How to Prepare for a Field Day 

Field days are day-trips into the forest for groundtruthing, beaver habitat surveying, educational hikes, & more. It’s important to be prepared – here’s what to expect!

After registering for a field day, you’ll get a confirmation email. The week before the trip, you’ll get a follow-up email with details to help you prepare, which you can also find below: 

Before the Field Day 

  1. Fill out the 2025 Carpooling Form, no matter what your mode of transportation will be. If you need a ride, fill it out. If you’re driving yourself and have no room for passengers, please fill it out. If you’re driving and have room for more, please fill it out! 
  1. Signed up for a wetland or beaver day? Reserve rubber boots! If you do not reserve them, we cannot guarantee boots in your size. 
  1. Look at our packing list! Make sure to bring 2-3 L of water and lunch you can eat in the field, away from the vehicles. 
  1. Check out our safety considerations page for notes about first aid, weather, and terrain. 
  1. Respond to the follow-up email with any of the following information, if it applies to you: 
    • Not planning to meet us at the primary meetup location? Let us know that you’ll plan to meet us at the secondary location, and what time we should expect you. 
    • Need some gear? Bark has extra warm clothing, rain gear, backpacks, water bottles and other items for those who need them. Let us know what you need! 
    • Have any medical issues (diabetes, allergies, etc.), accommodations, questions or concerns? Let us know! 

A Typical Field Day 

Please note that the time frames below can vary based on the distance the survey location is from the meetup, what time field day participants need to get back home, and the time of year. You’ll receive specific time information in an email before the field day. 

In the morning: Meetup at Gateway/NE 99th Ave. TC Park and Ride parking garage at 9am and coordinate carpools 

  • Bark staff will meet you at the entrance to the parking garage — look for a Bark sign. 
  • We will organize carpools and head to the secondary location (provided via email before the field day). 

Convene at the secondary location.  

  • The secondary location will be announced in the sign-up email along with coordinates and amenities available. 
  • The secondary location will LIKELY have cell service, access to grocery stores and gas stations in case you need to get water, food, gas, or use the bathroom before heading into the forest. This meeting spot can be busy, so DO NOT plan to purchase your food for the day. 
  • Once everyone arrives, there will be a brief overview of the day’s plans, and driving directions and coordinates to the survey location will be provided.  
  • We will caravan to the survey site, so no one gets separated from the group. 

Arrive at survey site and begin the field day.  

  • Once we arrive, we will do group introductions, our Land Acknowledgement practice, discuss the site briefly, hand out gear and start our field work. 
  • Our survey area may be small, large, steep, or flat. We regularly push through dense brush, go over logs, and wade through shallow puddles and thick mud. Site conditions vary significantly. Check out our safety considerations page to learn more. 
  • Plan to eat lunch in the field, away from the vehicles. Bring plenty of water! 

Meet back at cars after fieldwork.  

  • Meetup time after the survey will change depending on the length of the drive back to Portland (we generally aim to return to the meetup location by 5-6pm), the time of year and whether anyone in the group needs to get back at a specific time.   
  • Here everyone will finish filling out the survey forms, return Bark survey gear, and debrief the day (talk about exciting finds, ask questions, etc.).  

Head back to Gateway/NE 99th Ave. TC Park and Ride.  

Post-Field Day Follow-Up 

Following the field day, you will receive an email asking you to: