Sons of Smokey partner with Forest Service in big ‘Gambler 500’ public land cleanup this weekend

(Update: Adding video, comments from the founder of Gambler 500, Forest Service )

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) --   Thousands of people are going to be cleaning up our forests of trash and debris this weekend for the Gambler 500. The annual event promotes the cleanup -- and responsible enjoyment -- of public lands. 

Last year, volunteers collected more than 425,000 pounds of trash. This year they hope to pick up even more. 

"The work that these folks do is so critical," Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland Public Affairs Officer Kassidy Kern said Thursday.

The nonprofit Sons of Smokey is partnering with the Forest Service on the large-scale public land cleanup. It'll run Friday through Sunday. 

"Whenever we have these dumping issues, we can take care of some of it. We just don't have the staff to do what literally thousands of people are going to do this weekend," Kern said.

The Gambler 500 is a festival, celebrating off-road adventure with massive cleanup efforts supported by the nonprofit. 

Gambler 500 creator and founder Tate Morgan said, "As off-roaders, avid ATVers, hunters, hikers, we know how important it is to take part of the places that we visit. And so the real prize is cleaning up public places."

This year's cleanup will take place around the Crooked River National Grasslands. Volunteers participating in the cleanup will focus on larger garbage dump sites and abandoned vehicles. 

The trash will then be brought back to the dumpsters at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond for disposal. 

At the event, you can also expect more than 20 bands playing music and see go-kart races on the small track. 

"Some people will decide to come here and camp to check out all the festivities, but a lot of people will spend a lot of their time mainly out there," Morgan said. "Attracting 5,000 people to Central Oregon, you never know what you're going to be. But then again, that's kind of the fun of it."

The Forest Service reminds people of traffic around the area, and to plan weekend trips accordingly. Smokey Bear will be at the event Saturday morning. 

Here is the press release:

Beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend, thousands are expected to take part in the "Gambler 500" in around the Crooked River National Grassland. The event is an adventure challenge to clean up trash sites across public lands in the area.

This weekend will be a great opportunity for community members to participate in clean up efforts on the only National Grassland in the Pacific Northwest and the Millican Valley. General public volunteers along with event participants will be focusing on larger garbage dump sites and abandoned vehicles.

Participants will have a mobile application (Sons of Smokey app is available for iPhone and Android) that provides locations of known trash sites and abandoned vehicle site locations. Collected items will be returned to the fairgrounds and landfill for disposal.  Prizes will be awarded for most debris, biggest debris, shooting pit clean up, and more. 

Trash disposal is made possible by grants acquired by the Sons of Smokey, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization associated with the Gambler 500 event. For information on how to participate in the event, visit https://www.gambler500.com/.

Be aware of the significant increase in traffic on the grassland and surrounding public lands from July 14-16 and plan your visit accordingly. Have an alternate plan or location for your weekend adventures if you do not want to encounter volunteers and event participants.

For more information on volunteering on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, visit: https://discoveryourforest.org/volunteer/.