to stewardship and their public lands. Whether you are an aspiring or an advanced outdoor enthusiast, our volunteers advocate for healthy forests and protection of natural landscapes by providing dedication to visitors, helping to maintain trails, serving at wilderness trailheads, picking up trash, preventing the spread of invasive plants, and much more.
Our team supports volunteers by onboarding, training, and ensuring that everyone has a rewarding and successful volunteer experience.
Volunteers are the very heart of the Forest Service. Without volunteers, these services would not be performed as well or might not be performed at all. If you are interested in volunteering in your local Forest or Grassland, we invite you to share your talents with us at Discover Your Northwest.
Current volunteer opportunities:
- Conservation Education
- Interpretation/Naturalist
- Visitor Services/Front Desk Support
For more information about current volunteer opportunities, contact Davey Pearson .
Additional volunteer opportunities:
Interested in future cleanup opportunities across the Deschutes National Forest or have supplies to donate? Contact Christina Edwards to learn more. We are currently accepting donations of:
- Non-latex gloves, such as leather or cotton gardening gloves, in all sizes, new or lightly used
- 5-gallon buckets
- Trash litter pickers
- Personal protective equipment