Volunteer with Bark! Whether you’re new to forest ecology and activism or are a seasoned field biologist or activist, your energy and knowledge are vital to protecting Mt. Hood National Forest. Check out all the ways you can volunteer with us below.
Forest Watch
Groundtruthing
- Time of year: June to October
- Time Commitment: 9 hours per field day
- Location: Mt. Hood National Forest
- Description: These field days are how Bark gathers data on timber projects being planned on the Mt Hood National Forest. We survey areas proposed for some type of activity (logging, fuels reduction, road building, etc.) by the Forest Service. Bark uses this data to proactively shape projects and push back against destructive proposals. Volunteers will be in groups led by Bark staff or an experienced and trusted volunteer. They will navigate off trail, off road, across uneven terrain and through a variety of different forest and weather condition
- Accessibility: Work includes hiking off trail in the forest.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No prior experience or skills required, though attending our Spring Groundtruthing Training or watching our Groundtruthing 101 video (link) is recommended. Close-toed shoes/boots, pants, sun protection. Warm layers/rain gear depending on weather (some of this can be loaned). Phone with Avenza app for mapping needed if wanting to gather data. All other tools needed for data gathering provided by Bark.
- Transportation: Carpooling available, we meet in town then drive up. Volunteers must sign up for the event and request carpooling if needed.
Forest Watch Committee
- Time of year: Year-round
- Time Commitment: 2 hours in the evening (6-8 pm) on the third Tuesday of each month
- Location: Bark Office; hybrid option available
- Description: This group is for dedicated volunteers who want to keep watch over their local Forest and gain a deeper understanding of how National Forests are managed. At meetings, we typically discuss projects on Mt. Hood National Forest, prioritize areas to groundtruth, collaborate on NEPA comments, and strategize around our response to destructive proposals. Discussions may also veer into regional or national environmental policy changes related to our work as needed.
- Accessibility: Bark office is wheelchair accessible and has accessible, gender neutral restrooms.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No skills or prior experience required. Volunteers are encouraged to bring laptops and/or pen/paper for taking notes.
- Transportation: Volunteers responsible for travel to/from Bark Office.
Restoration
Beaver Habitat Surveys
- Time of year: June to October
- Time Commitment: 9 hours per field day, not including travel to/from the site.
- Location: Mt. Hood National Forest
- Description: Help us map, assess, and catalog current and potential beaver habitat on Mt. Hood. Data collected on these field days is shared with multiple local and regional partners, including Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service, to add to a shared understanding of beaver populations and habitat availability on Mt. Hood. This data also informs future restoration projects such as beaver dam analog installations, willow plantings, and beaver relocation.
- Accessibility: Work involves hiking and bushwhacking in dense, steep, and/or wet areas.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No prior experience or skills required. Essential equipment is provided, including muck boots and waders.
- Transportation: Carpooling is available. Volunteers must sign up for the event and request carpooling if needed.
Wetland Mapping Surveys
- Time of year: June to October
- Time Commitment: 9 hours per field day, not including travel to/from the site.
- Location: Mt. Hood National Forest
- Description: Learn how to accurately map and assess wetland presence, boundaries, and type within and nearby timber sale units with the goal of protecting these sensitive ecosystems from logging and development. The data collected on these field days is shared with hydrologists and other staff within the Forest Service to ensure wetland areas are removed from timber sale units.
- Accessibility: Work involves hiking and bushwhacking in dense, steep, and/or wet areas.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No prior experience or skills required. Essential equipment is provided, including muck boots and waders.
- Transportation: Carpooling is available. Volunteers must sign up for the event and request carpooling if needed.
Beaver Habitat Restoration: Willow Plantings
- Time of year: November
- Time Commitment: 9 hours per field day, not including travel to/from the site.
- Location: Mt. Hood National Forest
- Description: Help plant willow cuttings to provide woody food source at selected sites with high potential for beaver habitat. Restoring the woody food sources at these sites will make beavers more likely to recolonize these areas on their own.
- Accessibility: Work involves hiking and bushwhacking in dense, steep, and/or wet areas.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No prior experience or skills required. Essential equipment is provided, including muck boots and waders.
- Transportation: Meet at location. Sign-up for the event and advanced communication with the event coordinator are required.
Parrott Creek Restoration
- Time of year: December to May
- Time Commitment: 3 hours per field day, not including travel to/from the site.
- Location: Parrott Creek Child and Family Services (Oregon City)
- Description: Assist Parrott Creek Cultural Ecology staff with invasive plants removal, trail maintenance, and planting first foods and other culturally important plants on the Parrott Creek property. By helping with these events, Bark staff and volunteers are adding capacity to a land back initiative geared towards creating a safe and accessible cultural site for Indigenous people in the communities supported by Mt. Hood.
- Accessibility: Work involves walking on unpaved trails and uneven terrain, stooping, carrying easy to moderate loads, and using hand tools.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No prior experience or skills required. No advanced gear required. Equipment is provided.
- Transportation: Carpooling is available. Volunteers must sign up for the event and request carpooling if needed.
Amphibian Surveys at Parrott Creek
- Time of year: March to June
- Time Commitment: 3 hours per field day, not including travel to/from the site.
- Location: Parrott Creek Child and Family Services (Oregon City)
- Description: Assist Parrott Creek Cultural Ecology staff with surveying for amphibians present on their property and help steer restoration decisions on the property. These survey techniques can also be used to identify and assess amphibian populations on Mt. Hood, informing future restoration projects on the Forest.
- Accessibility: Involves walking on unpaved trails and uneven terrain as well as wading in several feet of water.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No skills or prior experience required. Some equipment is provided.
- Transportation: Carpooling is available. Volunteers must sign up for the event and request carpooling if needed.
Education
Lead a Bark Out
- Time of year: Year-round
- Time Commitment: ~3-6 hours per event, depending on location
- Location: Mt. Hood National Forest or public park
- Description: Lead an educational hike in Mt. Hood National Forest or surrounding public lands! Hikes may focus on topics such as birding, mushroom or plant identification, a specific timber sale unit, or other topics related to forest ecology and/or Bark’s advocacy. Subject matter of the hike is determined by the volunteer leader and their personal expertise, in consultation with Bark staff.
- Accessibility: Dependent on hike location and focus, but may involve hiking off-trail. Proposals to lead a Bark Out should include the type of terrain covered, physical movements needed, and expected pace.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: Open to all levels of experience and various forms of expertise. Must have your own hiking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Bringing your own water, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and snacks is suggested.
- Transportation: Will vary. Carpooling to/from the hike location may be available with advanced notice.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Event Tabling
- Time of year: Year-round, as opportunities arise
- Time Commitment: 2-5 hours per event, depending on event
- Location: Typically within the Portland area
- Description: Help spread the word about Bark’s work and volunteer opportunities by tabling at community events, including but not limited to farmers markets, street fairs, and festivals.
- Accessibility: Dependent on the venue. Tabling usually takes place outdoors. Seating is available, and low to moderate lifting is sometimes required.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No equipment necessary. Volunteers should be comfortable engaging with the public and have some prior volunteer experience with Bark.
- Transportation: Will vary, depending on event. Carpooling to/from event location may be available with advanced coordination.
Office Work
- Time of year: Year-round
- Time Commitment: Flexible, but longer-term commitment preferred for tasks involving more detailed training.
- Location: Bark Office (Portland)
- Description: Work may include data entry, scanning documents, boot and gear cleaning/sorting, website proofing, organizing and digitizing of records, document retention work.
- Accessibility: The Bark Office is a wheelchair accessible space and has accessible, gender neutral restrooms.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: No equipment required. For data entry and digitization-related tasks, comfort using a computer and some experience with Microsoft Excel is preferred.
- Transportation: Volunteers responsible for traveling to/from Bark Office.
Photography, Videography, & Video Editing
- Time of year: Year-round, but with most opportunities during field season (June – October)
- Time Commitment: Varies, depending on task(s) involved. Photographing/filming field days may require between 3 to 9 hours per event, while in-office events usually require 1-3 hours.
- Location: Will vary, but mainly Bark office in Portland or Mt. Hood National Forest
- Description: Dependent on volunteer’s expertise and availability, but may include photographing or filming Bark field days and events, creating short or long-form videos for social media, and/or other creative work that highlights Bark’s work or educates our supporters.
- Accessibility: Photography/videography for field days involves hiking and bushwhacking into dense, steep and/or wet areas. For in-office events, the Bark Office is a wheelchair-accessible space and has accessible, gender-neutral restrooms.
- Equipment and/or Skill level: For photography, a camera is required and some prior experience is preferred but not necessary. For filming, prior experience is preferred but not necessary, and a smartphone or camera is required. For video editing, experience with Instagram Reels or video editing software is required depending on project, and your own computer with video editing software is required.
- Transportation: Will vary. Carpooling to/from the field may be provided with advanced coordination.
Do you have other skills to share? Do you have any questions about volunteering? Email us at info@bark-out.org.
