Newberry National Volcanic Monument Celebrates National Public Lands DayHelp improve your local National Monument and enjoy a variety of family-fun activities.To celebrate National Public Lands Day the Deschutes National Forest and partner Discover Your Forest will host several National Public Lands Day activities at Newberry National Volcanic Monument on Saturday, September 28.
Activities include working on trail restoration projects, going to interpretive talks and hikes, caving in Lava River Cave, taking a photography workshop, and becoming a Jr. Ranger.
All programs look to help volunteers and attendees appreciate the beauty and importance of our local National Monument. In addition, on Saturday, September 28, in celebration of National Public Lands Day, all recreation pass fees are waived at the National Monument as well as at all Deschutes National Forest day use sites.
The activities are being held at three locations in the National Monument and include:
Lava Lands Visitor Center Project Coordinator: Karen Gentry/Discover Your Forest – Education Program Coordinator 541-233-6110 or kwgentry@fs.fed.us
Volunteer to improve the condition of the Trail of the Molten Lands.
Time: 9am-12pm – Lunch will be provided courtesy of Whole Foods, Bend Oregon. Work will include moving small chunks of lava rock by hand and spreading aggregate at specific locations along the trail.
Items to bring: Water bottle, work gloves, eye protection/sunglasses and sturdy footwear (preferably work or hiking boots).
Become a Jr. Forest Ranger at Lava Lands Visitor Center!
Time: 11am-4pm – Lunch will be provided courtesy of Whole Foods, Bend, OregonYou can be a Jr. Ranger! Join Newberry National Volcanic Monument Volunteer Interpretive Rangers and Kohl’s Cares for Kids Volunteers for fun and educational activities including:
• Thunder Egg Hunt
• Critters in the Cracks/Puppet Theater
• Geology Rocks!
• Flying Wild
• The Power of Plants
• Leave No Trace
Special Activities at Lava Lands Visitor Center
11 am-12 pm – USFS Ranger Talk/Hike
12 -1 pm – Hike the Whispering Pines Trail with local Storyteller Susan Strauss
1-2 pm- Birds of Prey and Touch Table – Sponsored by Sunriver Nature Center
2-3 pm- Archeology Talk with Deschutes National Forest Archeologist Erin Woodard
3-4pm – Photo Workshop on the Lava Flow with photographer Kevin Sperl Raffle Drawings all day long!
(must be present to win).
Lava River CaveProject
Coordinator: Karen Gentry/Discover Your Forest – Education Program Coordinator 541-233-6110 or kwgentry@fs.fed.us
Explore Lava River Cave with Neil Marchington.
Time: TBD
Items to bring: Sturdy walking shoes, jacket/warm clothing (temperature is 46˚ in the cave), flashlight/headlamps
Newberry Caldera Project
Coordinator: Joe Welke/USFS Deschutes National Forest-Trails Volunteer Coordinator 541-383-4040 or jpwelke@fs.fed.us
Volunteer to improve the trails on the Paulina Lakeshore Loop, Newberry Crater Trail, and the Lost Lake Trail. Park in the Paulina Day Use Area and meet in front of the Paullina Visitor Center.
Time: 9am- 3pm – Lunch will be provided courtesy of Whole Foods, Bend Oregon
• Installation of signs at various trailheads and trail junctions. Project will require, use of hand tools, digging and lifting.
• Inventory of trail signs along Newberry Caldera trails. Documentation will include photos, notes and drawings. This will require hiking or biking a trail in the Caldera, documenting sign location/condition. Items to bring: Water bottle, work gloves, eye protection/sunglasses, long sleeve shirt, long pants, and sturdy footwear (preferably work or hiking boots).
For additional information, contact the project coordinator listed for each site or Karen Gentry at 541-233-6110.
