Grateful for Mt. Hood National Forest!
There is so much to love about Bark and Mt. Hood National Forest. As a volunteer, long-time donor, and current member of the board of directors, I am so grateful that Bark exists. I deeply appreciate that we have the broad-based support needed to do the essential work of advocating for equitable, just, and ecologically sound management of the nearby forests, waters, and wildlife loved by so many local communities.
We are a community working to make sure the forest thrives. Your donation to the Bark Winter Campaign directly enables our volunteers and staff to protect and restore the forest and our relationships to it.
Last month, Bark staff and volunteers got together to celebrate and connect at the Bark Fall Social. The event was initially planned as an outdoor gathering full of fireside conversations, salmon admiration, and plant walks. Then an atmospheric river stopped by the PNW for a visit and made an unhospitable environment for an outdoor gathering. Despite that hiccup, we made it work with what we had, as Bark often does.
Regrouped and cozy in the Bark office, the energy at the event was revitalizing. Folks who hadn’t seen each other since before the pandemic came together. Kids told me about how much they loved volunteering in (and splashing through!) Mt. Hood’s wetlands. Forest Watch volunteers shared wins and struggles in their work writing NEPA comments. Free Mt. Hood Committee members chatted about relaunching the campaign for an updated Mt. Hood National Forest Plan. And enthusiastic Bark staff shared memories of the past year working alongside volunteers and community members in the forest’s varied habitats. I could feel the love for the forest surrounding me!
Thank you for being a part of Bark. Your financial support sends staff to forest service meetings, trains volunteers to survey beaver habitats, organizes the public to submit comment letters, and so much more, all in the pursuit of ensuring the long-term wellness and just management of the ecosystem known as Mt. Hood National Forest.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. You are welcome here at Bark, and the gift of your interest, your financial support, your volunteer time, and your commitment to the forest are all deeply appreciated. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to serve you and protect the future of this extraordinary ecosystem.
Thank you for loving Mt. Hood National Forest – and for loving Bark.
For the forest,
Nicki Dardinger, Bark Board of Directors
P.S. 12/21 is a Big Give Day for the Willamette Week Give!Guide. Donate $10 or more today through the Give!Guide, and you could win a Trek Bicycle Package courtesy of Portland’s Trek Bicycle Stores. The package includes a Trek FX+ 2 bike (or a bike equivalent in value, $2,499.99), a helmet, lock, floor pump, water bottle and cage!