‘Tis the season to cut your own Christmas tree

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and find the perfect Christmas tree for your home!

Individual Christmas tree permits are $5 each and are available the Deschutes or Ochoco Supervisor or District Offices and a number of Central Oregon retailers.

Beginning Monday, Christmas tree permits can be purchased or redeemed on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at any of the Deschutes or Ochoco Supervisor or District offices. On weekends, the permits also are available at several commercial outlets across Central Oregon..

Each household can purchase a maximum of five permits.

But this year, Smokey Bear and Santa Claus are teaming up to bring some special holiday cheer to fourth-graders across the country!

As part of the national Every Kid in a Park initiative, the U.S. Forest Service is excited to announce that all fourth-graders are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit from their local national forest.

In order for students to receive a free tree permit, they must present a valid paper voucher printed from the Every Kid in a Park website.

Step 1: Visit www.everykidinapark.gov and follow instructions to obtain the paper voucher.
Step 2: Print out the paper voucher.
Step 3: Bring the paper voucher to a National Forest office to claim the free permit.
Additional information and a list of retailers can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes

As a reminder, weather conditions at higher elevations can be dramatically different from local conditions and the public should be prepared for cold and unpredictable weather. Additionally, most forest roads are not maintained for winter driving, so snow patches or debris may be encountered.

Bring a hand saw or axe as well as winter clothing and safety equipment. Tire chains and a shovel are recommended, as is extra food, drinking water, blankets, a flashlight, firstaid kit and survival gear. Tree cutting and travel can take longer than anticipated, and individuals are encouraged to notify a friend or family member.

To keep a tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard, leave it outside until you’re ready to move it indoors. Cut the trunk at an angle before placing it in the stand and remember to refill the stand’s reservoir daily.

Every Kid in a Park

Every Kid in a Park is a national effort to encourage children to visit national parks, forests, and public lands. In November and December, the Forest Service is promoting winter recreation on national forests, holiday tree permits, and the annual Capitol Christmas Tree campaign.

From sea to shining sea, our country is home to gorgeous landscapes, vibrant waterways, and historic treasures that all Americans can enjoy. But right now, young people are spending more time in front of screens than outside, and that means they are missing out on valuable opportunities to explore, learn, and play in the spectacular outdoor places that belong to all of them.

The Every Kid in a Park initiative calls on each of our agencies to help get all children to visit and enjoy the outdoors and inspire a new generation of Americans to experience their country’s unrivaled public lands and waters. Starting in September, every fourth-grader in the nation will receive an “Every Kid in a Park” pass that’s good for free admission to all of America’s federal lands and waters — for them and their families — for a full year. For more information, visit www.everykidinapark.gov

The Pacific Northwest Region consists of 16 National Forests, 59 District Offices, a National Scenic Area, and a National Grassland comprising 24.7 million acres in Oregon and Washington and employing approximately 3,550 people. To learn more about the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/r6