BLM ‘Pioneer Day’ Saturday at Reynolds Pond

The Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office will be putting a twist on National Public Lands Day this year. Instead of planning a traditional service day activity such as a weed pull or trail build, the Prineville BLM is hosting Pioneer Day in order to celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act as well as National Public Lands Day.

Saturday’s event will be a free, family-friendly event, designed to give people an opportunity to learn about many of the primitive arts of wilderness travel and the skills that many of the early pioneers in Central Oregon used on a daily basis.

The public is invited to spend the day tasting Dutch-oven cooking, learning about early surveying and mapping techniques, “spotting a fire” using an old Osborne fire-finder, learning how to make tools from obsidian, handcrafting old-fashioned dolls, canoeing, making seed tape, learning about weaving and more. Experts will be on hand to lead short exploratory hikes into the Badlands.

Educational opportunities will include Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly demonstrations, wilderness ethics, geology of Central Oregon, and campfire safety with a visit from Smokey Bear. Kids will have an opportunity to fill out a Wilderness Scavenger booklet to earn their Wilderness Explorer Certificate.

Everyone is encouraged to bring sturdy walking shoes, snacks and water. Lunch is not provided; however, picnic tables will be provided for lunch space for anyone who wants to bring their own food.

Pioneer Day runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held at Reynolds Pond, located about 15 miles east of Bend near the community of Alfalfa.

For residents coming from Bend, take Neff Road east across the Powell Butte Highway where Neff Turns into Alfalfa Market Road. Take a right at Walker Road and follow the signs to the event.

Wilderness group size limitations keep large events from being held in Wilderness; however, Reynolds Pond is located on the north side of the Oregon Badlands Wilderness and will soon host a new trailhead for hikers heading in to the wilderness. Please note, the road into Reynolds Pond can be traveled with a passenger car; however, it is rough in spots. Please go slowly along the last mile to the pond.

Although the BLM is hosting this event, many other groups are helping including the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forest, the Sierra Club, Oregon Natural Desert Association, the Friends of the Oregon Badlands, the Archaeological Society of Central Oregon, Crook County Historical Society, and REI. For more information about this event and a map to the site, please visit our website at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/events.php or call the Prineville BLM at (541) 416-6700.