Winter Volunteer Information Night set for Oct. 27 in Bend

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Discover Your Northwest, the nonprofit partner of the Deschutes National Forest, will host its annual Winter Volunteer Information Night in Bend, Ore., on Oct. 27, 2026. The event aims to recruit volunteer rangers to support winter conservation education and naturalist programming.

The information session will begin at 6 p.m. at the Deschutes National Forest Headquarters, located at 63095 Deschutes Market Road. Attendees will learn about positions serving as education and interpretive volunteer rangers representing the U.S. Forest Service at Mt. Bachelor.

Volunteer opportunities include teaching within the forest's conservation education program and leading guided snowshoe tours for visitors at Mt. Bachelor. Discover Your Northwest provides official uniforms and required training for all selected volunteers.

Discover Your Northwest requests that volunteer rangers commit to serving at least one day per week throughout the winter. The commitment period begins in mid-December and extends through the end of March 2027.

Program inquiries and volunteer management are handled by Karen Walsh, director of programs for Discover Your Northwest and Davey Pearson, volunteer and career pathways program manager for the organization.

The volunteer recruitment session takes place Oct. 27, 2026, ahead of the winter program season that runs from mid-December through March 2027.